Lake Bonita, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Saratoga County, New York, sits Lake Bonita. It lies 866 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 43 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The full circuit measures close to 1.0 miles on foot. The nearest town is Wilton, 2.2 miles away. Further out sit Corinth (4.2 miles) and West Glens Falls (7.6 miles). You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake Bonita

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Saratoga County records list brown trout, pumpkinseed, white sucker and common carp among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Read Lake Bonita before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 69°F; by January the average is down near 19°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. On Lake Bonita the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is a car park at Lake Bonita Trailhead Parking, roughly half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Lake Ann is 0.8 miles distant. None of that is settled for Lake Bonita in what we hold.