Fishing at Mountain Lakes, Orange County, New York

• Overview

  Mountain Lakes is listed under Orange County, New York. Around the bank it is mixed woodland. This is a pocket water of some 24 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Start from Monroe, 1.3 miles down the road. Beyond it, Kiryas Joel at 1.3 miles and Harriman at 1.4 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Mountain Lakes

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Orange County list common carp, brook trout, bluegill and pumpkinseed. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Mountain Lakes that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 25°F in January and 71°F in July. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Plan around that when you fish Mountain Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Forest Road Lake, 1.1 miles out. Ask locally about Mountain Lakes if anything is unclear.