Lake Gay in Herkimer County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Herkimer County end of New York holds Lake Gay. The surroundings are mixed forest. It covers about 11 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Some 17 miles away sits Boonville, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Oriskany (20 miles) and Utica (20 miles). Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Lake Gay

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Herkimer County, recorded fish include white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout, brown bullhead and brown trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Lake Gay the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 66°F in July and bottoms out near 17°F in January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Lake Gay runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Lake Charlotte at 0.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Lake Gay before loading the car.