Pepperbox Pond Fishing in Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  Out in Herkimer County, New York, sits Pepperbox Pond. The bank is 1,870 feet above sea level. The water covers some 26 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The closest town, Lowville, is 22 miles away. Kingston is the closest city, 72 miles away. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water. The shoreline runs longer than it looks on a map.

• Where to Fish on Pepperbox Pond

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Herkimer County include white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout, brown bullhead and brown trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Pepperbox Pond light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 65°F for July and 14°F for January. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Pepperbox Pond rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Moshier Ponds at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Pepperbox Pond in what we hold.