Fishing at Ilion Reservoir Number Two, Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  Out in Herkimer County, New York, sits Ilion Reservoir Number Two. The water sits 922 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 11 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Ilion, 2.5 miles off. The nearest city of size is Syracuse, 55 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Ilion Reservoir Number Two

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Survey and observation records for Herkimer County include white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout, brown bullhead and brown trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish Ilion Reservoir Number Two where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 19°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. The season on Ilion Reservoir Number Two follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Ilion Reservoir Number One, 0.7 miles out. Check the position on Ilion Reservoir Number Two before loading the car.