Fishing at Raven Lake, Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  Raven Lake lies within the bounds of Herkimer County, New York. It stands 1,923 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 117 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. A shoreline of some 1.8 miles keeps the choices simple. On our Herkimer County list it sits near the top for size. Some 25 miles away sits Lowville, the nearest settlement. For a city, Kingston is 75 miles off. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Raven Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Herkimer County include white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout and brown bullhead. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Raven Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 64°F and January near 13°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about early December in a typical year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Anyone fishing Raven Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Jackson Pond sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Raven Lake if anything is unclear.