Elmira Reservoir, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Chemung County, New York. This is mixed forest country. It covers about 20 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Nothing else we list in Chemung County covers more water. The town to know is Elmira Heights, 2.1 miles out. After that come West Elmira at 2.2 miles and Elmira at 2.5 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Elmira Reservoir

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Public occurrence data for Chemung County names common carp, green sunfish and smallmouth bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Elmira Reservoir the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 23°F in January to roughly 69°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between late March and late December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish Elmira Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Eldridge Lake, 1.7 miles out. Where Elmira Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.