Nicks Lake Fishing near Boonville, New York

• Overview

  The Herkimer County end of New York holds Nicks Lake. It sits in rolling bush. At about 209 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The shoreline runs about 3.5 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It ranks high for size among our Herkimer County listings. Boonville sits 22 miles from the bank. Lowville is 26 miles away, with Carthage at 37 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Nicks Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Herkimer County names white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout and brown bullhead. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Nicks Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 64°F for July and 13°F for January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Nicks Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The slipway at Nicks Lake Boat Launch is half a mile away. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Rock Pond sits 1.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Nicks Lake carry more weight than any list.