Spectacle Lake near Dolgeville: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In New York, Spectacle Lake belongs to Herkimer County. The surface lies 1,407 feet up. At 7 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Herkimer County list. Dolgeville at 20 miles is the nearest place to stop. After that come Little Falls at 22 miles and Boonville at 23 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Spectacle Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Herkimer County include white sucker, yellow perch and brook trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Spectacle Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 16°F to 65°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Spectacle Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. 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 tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Atwood Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Treat access at Spectacle Lake as something to verify.