Fishing at Third Lake, Warren County, New York

• Overview

  Third Lake sits in Warren County, out in New York. The water sits 643 feet up. About 6 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Our Warren County list holds plenty of bigger water. Hadley is the closest town at 2.5 miles. Lake Luzerne follows at 2.7 miles, then Corinth at 7.4 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Third Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name brown trout, brook trout, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Third Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 18°F to 68°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Third Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Luzerne Campground & Day Use Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Fourth Lake, 0.5 miles away. Nothing here settles the position at Third Lake for certain.