Crooked Lake Fishing in Rensselaer County, New York

• Overview

  Out in Rensselaer County, New York, sits Crooked Lake. It stands 827 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 110 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Shoreline comes to about 2.5 miles, small enough to learn in a day. On our Rensselaer County list it sits near the top for size. You are 1.9 miles from Averill Park. The nearest city of size is Albany, 12 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Crooked Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Rensselaer County include brown trout, common carp and pumpkinseed. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Anyone new to Crooked Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 69°F on average, January about 20°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Time your trip to Crooked Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Glass Lake, 0.7 miles out. None of that is settled for Crooked Lake in what we hold.