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

• Overview

  Loon Lake is a Franklin County water, New York side. It sits at 1,660 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 19 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Saranac Lake sits 11 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Ville-Marie, 76 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Loon Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name brook trout, white sucker, brown trout and yellow perch. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. At Loon Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 13°F in January up to 65°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The water is typically free of ice between late April and early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. That shapes the year on Loon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Clear Pond, 0.4 miles out. Check the position at Loon Lake before loading the car.