Dots Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Dots Lake sits in Greene County, out in New York. Elevation runs to 505 feet. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. You are 6 miles from Cairo. Then Coxsackie, 6.8 miles, and Ravena, 9 miles. Nearest other option: Mill Pond near enough 1.9 miles, Beaver Dam Lake just 2.4 miles, Potuck Reservoir near enough 2.7 miles, Silver Lake just 2.8 miles and Mirror Lake near enough 3.2 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Dots Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Public occurrence data for Greene County names common carp, rudd, goldfish, brown trout and striped bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Dots Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 22°F to 70°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on Dots Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Coxsackie Forest Preserve Detached Parcel takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Mill Pond at 1.9 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Dots Lake in what we hold.