Fishing at Dismal Pond, Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  In New York, Dismal Pond falls inside Herkimer County. It sits in lake country bush country. Roughly 63 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The edge runs 2.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Few waters listed in Herkimer County are bigger. The closest town, Lowville, is 28 miles away. The big place round here is Kingston, 77 miles distant. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Dismal Pond

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Public occurrence data for Herkimer County names white sucker, yellow perch and brook trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Dismal Pond repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 13°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Time your trip to Dismal Pond by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lower Beech Ridge Pond sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Dismal Pond before loading the car.