Fishing Mad Tom Lake in Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  Mad Tom Lake is set in Herkimer County, New York. The water sits 1,696 feet up. About 2 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Herkimer County. Boonville is the closest town at 22 miles. Beyond it, Dolgeville at 23 miles and Little Falls at 26 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Mad Tom Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Herkimer County include white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout and brown bullhead. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Treat Mad Tom Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 16°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. That is the shape of the year on Mad Tom Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Mill Creek Lake, 1.4 miles away. Check the position at Mad Tom Lake before loading the car.