Fishing at Echo Lake, Ulster County, New York

• Overview

  Echo Lake is set in Ulster County, New York. The surface lies 2,067 feet up. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It sits higher than most water we list in New York. The town to know is Woodstock, 4.1 miles out. Beyond it, Zena at 5.6 miles and Palenville at 6.5 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Echo Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Public occurrence data for Ulster County names common carp, brown trout and brook trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Echo Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 65°F for July and 19°F for January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to early December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Echo Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. 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. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Saugerties Reservoir sits 3.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Echo Lake for certain.