Jordan Lake Fishing in Franklin County, New York

• Overview

  In New York, Jordan Lake falls inside Franklin County. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. It measures about 177 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.8 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Size puts it in the front rank of our Franklin County list. Supplies mean a trip to Tupper Lake, 13 miles off. Then Saranac Lake, 24 miles, and Hannawa Falls, 24 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Jordan Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name brook trout, white sucker and brown trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Jordan Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 13°F at the bottom of winter. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Jordan Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Otter Pond, 1.1 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Jordan Lake in particular, ask before you travel.