Elijah Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The St. Lawrence County end of New York holds Elijah Lake. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. With some 39 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. A shoreline of some 1.3 miles keeps the choices simple. Head to Gouverneur, 20 miles away, for anything you forgot. Further out sit Carthage (20 miles) and West Carthage (21 miles). The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Elijah Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across St. Lawrence County include rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The near bank of Elijah Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 66°F; by January the average is down near 15°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Elijah Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, South Greek Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Check the position at Elijah Lake before loading the car.