Fishing at Mounts Creek Lake, Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  Within Herkimer County, New York, you have Mounts Creek Lake. The country here is rolling bush. At 15 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Dolgeville lies 16 miles from the water. It is 69 miles to Syracuse, the nearest city. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Mounts Creek Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Herkimer County include white sucker, yellow perch and brook trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Mounts Creek Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 16°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on Mounts Creek Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Deer Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Mounts Creek Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.