Muskrat Pond Fishing in Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  You will find Muskrat Pond in Herkimer County, New York. The water sits 1,965 feet up. At roughly 18 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It sits higher than most water we list in New York. 25 miles away sits Lowville, the nearest town. Carthage is 29 miles away, with West Carthage at 29 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Muskrat Pond

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Herkimer County, recorded fish 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. Muskrat Pond fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 64°F and January near 13°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Expect Muskrat Pond to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Raven Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Muskrat Pond before loading the car.