Malone Memorial Rec Park Lake as photographed by Jon Chodat of Dancing Sun Photography.
It's time to cast a line!
There are a lot of opportunities for open water fishing when you have a branch of the Little Salmon River running through your town.
If rivers aren't your thing, Malone has a stocked pond that is located on Reservoir Street, just off of College Avenue. This brown-trout-filled pond is kept for the younger generation to fish, with the only competition coming from the families of geese that have their nests on the north side of the pond. There is also the reservoir at the Malone Memorial Recreation Park, which Branch Brook pours into.
The best fishing in town
The best fishing in Malone can be found on the east side of town, just behind North County Community College. The Malone campus of NCCC is housed in the former Ballard Mill, and the old dam for the mill is still in place. There is plenty of parking and the grounds are beautiful and easily accessible.
One of the benefits of fishing here is that this section of the river is stocked for the Hendrickson Hatch Catch and Release Fly Fishing Tournament, which is held the first weekend in June. The event is a major attraction for fly fishermen and women of all ages. Registration is on Saturday, and fishing takes place on the Salmon River between the Chasm Falls dam and state Route 37 in Westville. Teams of two catch and measure their fish and total all the lengths together to determine the winner. After the competition, there's an evening reception at Donovan's Steak and Ale on Saturday, and a chicken and ribs barbecue on Sunday at the college campus. No one goes away hungry!
Just north of Malone, on Park Street, is a little-known fishing spot that's accessible to people of all abilities. There is great parking and a sturdy platform that is set right over a small pool, just before it drops a few feet. The fish love it there, and so do the fishermen and women!
Just outside of Malone
Perhaps the most stunning place to fish in the Malone Region is Chateaugay Chasm. Home to a 120-foot waterfall, the chasm has it all -- spectacular scenery, ruggedness, and great fishing!
Also not far from Malone is Chateaugay Lake, which is a hot spot for great fishing. Brook and rainbow trout are stocked in both the lake and the Chateaugay River, which has many access points along its journey through Chateaugay. Travel south on Route 30 and you will come to some of the best lake fishing there is. Lake Titus, Deer River Flow, Clear Pond, and Meachum Lake are just a few of the options. Most of the lakes are on state land and have great access points. They are all a short trek from their respective parking areas, and some even offer camping spots. Nothing is better than a fishing spot that offers a place to cook your catch and pitch a tent.
If you'd rather fish in a river, there is a smaller branch of the Little Salmon River that travels through Brushton and Bombay before finally joining the Malone branch in the town of Fort Covington. There are many spots in each town that offer access to the river and its fish.
In the Malone Region, accessing fishing spots is not the challenge; the challenge is finding time to fish them all. The best advice is to always have your poles in the car and a fly tied to the string, because the fishing areas in northern Franklin County are close together and readily available.
To learn even more about fishing in the Malone Region, hire a guide. Want to make a weekend out of your fishing adventure? Check out our lodging options.
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