Sterling Forest Lake Fishing near Ringwood, New York

• Overview

  Sterling Forest Lake is an Orange County water, in New York. The sea is 16 miles distant. Roughly 112 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. About 1.8 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Size puts it in the front rank of our Orange County list. The nearest town is Ringwood, 3.5 miles away. For a city, Paterson is 17 miles off. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Sterling Forest Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Reported across Orange County: common carp, brook trout and bluegill. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Work Sterling Forest Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 72°F and January near 26°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. On Sterling Forest Lake that shapes the whole year. Long dry spells drop the level and concentrate them.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Sandy Beach Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Sterling Forest Lake before loading the car.