Goodhue Lake in Steuben County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Steuben County end of New York holds Goodhue Lake. Elevation runs to 1,352 feet. Surface area runs to about 23 acres — small enough to read in one session. The town to know is Addison, 5.8 miles out. Gang Mills follows at 8.6 miles, then Painted Post at 9.3 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout. The county holds over twenty of them in total.

• Where to Fish on Goodhue Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Steuben County list brown trout, white sucker, tessellated darter and banded darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fish Goodhue Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 67°F and January near 22°F on the long-run figures. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The season between ice runs from about early April to mid December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. On Goodhue Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Duck Pond at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Goodhue Lake before loading the car.