Fishing Cary Lake in Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  This water sits in Herkimer County, New York. Land around it is pine and birch. At 19 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The nearest town is Boonville, 29 miles away. It is 80 miles to Syracuse, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply. The surroundings are ordinary; the fishing is the reason to come.

• Where to Fish on Cary Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Herkimer County: white sucker, yellow perch and brook trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Work Cary Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 64°F on average, January about 13°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Anyone fishing Cary Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Fly Pond sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. For Cary Lake in particular, ask before you travel.