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Fishing Alder Lake: what the data says
45.9-acre lake near Hardenburgh. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The drawn water covers 45 acres wrapped in 1.3 miles of bank. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.4) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. 84% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water.
Brook Trout fishing at Alder Lake
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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 20 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 (9 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Brown Bullhead fishing at Alder Lake
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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Back-bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Back-bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 20 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 17 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 9 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
Alder Lake fishing regulations
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 →
Common questions
How deep is Alder Lake?
Alder Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Alder Lake?
Anglers target brook trout, brown bullhead on Alder Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot 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.
When is the best time to fish Alder Lake?
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.
What are the fishing regulations for Alder Lake?
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.
Nearby waters
Pepacton Reservoir 9 mi · Beaverkill 10 mi · Neversink Reservoir 14 mi · Rondout Reservoir 18 mi · Schoharie Reservoir 25 mi · Honk Lake 26 mi · White Lake 27 mi · Ashokan Reservoir 28 mi · Delaware River (Upper) 29 mi, NY/PA · Lake Huntington 30 mi · Cannonsville Reservoir 31 mi · Sturgeon Pool 36 mi
See how Alder Lake stacks up: best brook trout lakes in New York · best brown bullhead lakes in New York
Browse all New York fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.