Smallmouth bass measuring longer than 20 inches are uncommon just about everywhere, but 3-pounders are routine. And 5-pounders are definitely possible in Meacham Lake, which also holds northern pike (including a few over 20 pounds, according to Preall) and some stocked splake, the sterile offspring of brook trout mated with lake trout.

Meacham's bass are found most commonly off the rocky east shore between Winnebago Creek and Roaring Brook. That's true not only in June, but throughout the season.

To find Meacham Lake on your map, start at the city of Malone on U.S. Route 20 in northern Franklin County and trace Route 30 south from there. From Utica, anglers may reach the lake by taking Route 28 north to Blue Mountain Lake and continuing on Route 30 through Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake and Paul Smiths. About 10 miles north of Paul Smiths is the right turn onto Meacham Road, which will leads to the 223-unit state campground on the lake's north shore.

One warning is in order. The launch on the lake is shallow and sand-bottomed and therefore, much better suited to carry-in, cartop boats than to big, heavy tournament-type vessels. For more information on the state's June bass-fishing prospects, log on to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation at www.dec.state.ny.us.