South Colton Reservoir in St. Lawrence County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for South Colton Reservoir in the St. Lawrence County part of New York. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. The water covers some 227 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge covers about 3.8 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. Few waters listed in St. Lawrence County are bigger. The town to know is Hannawa Falls, 7.9 miles out. It is 68 miles to Gloucester, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on South Colton Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. St. Lawrence County records list rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At South Colton Reservoir the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 14°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On South Colton Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Five Falls Reservoir is 1.5 miles distant. None of that is settled for South Colton Reservoir in what we hold.