Fishing Pug Hole in Warren County, New York

• Overview

  Out in Warren County, New York, sits Pug Hole. It sits at 1,903 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Warren County list. Warrensburg sits 26 miles from here and is the nearest stop. North Elba is 32 miles away, with Lake Placid at 34 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Pug Hole

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Open biodiversity records for Warren County list brown trout, brook trout, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and white sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Pug Hole gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 64°F and January near 15°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at early December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Pug Hole that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. You can camp 0.9 miles off, which suits an early start. OK Slip Pond Primitive Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. O K Slip Pond at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Pug Hole.