Cedar Lakes in Hamilton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Hamilton County, New York. It lies 2,448 feet above sea level. About 313 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. It is among the larger waters listed here for Hamilton County. The closest town, Northville, is 33 miles away. The big place round here is Albany, 78 miles distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Cedar Lakes

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Hamilton County list lake trout, brook trout and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. On Cedar Lakes the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 62°F in July and bottom out at 12°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Cedar Lakes runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. 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. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Beaver Pond at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. For Cedar Lakes, the notice at the access point is the final word.