Upper Saranac Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Franklin County, New York, is where Upper Saranac Lake sits. The land about it is rolling bush. Surface area runs to some 7.6 sq miles, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. The bank runs about 41 miles in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Of the waters listed here in Franklin County, this is the largest. 8.6 miles away sits Tupper Lake, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Ville-Marie, 91 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Upper Saranac Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Franklin County, recorded fish include brook trout, white sucker, brown trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Upper Saranac Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 14°F to 65°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It holds true on Upper Saranac Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Fish Creek Ponds at 1.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Upper Saranac Lake before loading the car.