Ilion Reservoir Number Three, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Herkimer County entry here is Ilion Reservoir Number Three, in New York. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. It measures about 38 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. About 0.9 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Some 2.1 miles away sits Ilion, the nearest settlement. Syracuse is the closest city, 57 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Ilion Reservoir Number Three

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Across Herkimer County, recorded fish include white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout, brown bullhead and brown trout. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Ilion Reservoir Number Three fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 19°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan around that when you fish Ilion Reservoir Number Three.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Ilion Reservoir Number One, 1.4 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Ilion Reservoir Number Three for certain.