Negro Lake Fishing in Hamilton County, New York

• Overview

  Look for Negro Lake in the Hamilton County part of New York. The country here is mixed forest. The water covers some 124 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 2.6 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It ranks high for size among our Hamilton County listings. Tupper Lake is the closest place, 26 miles off. The big place round here is Kingston, 81 miles distant. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Negro Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Hamilton County: lake trout, brook trout and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Work Negro Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 13°F in January up to 64°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Negro Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Wilder Pond, 0.9 miles away. Check the position at Negro Lake before loading the car.