Fishing Tuscarora Lake in Madison County, New York

• Overview

  Tuscarora Lake lies in Madison County, New York. The surface lies 1,503 feet up. At 314 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The edge covers about 3.9 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. Few waters listed in Madison County are bigger. 6.3 miles away sits Morrisville, the nearest town. Syracuse is the closest city, 24 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Tuscarora Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name brown trout, white sucker, bluegill, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The shape of Tuscarora Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 19°F in January. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near mid December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Tuscarora Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Eaton Reservoir is 2.9 miles distant. Nothing on Tuscarora Lake should be assumed from this page alone.