Fishing at Hessian Lake, Rockland County, New York

• Overview

  Hessian Lake falls in Rockland County, part of New York. The country here is mixed woodland. With some 29 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 1.1 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. It is low-lying compared with other New York water we list. Nearest place of any size is Fort Montgomery, 1.1 miles away. For a city, North Stamford is 26 miles off. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Hessian Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Rockland County records list common carp, striped bass, bluegill and largemouth bass among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Hessian Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 73°F and January near 28°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Plan any trip to Hessian Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. Picnic facilities are recorded some half a mile out. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Brooks Lake sits 1 mile off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Hessian Lake.