Sis Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In New York, Sis Lake falls inside Herkimer County. It lies 1,821 feet above sea level. At 22 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. For a base, Boonville sits 31 miles out. It is 81 miles to Syracuse, the nearest city. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Sis Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Herkimer County cover 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. The near bank of Sis Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 13°F to 64°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Sis Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Bubb Lake is 0.4 miles distant. For Sis Lake in particular, ask before you travel.