Mountain Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Ulster County entry here is Mountain Lake, in New York. Elevation runs to 2,162 feet. At roughly 15 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Compared with other New York water on our list, it sits high. The nearest town is Livingston Manor, 12 miles away. Albany sits 64 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Mountain Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Ulster County records list common carp, brown trout, brook trout and goldfish among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Mountain Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 65°F and January near 19°F on the long-run figures. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan around that when you fish Mountain Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Big Pond, 0.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Mountain Lake carry more weight than any list.