Fishing Silver Lake in Otsego County, New York

• Overview

  Set in Otsego County, New York, this is Silver Lake. It lies 1,063 feet above sea level. The water covers some 31 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. For supplies, Sherburne is 10 miles out. Norwich follows at 11 miles, then West End at 15 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Silver Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. Across Otsego County, recorded fish include brown trout, brook trout, white sucker, common carp and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of Silver Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 20°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Open water usually runs from early April until about mid December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Anyone fishing Silver Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Hunt Pond at 2.2 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Silver Lake may have changed since it was mapped.