Fishing First Lake, Fulton Chain Lakes in Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  Set in Herkimer County, First Lake, Fulton Chain Lakes is a New York water. What surrounds it is pine and birch. Boonville lies 26 miles from the water. For a city, Syracuse is 77 miles off. Within easy reach: Second Lake, Fulton Chain Lakes after 0.7 miles, 1.1 miles out stands Twin Pond, Third Lake, Fulton Chain Lakes after 1.5 miles, 1.9 miles out stands Little Moose Lake and East Bay after 2.1 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on First Lake, Fulton Chain Lakes

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Herkimer County, recorded fish include white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout and brown bullhead. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On First Lake, Fulton Chain Lakes that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 64°F in July and bottom out at 13°F in January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. The season on First Lake, Fulton Chain Lakes rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Second Lake, Fulton Chain Lakes at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. For First Lake, Fulton Chain Lakes in particular, ask before you travel.