Greenwood Lake Fishing near Greenwood Lake, New York

• Overview

  Greenwood Lake sits within Orange County in New York. Everything around it is rolling hill. Roughly 2.9 sq miles of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The shoreline runs about 14 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Of the waters listed here in Orange County, this is the largest. Greenwood Lake lies 3 miles from the water. For a city, Paterson is 20 miles off. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Greenwood Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. County-wide records name common carp, brook trout, bluegill and pumpkinseed. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Greenwood Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 25°F to 71°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Greenwood Lake rarely departs from it. A rising level usually fishes better than a falling one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Surprise Lake, 1.3 miles out. Where Greenwood Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.