Honk Lake Fishing in Ulster County, New York

• Overview

  This water sits in Ulster County, New York. The shore lies 38 miles out. With some 42 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Roughly 1.0 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Nearest town is Napanoch, 0.7 miles off. Then Wawarsing, 1.2 miles, and Ellenville, 2.5 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Honk Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across Ulster County, recorded fish include common carp, brown trout, brook trout and goldfish. The county list is broader than any single water. On Honk Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 23°F in January to roughly 70°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. The season between ice runs from about late March to late December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Honk Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Lyon Lake, 2.2 miles away. Nothing on Honk Lake should be assumed from this page alone.