Kissena Lake Fishing in Queens County, New York

• Overview

  The Queens County end of New York holds Kissena Lake. It lies 10 feet above sea level. Small at around 8 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Queens County standards. The town to know is Fresh Meadows, 1.1 miles out. For a city, Corona is 3.1 miles off. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Kissena Lake

  It is listed at 5 ft. Salt or brackish and tidal: fish the flow, rest at slack, and watch the mud on a falling tide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Queens County cover common carp, goldfish, bluegill, American eel and pumpkinseed. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Kissena Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 76°F, with January the cold end at about 31°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Time your trip to Kissena Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  This one is in public ownership, with the usual conditions. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Meadow Lake at 2.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Kissena Lake if anything is unclear.