Fishing at Lake Askoti, Rockland County, New York

• Overview

  Lake Askoti belongs to Rockland County, New York. Everything around it is rolling hill. It runs to roughly 43 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Roughly 1.2 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Start from Thiells, 4.9 miles down the road. The big place round here is Paterson, 23 miles distant. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Lake Askoti

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. County-wide records name common carp, striped bass, bluegill, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Lake Askoti rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 71°F; the cold one sits at 26°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. That is the shape of the year on Lake Askoti.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Lake Skannatati at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Lake Askoti is worth confirming on the day.