Eldridge Lake in Elmira has lost some of its former esthetics, but hey, you can just drive right up to it, park and fish. There is a trout derby here every spring which draws HORDES of people. Rest of the year, it has a surprising variety of fish - including northern pike, in addition to the usual carp, sunnies, etc. From Clemens Center Parkway, turn onto East Woodlawn Avenue, then a quick right before Robinson's Lumber. No entrance fee.

Dension Park Pond is located on the left as you enter Corning going west on the Gibson Bridge. The pond there has scads of stunted little sunfish that will bite on a bare hook, if you get them excited enough! And there are some decent sized carp, too. One local swears by bagel chunks here for carp. No entrance fee.

Horseheads fishing pond is an easily accessible, shallow pond on Mill Street (off Franklin). It is stocked with trout by the Chemung Federation of Sportsmen, and while regular inland trout season applies - no fishing before April 1st - this pond is restricted to kids 15 years old, and younger, only, and there is a two trout daily limit. There is usually a kids-only fishing derby in the spring (check with the Horseheads Village Youth Bureau). Handicapped persons may also fish the pond, but only after receiving a permit from the Village of Horseheads. No entrance fee.

Watkins Glen. The Pier, the docks, Clute Park, all are an easy walk from the parking lot, and offer perch, other sunfish, and a chance at carp, landlocks, browns, bass, and other species. Fee for Clute Park entrance in summer.

Mount Pisgah State Park has a 10 acre lake stocked with all sorts of fish, and very easy access. Also has a swimming pool, canoe and boat rentals, hiking trails, and picnic areas. Ice fishing in winter. About 30 minutes south of Wellsburg, near East Smithfield, PA. And its FREE!

Park Station, in Erin, NY is a Chemung country park with a large lake containing sunnies, perch, bass, and trout (stocked). Also has a sandy swimming beach, playground, picnic areas, boat launch and rentals, campgrounds, hiking trails, and a special dock for wheelchair-bound, kids, seniors, and others to fish from. A good place to start your kids ice-fishing too. Chemung County Transit runs bus routes here in the summer. Entrance fee Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Bird's Eye Hollow is a former Steuben County park now run by the DEC, in the middle of nowhere. Take Exit 40 on Route 17 (Savona), go north on Rt. 226. Left on Myers Road, left on next road (name?), then right on Birdseye Hollow Road. It has a variety of warmwater fish - sunnies, bass, pickerel, and bullheads, and has a large fishing dock for the wheelchair-bound and others.

Spencer Crest Nature Center, in Corning, NY. An easily accessible small pond with a mowed dam area makes for a safe yet secluded spot to try for sunnies and the occassional bass or pickerel. Located on Spencer Hill Road. Park in lot near road and follow path 1/4 mile through woods to the pond.