Green Lake Fishing near Homer, New York

• Overview

  You will find Green Lake in Cortland County, New York. Height above sea level is 1,155 feet. At 21 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Cortland County are larger. The town to know is Homer, 5.5 miles out. Cortland follows at 8 miles, then McGraw at 8.7 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Green Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Cortland County include brown trout, brook trout, white sucker, common carp and tessellated darter. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Work Green Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in July and bottom out at 20°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near mid December in autumn. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Green Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. Somewhere to sit and eat is half a mile out. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Goodale Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. For Green Lake in particular, ask before you travel.