South Lake Fishing in Hamilton County, New York

• Overview

  This water sits in Hamilton County, New York. The bank is 2,346 feet above sea level. It measures about 89 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The whole outline is near 2.2 miles, and most of it is walkable. By elevation it is in the upper part of our New York listings. Supplies mean a trip to Northville, 34 miles off. Dolgeville is 34 miles away, with Boonville at 36 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on South Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish documented in Hamilton County include lake trout, brook trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and brown bullhead. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. South Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 62°F at the top of summer and 12°F at the bottom of winter. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. South Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, West Lake at 0.8 miles is the nearest alternative. For South Lake in particular, ask before you travel.