Horseshoe Lake Fishing near Batavia, New York

• Overview

  The Genesee County entry here is Horseshoe Lake, in New York. It lies 794 feet above sea level. The water covers some 38 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. It is the biggest water on our Genesee County list. Batavia sits 3.3 miles from here and is the nearest stop. After that come Byron at 6.1 miles and Le Roy at 7.1 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Horseshoe Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Species logged across Genesee County include johnny darter, fantail darter and greenside darter. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Horseshoe Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 23°F and July at about 70°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. The water is typically free of ice between early April and mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Horseshoe Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Chapin Pond, 0.5 miles away. For Horseshoe Lake in particular, ask before you travel.