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

• Overview

  New York holds Nelson Lake, in Herkimer County. It stands 1,585 feet above sea level. At about 75 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. With about 1.4 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. On our Herkimer County list it sits near the top for size. 18 miles away sits Boonville, the nearest town. Lowville is 24 miles away, with Carthage at 36 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Nelson Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Herkimer County list white sucker, yellow perch and brook trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Work Nelson Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 15°F in January. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Nelson Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Gull Lake sits 1.5 miles off and takes the overflow. For Nelson Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.