The Vlaie near Middleburgh: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Vlaie lies within the bounds of Schoharie County, New York. It lies 1,161 feet above sea level. With some 119 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Shoreline comes to about 2.2 miles, small enough to learn in a day. It is among the larger waters listed here for Schoharie County. 4.8 miles away sits Middleburgh, the nearest town. Further out sit Berne (11 miles) and Durham (11 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on The Vlaie

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Schoharie County include brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and bluegill. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat The Vlaie as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 67°F, while January sits near 20°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The Vlaie fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Franklinton Vlaie Wildlife Management Area covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Crystal Lake is 5 miles distant. For The Vlaie, the notice at the access point is the final word.