Fishing Half Moon Pond in Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  The Herkimer County end of New York holds Half Moon Pond. The setting is mixed forest on every side. Surface area runs to about 21 acres — small enough to read in one session. The nearest town is Boonville, 24 miles away. Lowville follows at 24 miles, then Carthage at 34 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Half Moon Pond

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout and brown bullhead. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Half Moon Pond a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 64°F; by January the average is down near 14°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Half Moon Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Gibbs Lake, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Half Moon Pond are worth checking on the day.