Silver Lake Fishing near Lake Placid, New York

• Overview

  Silver Lake stands in Clinton County, New York. The setting is lake country bush. It measures some 792 acres, and wind has room to build across it. You are looking at roughly 6.5 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. On our Clinton County list it sits near the top for size. Lake Placid at 16 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Ville-Marie is 70 miles off. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Silver Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Clinton County cover brown trout, white sucker and brook trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Read Silver Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 66°F, while January sits near 15°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Silver Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Taylor Pond is 1.7 miles off. Check the position at Silver Lake before loading the car.