Fishing at Bloodsucker Pond, Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  New York holds Bloodsucker Pond, in Herkimer County. It lies 1,923 feet above sea level. At roughly 6 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Herkimer County list. For supplies, Boonville is 17 miles out. Lowville is 27 miles and Oriskany 34 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Bloodsucker Pond

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Herkimer County, recorded fish include white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout, brown bullhead and brown trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Bloodsucker Pond to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 65°F and January reads 15°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Bloodsucker Pond runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Bear Lake, 1.5 miles out. For Bloodsucker Pond in particular, ask before you travel.