Fishing Chub Lake in Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  Within Herkimer County, New York, you have Chub Lake. Elevation runs to 1,982 feet. Surface area is around 45 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 1.0 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. By elevation it is in the upper part of our New York listings. For supplies, Tupper Lake is 32 miles out. Syracuse is the closest city, 87 miles away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Chub Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Public occurrence data for Herkimer County names white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout, brown bullhead and brown trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Chub Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 64°F and January near 13°F on the long-run figures. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Chub Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Constable Pond at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Chub Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.