Fishing at Harlem Meer, New York County, New York

• Overview

  Harlem Meer falls in New York County, part of New York. The bank is 26 feet above sea level. At roughly 10 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Ground here is low by New York standards. Nearest town is East Harlem, 0.5 miles off. The big place round here is East Harlem, 0.6 miles distant. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Harlem Meer

  The books put it at 6 ft. Time trips to the tide table rather than the clock here. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name bluegill, pumpkinseed, common carp, black crappie and goldfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Harlem Meer responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 31°F to 76°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan around that when you fish Harlem Meer.

• Tackle & Baits

  The shoreline is public, so the licence is the main requirement. Records list it as a fishing water. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. Someone has mapped a fishing spot 40 yards off. There are picnic tables recorded roughly half a mile off. There are toilets mapped about 70 yards away. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The Pool sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Harlem Meer is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.