Fishing at Oscawana Lake, Putnam County, New York

• Overview

  Out in Putnam County, New York, sits Oscawana Lake. Beyond the shoreline you have mixed woodland. At some 360 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. At about 4.6 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Few waters listed in Putnam County are bigger. The town to know is Shrub Oak, 5 miles out. It is 24 miles to North Stamford, the nearest city. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Oscawana Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Putnam County include brown trout, bluegill, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. On Oscawana Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 26°F. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. On Oscawana Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Mud Lake is 1.9 miles off. The position on Oscawana Lake is worth confirming on the day.