Diana Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Diana Pond lies within the bounds of Herkimer County, New York. This is pine and birch country. Surface area is around 30 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Compared with other New York water on our list, it sits high. Lowville is the closest place, 27 miles off. Carthage is 30 miles away, with West Carthage at 30 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Diana Pond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Herkimer County: white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout, brown bullhead and brown trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Diana Pond the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 64°F at the top of summer and 13°F at the bottom of winter. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It holds true on Diana Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Bear Pond at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Diana Pond if anything is unclear.