Woods Lake in Herkimer County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Woods Lake lies in Herkimer County, New York. This is rolling bush country. The water covers some 63 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Roughly 1.6 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Compared with other New York water on our list, it sits high. 28 miles away sits Lowville, the nearest town. Boonville is 33 miles away, with Carthage at 34 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Woods Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Herkimer County include white sucker, yellow perch and brook trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The shape of Woods Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 64°F and January about 13°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near early December in autumn. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Woods Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Cranberry Pond at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. What applies at Woods Lake may have changed since it was mapped.