Silver Lake Fishing in Sullivan County, New York

• Overview

  Set in Sullivan County, Silver Lake is a New York water. Elevation runs to 1,404 feet. At about 54 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 1.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Liberty sits 7.7 miles from the bank. After that come Monticello at 9.8 miles and South Fallsburg at 12 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Silver Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Sullivan County include brown trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass and white sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Silver Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 21°F in January up to 68°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Open water usually runs from early April until about mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Silver Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Bishops Pond is 1.6 miles distant. For Silver Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.