Swan Lake in Westchester County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Swan Lake lies within the bounds of Westchester County, New York. It sits at 331 feet above sea level. Small at around 16 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Hawthorne sits 2 miles from the bank. Further out sit Sleepy Hollow (2.1 miles) and Briarcliff Manor (2.5 miles). Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Swan Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Westchester County, recorded fish include common carp, striped bass and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Treat Swan Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 74°F and January near 29°F on the long-run figures. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Swan Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out. Short days concentrate it into a narrow window.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Visitor Parking gives parking half a mile away. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Pocantico Lake is 0.6 miles off. For Swan Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.