Formed by ancient glaciers, Lake Ronkonkoma is the largest and perhaps best known of Long Island's freshwater lakes.
Both the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation maintain fishing access points along the lake's 2.23 miles of shoreline.
DEC's angler parking area and boat ramp is located off Victory Drive and is always open for boat launching and fishing. Given its popularity both during the day and night, DEC Operations staff recently added solar lighting to the site to create better access to the property and added security.
"DEC is always interested in being supportive of community concerns," said DEC Regional Director Cathy Haas. "A big thanks to DEC Operations and Freshwater Fisheries Management staff who worked together to improve the freshwater fishing experience at Lake Ronkonkoma."
Lake Ronkonkoma is one of the deepest freshwater lakes on Long Island with portions of it reaching greater than 50 feet in depth.
Fish species in Lake Ronkonkoma include: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, yellow perch, white perch, carp, brown bullhead, walleye.
In the last two decades, white perch and yellow perch populations have increased to the point of upsetting the ecological balance of the lake. To control these species, the DEC began stocking walleye in 1994 and now walleye over 27 inches long can be caught.
For more information on Lake Ronkonkoma fishing opportunities, please visit DEC's website.