Fishing First Lake in Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  First Lake is listed under Herkimer County, New York. The bank is 2,037 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 152 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 2.7 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It ranks high for size among our Herkimer County listings. Boonville sits 22 miles from the bank. After that come Lowville at 31 miles and Dolgeville at 36 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on First Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Herkimer County names white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout and brown bullhead. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On First Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 64°F and January near 14°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Anyone fishing First Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Sylvan Ponds at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish First Lake.