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Rating depth structure for brook trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
45.9-acre lake near Hardenburgh. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Alder Lake maps at 45 acres behind 1.3 miles of shoreline. Nearly circular (index 1.4), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. 83% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.4 mi with a 0.3-mi widest point. It sits in Ulster County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Big Pond, is 2 mi to the west.
Come spring, look for brook trout tight to the bank in 2 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 20 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 20 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Early season brown bullhead use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 20 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) |
Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 20 ft.
Access data: New York State DEC — Boat Launches (FishNY). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New York waters are set by the New York DEC — and special regulations can apply to Alder Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Alder Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target brook trout, brown bullhead on Alder Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Alder Lake is regulated by the New York DEC. Check the official New York regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Big Pond 2 mi · Mongaup Pond 6 mi · Pepacton Reservoir 9 mi · Beaverkill 10 mi · Neversink Reservoir 14 mi · Shandelee Lake 15 mi · Rondout Reservoir 18 mi · Morningside Lake 20 mi · Anawana Lake 24 mi · Schoharie Reservoir 25 mi · Honk Lake 26 mi · White Lake 27 mi
See how Alder Lake stacks up: best brook trout lakes in New York · best brown bullhead lakes in New York
More water nearby: Ulster County fishing maps (5 charts). Browse all New York fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.