Shallow Lake Fishing Guide, Hamilton County, New York

• Overview

  Set in Hamilton County, Shallow Lake is a New York water. This is lake country bush country. At 279 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The shoreline runs about 3.2 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It ranks high for size among our Hamilton County listings. Some 31 miles away sits Tupper Lake, the nearest settlement. Lowville is 38 miles away, with Boonville at 38 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Shallow Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Hamilton County: lake trout, brook trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and brown bullhead. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Shallow Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 13°F in January to roughly 64°F in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Shallow Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Pelcher Pond sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Shallow Lake locally before you travel.