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Fishing Arnold Lake: what the data says
63.7-acre lake near Hartwick. The lake tops out around 60 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Arnold Lake maps at 66 acres behind 1.5 miles of shoreline. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.3) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. About 16% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone.
Yellow Perch fishing at Arnold Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 15 to 35 ft for winter. The spot to know is Back-bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Back-bay flat (6 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (60 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (60 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Brown Bullhead fishing at Arnold Lake
Come spring, look for brown bullhead tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 25 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands 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 (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Back-bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (60 ft) |
Rock Bass fishing at Arnold Lake
Start shallow in spring: rock bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 12 to 30 ft. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 34 ft of water that rates good for rock bass in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening. Throw a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (51 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 12 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (60 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Arnold Lake
When the water first warms, smallmouth bass slide up into 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 20 to 45 ft one. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 51 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (51 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Brown Trout fishing at Arnold Lake
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 25 to 60 ft before dropping to 5 to 35 ft for winter. Summer brown trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 51 ft. Fish it in after dark and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (51 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (51 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Arnold Lake
Spring rainbow trout on Arnold Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. The chart's best answer is Main-lake point — point, 34 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (51 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Arnold Lake also holds chain pickerel (3 to 15 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 60 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 51 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 34 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
Arnold Lake stocking report
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026* | Brown Trout | 360 | ~8" |
| June 2026* | Rainbow Trout | 420 | ~8" |
| June 2025* | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | ~4.2" |
| April 2025* | Brown Trout | 360 | ~7.1" |
| April 2025* | Rainbow Trout | 420 | ~8.5" |
| November 2024* | Rainbow Trout | 1,130 | ~6" |
| April 2024* | Brown Trout | 360 | ~8.4" |
| April 2024* | Rainbow Trout | 420 | ~8.9" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: NYSDEC fish-stocking lists, retrieved 2026-07-29.
Arnold 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 Arnold Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Arnold Lake?
Arnold Lake is about 60 ft (18 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 Arnold Lake?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, bluegill, rainbow trout, yellow perch, brown trout, chain pickerel, rock bass, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on Arnold Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Arnold Lake?
Back-bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Arnold Lake?
For yellow perch, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Is Arnold Lake stocked with fish?
Yes — per NYSDEC fish-stocking lists records, Arnold Lake was most recently stocked June 2026 with 360 brown trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
What are the fishing regulations for Arnold Lake?
Fishing on Arnold 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
Goodyear Lake 7 mi · Otsego Lake 12 mi · Canadarago Lake 14 mi · Schoharie Reservoir 33 mi · Pepacton Reservoir 37 mi · Arctic Lake 37 mi · Cannonsville Reservoir 37 mi · Alder Lake 42 mi · Beaverkill 44 mi · East Caroga Lake 44 mi · West Caroga Lake 45 mi · Canada Lake 46 mi
See how Arnold Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in New York · best bluegill lakes in New York · best rainbow trout lakes in New York · best yellow perch 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.