Toronto Lake Fishing in Sullivan County, New York

• Overview

  Toronto Lake is one of the Sullivan County listings for New York. The bank gives way to lake country bush. It runs to roughly 81 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 1.6 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Supplies mean a trip to Monticello, 10 miles off. Further out sit Barryville (11 miles) and Liberty (14 miles). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Toronto Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Sullivan County: brown trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass, white sucker and rainbow trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Toronto Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 68°F, the coldest about 22°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Toronto Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Crystal Lake at 1.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Toronto Lake are worth checking on the day.