Sidwell Lake near Barryville: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Sidwell Lake is a Sullivan County water, New York side. Land around it is rolling bush. It runs to roughly 81 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. On our Sullivan County list it sits near the top for size. 5.3 miles away sits Barryville, the nearest town. Paterson sits 57 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Sidwell Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Sullivan County records list brown trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass, white sucker and rainbow trout among the fish reported. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Sidwell Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 22°F to 69°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. The lid tends to go about early April and return around mid December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Sidwell Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Sullivan Forest Preserve Detached Parcel covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Blind Pond is 1.6 miles distant. Nothing on Sidwell Lake should be assumed from this page alone.