Fourth Lake, Fultoon Chain Lakes Fishing Guide, Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  Set in Herkimer County, New York, this is Fourth Lake, Fultoon Chain Lakes. The surface lies 1,699 feet up. Surface area runs to roughly 3.3 sq miles, so plan for one area rather than the whole. Shoreline length is close to 14 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. On our Herkimer County list it sits near the top for size. Start from Boonville, 31 miles down the road. Lowville lies 32 miles off, Tupper Lake another 37 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Fourth Lake, Fultoon Chain Lakes

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Public occurrence data for Herkimer County names white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout, brown bullhead and brown trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Fourth Lake, Fultoon Chain Lakes light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 13°F in January to roughly 64°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. At Fourth Lake, Fultoon Chain Lakes the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Surprise Pond is 0.4 miles off. For Fourth Lake, Fultoon Chain Lakes in particular, ask before you travel.