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Patchogue freshwater hot spot West Lake
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Consisting of 20 acres in size, West Lake is located in West Patchogue just north of Montauk Highway and west of Waverly Avenue. The lake is fed by Tuthills Creek and shares similar characteristics as most lakes dotting along the south shore of Long Island, feeder creeks and under ground springs on the north end and spillways on the south end. During the spring, the lake is stocked with 1,100 brown and rainbow trout and then another 400 brown trout in the fall.
Shore bound access at West Lake is located along the dam at Montauk Highway. It is here where anglers line the southern end of the lake in search of feisty trout, black bass and the usual assortment of pan fish. Though parking is not permitted lakeside along the north side of Montauk Highway, there is plenty of hassle free roadside parking across the street along the south side of the highway. For those wishing to hand launch canoes and small tin boats (electric motors only) into the lake, there is informal access available at the end of Marshall Street on the east end of the lake, as well as access at the end of Park Ave. located on the west side of the lake. Both accesses have shoreline launching with a limited amount of parking space. I would advise bringing along a pair of knee high rubber boots as you will need to wade out several feet in order to reach water depths deep enough to row without grounding out.
Super and regular Vibrax spinner baits in sizes 00-1 retrieved slowly just off the bottom are first rate on browns and rainbows in this lake. Mepps, Blue Fox and Rooster Tail spinners all do a fine job catching trout also. Gold or chrome 1/8 ounce Kastmaster or Phoebe spoons fished in the same manner are deadly as well. Spin casting outfits in the 4 to 6 pound class is best suited when employing these artificial’s. When all else fails, you can always rely on natural bait. Favorites include earth, wax and mealworms hooked once through the collar of a number 10 trout hook with a number 7 BB Split attached 12 to 18 inches above the hook.
Black bass also dominates West Lake and while the standard array of plugs, crank and spinner baits will produce, in my opinion as well as many other anglers that bass fish this lake, nothing beats either a 3 inch plastic black or chartreuse twin tail twister fished on a 1/8 ounce lead head and retrieved slowly over submerged cover. Bait casting or spinning outfits in the 6 to 8 pound class will work just fine here.
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