Fishing Stilwell Lake in Orange County, New York

• Overview

  You will find Stilwell Lake in Orange County, New York. The coast is 5 miles away. The water covers some 126 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 2.0 miles in total. On our Orange County list it sits near the top for size. Fort Montgomery lies 2.9 miles from the water. It is 29 miles to North Stamford, the nearest city. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Stilwell Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Across Orange County, recorded fish include common carp, brook trout and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Stilwell Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 71°F and January near 25°F on the long-run figures. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Stilwell Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Mine Lake is 0.4 miles distant. None of that is settled for Stilwell Lake in what we hold.