Lyon Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Ulster County in New York is where Lyon Lake sits. The bank is 581 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 35 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Head to Wawarsing, 1.5 miles away, for anything you forgot. Paterson sits 60 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lyon Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Ulster County: common carp, brown trout, brook trout and goldfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Lyon Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 70°F, the coldest about 23°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Open water usually runs from late March until about late December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on Lyon Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Honk Lake, 2.2 miles away. Ask locally about Lyon Lake if anything is unclear.