Fishing at Salmon Lake, Herkimer County, New York

• Overview

  In New York, Salmon Lake belongs to Herkimer County. It lies 1,722 feet above sea level. Around 105 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Roughly 2.0 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It ranks high for size among our Herkimer County listings. 30 miles away sits Lowville, the nearest town. Tupper Lake follows at 30 miles, then Carthage at 33 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Salmon Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Herkimer County include white sucker, yellow perch, brook trout and brown bullhead. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Salmon Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 13°F in January and 64°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near early December in autumn. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. That is the shape of the year on Salmon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Higby Twin Ponds, 0.9 miles away. Confirm before you fish Salmon Lake.