When do Sullivan County NY Lakes usually thaw?

[Pkfish49]

I picked up freshwater fishing last year after a long absence.  Last season, the lakes thawed between the 1st and second week of April.  Is this normal, or are there years when the lakes have taken much later to thaw?

[Deleted account]

Don't know about now after the Global warming, but in the 80s and 90s 1st week of April was the norm, but every year is different, plus/minus 2 weeks wasn't unusual. Spent a lot of time in Superior, Toronto, White, Hunter, Mangaup, and a bunch of ponds up there, as well as some really good brookie streams. Go get 'um. Prospect Park, or Bailey pond can help with that PB. I'm in NYC a lot April-October, so I get my fix wherever I can up there. 

 

[Last_Cast]

NYC area is tough.

[Deleted account]

14 hours ago, Last_Cast said:

NYC area is tough.

Yes, but if you go a little west, east or north, there are (were) some decent places. Staten Island has a couple of spots, and the pizza is a plus. Most NYC anglers are salt water guys, more options.

[CaptPete]

I can't give you exact dates... But I live in sullivan county, and can gladly give water/ice reports. Just let me know what bodies of water you're most interested in. I try to keep an eye on several  

 

many have ice right now, some do not(or its quite thin). Also bear in mind some of the lakes are closed to fishing at the moment. (Eagle habitat)

 

still in winter mode for the most part

 

 

[Last_Cast]

4 hours ago, reason said:

Yes, but if you go a little west, east or north, there are (were) some decent places. Staten Island has a couple of spots, and the pizza is a plus. Most NYC anglers are salt water guys, more options.

Agreed.

Only reason im ever in Staten Island is for Tim Hortons or for work...

Hope the fishing is decent, unlike the people living there =p

[Pkfish49]

On 3/21/2018 at 10:49 AM, CaptPete said:

I can't give you exact dates... But I live in sullivan county, and can gladly give water/ice reports. Just let me know what bodies of water you're most interested in. I try to keep an eye on several  

 

many have ice right now, some do not(or its quite thin). Also bear in mind some of the lakes are closed to fishing at the moment. (Eagle habitat)

 

still in winter mode for the most part

 

 

Many thanks for the scouting report offer!

 

I'm depressed every day when I look at the Liberty temperature, but I think last year's weather patterns were similar, so I'm still optimistic for a mid-April thaw.

 

These lakes are all near each other and I suspect that they all thaw around the same time:

 

Swan Lake in Swan Lake.

 

Lake Superior State Park (don't know the proper name for the lake inside the park) in Bethel.

 

White Lake in White Lake - I don't fish there much because the shore access sucks, but the state of the lake will give me a good indication of nearby bodies of water.

 

Swinging Bridge Reservoir in Monticello.

 

If you know the state of the water in these lakes, please let me know—especially when they thaw!

 

While I have you as a Sullivan County resource, I have questions about public access:

 

There are literally > 200 bodies of water not too far from where I stay.  I got all excited last winter when I made the mistake of relying on the internet to tell me that most of them were public bodies of water, but was bombarded with "posted" signs when I drove by many of them.  Within a 20-30 minute drive from Liberty, other than the lakes that I mentioned, do you know of any good bodies of water with public shore access?  I rent an outboard at Swinging Bridge, but I don't have a boat, so I primarily shore cast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CaptPete]

Shore access: oof...  I'm the wrong guy to ask about shore access. You're right about only small public access areas around here, limits shore access for sure.

 

Have you tried Bashakill Marsh? it was fishable a few weeks ago, I bet it still is too, due to current. The northwest side is the place to be. Theres trails along the water there. few holes you can get to easily. All public access.

 

Or the Delaware river is accessible now too, on the NY side atleast, still lots of ice in areas on the PA side.

 

As for as Superior and swinging bridge, no problems, I keep an eye on those two normally. I'll PM 

 

[Pkfish49]

40 minutes ago, CaptPete said:

Shore access: oof...  I'm the wrong guy to ask about shore access. You're right about only small public access areas around here, limits shore access for sure.

 

Have you tried Bashakill Marsh? it was fishable a few weeks ago, I bet it still is too, due to current. The northwest side is the place to be. Theres trails along the water there. few holes you can get to easily. All public access.

 

Or the Delaware river is accessible now too, on the NY side atleast, still lots of ice in areas on the PA side.

 

As for as Superior and swinging bridge, no problems, I keep an eye on those two normally. I'll PM 

 

Got the P.M.

 

I've never been to Bashakill Marsh - I'll have to check it out.

 

Ty

[CaptPete]

Update as of 1pm EST 3/27/18:

 

Swinging Bridge: Water level is low, good 2" of ice at the ramp, obviously some thin ice in places, but no open water readily seen

 

Superior: Thin ice, 1" or so at the ramp, no open water

 

Toronto: Some open water, presumably due to releasing water (I didn't get a chance to check the ramp, ran out of time, but it looked to be iced over from my long distance view)

 

White: Some open water, but not near the ramp, still some 1.5"+ ice

 

Highland lake: Open water! (This lake is private but you can pay to launch at Sand Beach, not sure if they are technically open yet though...)

 

several other small private waters are open as well... 

[Deleted account]

You guys are making me nostalgic. I spent a lot of time fishing up there as a kid. We had a place in Jeffersonville, and fished all over up there. I may need to make a trip. 

[Pkfish49]

8 hours ago, CaptPete said:

Update as of 1pm EST 3/27/18:

 

Swinging Bridge: Water level is low, good 2" of ice at the ramp, obviously some thin ice in places, but no open water readily seen

 

Superior: Thin ice, 1" or so at the ramp, no open water

 

Toronto: Some open water, presumably due to releasing water (I didn't get a chance to check the ramp, ran out of time, but it looked to be iced over from my long distance view)

 

White: Some open water, but not near the ramp, still some 1.5"+ ice

 

Highland lake: Open water! (This lake is private but you can pay to launch at Sand Beach, not sure if they are technically open yet though...)

 

several other small private waters are open as well... 

Thanks for all of the updates!

[Pkfish49]

Replying with my own depressing intel - 04/06/2018 - 5:30 P.M. EDT:

 

Swan lake and Hunter Lake - Both still frozen.  Reports aren't specific enough to denote the thickness of the ice.  Things aren't looking good for the near future—this morning, it was 23-27 F and snowing in the Liberty area.

[CaptPete]

I'll do a drive by tomorrow and give an update, but I suspect most are accessible now. Or atleast theres enough options open :wink: 

[CaptPete]

totally forgot to update this. Ice is gone  been busy between boat prep and fishing. Went out today water temps are coming up rapidly, it's that time  

[Pkfish49]

23 hours ago, CaptPete said:

totally forgot to update this. Ice is gone  been busy between boat prep and fishing. Went out today water temps are coming up rapidly, it's that time  

NP - I went out on the weekend of April 20th and scored a fair number of Yellow Perch.  Evidently the warm (>70f) Saturday before killed the remaining Ice.

[CaptPete]

Perch: cool!

 

I went out the past two nights, headed out again tonight. Water temps around here seem to be ranging from mid 40's to some of the smaller waters/shallow coves having 51-52* water. Past few days have been warm, so I expect 55+ very soon.

 

caught quite a few males right next to bedding areas last night, big girls still lingering a bit deeper