Fishing Massawepie Lake in St. Lawrence County, New York

• Overview

  St. Lawrence County, New York, is where Massawepie Lake sits. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. Around 5.0 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our St. Lawrence County list. Nearest place of any size is Tupper Lake, 9.5 miles away. Gloucester sits 90 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Massawepie Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for St. Lawrence County include rock bass, smallmouth bass and pumpkinseed. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Massawepie Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 13°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Massawepie Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Horseshoe Pond is 0.4 miles distant. For Massawepie Lake in particular, ask before you travel.