Dunton Lake in Suffolk County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  New York holds Dunton Lake, in Suffolk County. The land about it is open valley. The water measures roughly 15 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Ground here is low by New York standards. Supplies mean a trip to Bellport, 1.3 miles off. Bridgeport sits 32 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Dunton Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Records held for Suffolk County cover alewife, blueback herring, pumpkinseed and bluegill. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Dunton Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 74°F, with January the cold end at about 31°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. The season on Dunton Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Lymans Marsh State Tidal Wetland runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Robinson Pond sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Dunton Lake carry more weight than any list.