Fishing Newark Reservoir in Ontario County, New York

• Overview

  New York holds Newark Reservoir, in Ontario County. Height above sea level is 689 feet. Around 98 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. A shoreline of some 2.3 miles keeps the choices simple. Phelps lies 2.4 miles from the water. Rochester is the closest city, 30 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Newark Reservoir

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Public occurrence data for Ontario County names alewife, rock bass, white sucker and tessellated darter. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The near bank of Newark Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 71°F and January near 23°F on the long-run figures. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. From about early April to around late December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. At Newark Reservoir the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Burnett Pond is 6.8 miles distant. Ask locally about Newark Reservoir if anything is unclear.