Fishing Bochen Lake in Hamilton County, New York

• Overview

  Bochen Lake is one of the Hamilton County listings for New York. It lies 2,001 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 30 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. It is high ground by New York standards. Some 18 miles away sits Dolgeville, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Little Falls at 23 miles and Saint Johnsville at 25 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Bochen Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Hamilton County include lake trout, brook trout and yellow perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Fish Bochen Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 65°F and January about 15°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Bochen Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Feullard Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Bochen Lake in what we hold.