Fishing Upper Lake in St. Lawrence County, New York

• Overview

  Upper Lake is set in St. Lawrence County, New York. Tidal water begins 38 miles from here. At about 43 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Canton sits 4 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Beyond it, Ogdensburg at 13 miles and Hannawa Falls at 14 miles. Nearby alternatives: Lower Lake within 3 miles, Osborn Lake out at 12 miles, Mud Lake within 13 miles, Shingle Pond out at 14 miles and Bullhead Pond within 15 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Upper Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in St. Lawrence County include rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and white sucker. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Upper Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 15°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Upper Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Upper And Lower Lakes 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. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Lower Lake, 3 miles out. Where Upper Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.