Fishing Black Lake

AKA: Nature's Fish Hatchery

Popular Fish Species
Black Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Black Lake, NY

Popular Fish Species Black Lake, NY

Black Crappie Fishing

Black Lake holds a plentiful population of black crappie, which are fat and healthy this year. Crappie fishing is easy and requires simple, basic gear. Any fishing pole, reasonably small line and crappie jigs or small hooks baited with live bait, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to maintain. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing is often a great way to catch a nice bunch of slabs. Because crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Black Lake Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Black Lake is considered one of the top bass fishing lakes in the region, as it has been for several years now. Anglers are catching bass in good numbers with largemouth bass in the 4 to 6-pound range showing up with some regularity. A history of careful fisheries management by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has helped to maintain a thriving bass fishery. Anglers can also catch smallmouth bass, which reside here in decent numbers. Recent results by bass fishing tournament participants, attest to the fact that fishing for largemouth bass has been quite rewarding, with an occasional bass over 6 pounds being weighed in. On Black Lake, bass often move shallow and become fairly aggressive when they are in a feeding mood. If they seem disinterested in your presentations, try slowing down and use smaller, lighter baits. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, drop shot rigs, big worms, jigs and spoons are good options. In winter, spend your time fishing deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time. In winter when the lake freezes over and the ice is safe, bass can be caught while ice fishing.

Northern Pike Fishing

Northern pike are voracious feeders and they have the tools necessary to catch and eat pretty much any food source in the lake. Northerns are very agile and powerful, plus they have big mouths with very sharp teeth. They are currently thriving in the cool waters of Black Lake. This year they are being caught in good quantity and some mighty big sizes. April and May are the best months of the year for northern pike fishing here. Summer is spotty but pike can be caught all summer long. Fall can also be good sometimes stretching into October. Large, flashy lures that mimic the bait they prey upon are great lures for northerns. Effective lures include spoons, spinners, and crankbaits, particularly those with bright colors or metallic finishes to attract the pike's attention. Additionally, big flies, soft plastic swimbaits and jerkbaits can be successful, especially when retrieved erratically to mimic wounded prey. Trolling along weed edges can often entice strikes. When the lake has safe ice in winter, ice fishing for northern pike can be quite thrilling. Use GPS to locate spots you normally find northern pike holding during summer. Portable fish finders can also be a big help.

Black Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, walleye, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike at Black Lake in New York.

Widely recognized as the top crappie lake in the area, Black Lake is a 7,600-acre lake in the northwest part of the state with a nice mix of fish species. Anglers can explore over 60 miles of shoreline in search of crappie, bass, walleye, perch and northern pike.

One of the standout species in Black Lake is the northern pike. In addition to northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, and panfishall thrive here.

A concrete boat launch ramp allows launching of motor boats, with no limit on horsepower. Canoes, kayaks, row boats and car toppers can be trekked to many areas around the lake for launching, with some of these ares giving access to fishing from the bank. Rental boats, fishing tackle, bait, groceries, dining and lodging are all available at the lake. All species are caught each year while ice fishing. An annual ice fishing derby is held the first weekend in February by the Black Lake Fish and Game Club.

Primary fish species residing in Black Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Black Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Cedar Grove Camps
Rentals: Fishing boats and pontoon boats
315 375-6305

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Black Lake State Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off County Road 6, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and gravel parking.

Rollaway Bay Kayak & Canoe Launch
Located mid lake, east side, off Black Lake Road, this is a portage area with gravel parking.