Barnes Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Barnes Lake is one of the Lewis County listings for New York. The land about it is rolling bush. Surface area runs to about 10 acres — small enough to read in one session. Nearest town is Boonville, 7.9 miles off. Lowville lies 20 miles off, Rome another 27 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Barnes Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Public occurrence data for Lewis County names white sucker, brown trout and pumpkinseed. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Barnes Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 66°F at the top of summer and 16°F at the bottom of winter. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Barnes Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Buck Lake is 1.2 miles distant. Check the position at Barnes Lake before loading the car.