Lake Clear in Franklin County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Clear is one of the Franklin County listings for New York. The surroundings are lake country bush. About 1,108 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. You are looking at roughly 5.9 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. On our Franklin County list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Saranac Lake, is 6.6 miles distant. Tupper Lake follows at 14 miles, then Lake Placid at 15 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Lake Clear

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Franklin County: brook trout, white sucker, brown trout and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Take Lake Clear a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 65°F and January near 13°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. On average, late April opens the water and early December closes it again. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Time your trip to Lake Clear by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Saint Germain Pond sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Lake Clear locally before you travel.