Hawthorne Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Orange County entry here is Hawthorne Lake, in New York. It sits at 1,178 feet above sea level. About 24 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Start from Port Jervis, 3.5 miles down the road. For a city, Paterson is 40 miles off. Neighbouring water: Heintein Pond out at 2 miles, 2.4 miles out stands Martin Lake Arkin out at 2.7 miles, 3 miles out stands Snyder Pond and Willow Lake out at 3 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Hawthorne Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Orange County list common carp, brook trout, bluegill and pumpkinseed. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Hawthorne Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 24°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late March. Averages place the thaw at late March and the freeze at late December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Hawthorne Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Leave the car at DEC Parking Area, about half a mile from the bank. The water borders Huckleberry Ridge State Forest, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Heintein Pond at 2 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Hawthorne Lake carry more weight than any list.