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For the brook trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 $79.99
Mohawk River 33 mi
Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Otsego Lake 52 mi
Photo: 420Traveler, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Sacandaga Lake 24 mi
Photo: Benjamin Turon, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Lake Pleasant 26 mi
Photo: Dclemens1971, CC BY 4.0
New York lakes and reservoirs
Pick for brook troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 $79.99
South Lake, Herkimer County Fishing
A 496-acre New York lake in Herkimer County.
Pick for brook troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Otsego Lake: 420Traveler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Herkimer County
South Lake, Herkimer County in brief
NYS Hydrography outlines give South Lake, Herkimer County about 496 acres of open water in Herkimer County. Ownership on the DEC lake list reads NY Canal Corporation. Stock up in Otter Lake, roughly 12 miles away. DEC groups it under Western Adirondacks and Eastern Lake Ontario.
DEC names brook trout among its fish. Boaters can use 1 mapped launch. DEC calls the launch trailer unimproved.
496acres
1launches
1species on file
1counties
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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Gamefish and panfish of South Lake, Herkimer County
Each chip for South Lake, Herkimer County traces back to the DEC lake list, a state record or a DEC stocking entry.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Access
DEC launches at South Lake, Herkimer County
- Public Launch on South Lakehand launch, parking: 5 car and 0 car-trailer spaces; managed by Canal Corp.
DEC and local launches near South Lake, Herkimer County
- Black River Wild Forest LaunchNorth Lake, 2 miles west
- Nicks Lake Campground & Day Use AreaNicks Lake, 12 miles north
- Public Launch on Otter LakeOtter Lake, 12 miles northwest
- Public Launch on Moose RiverMoose River, 13 miles northwest
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Limits
Carrying fish home from South Lake, Herkimer County
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Lake trout | 3; minimum 21" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30) | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Dec 1 to Jun 14) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum 40" | Jun 1 – Nov 30 |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1; minimum 30" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Northern pike | 5; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Chain pickerel | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Black and white crappie | 25; minimum 10" | All year |
| Yellow perch | 50 | All year |
| Sunfish | 25 | All year |
| American eel | 25; minimum 9" | All year |
Unless a special listing below says otherwise, South Lake, Herkimer County follows the statewide freshwater rules.
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations (statewide table effective April 1, 2026); county special regulations from the DEC region pages; retrieved October 24, 2026, figures checked against the DEC pages October 25, 2026.
Stocking
Hatchery fish released at South Lake, Herkimer County
South Lake, Herkimer County shows up 6 times in DEC stocking files from 2023 to 2025, mostly brook trout.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Brook Trout | stocked | 2 | 4,200 | 4 in, 4.2 in |
| 2024 | Brook Trout | stocked | 2 | 16,700 | 3.9 in, 4.8 in |
| 2023 | Brook Trout | stocked | 2 | 4,200 | 0.3 in, 4 in |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and DEC Current Season Spring Trout Stocking, 2026 (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 24, 2026. New York stocking.
Compare
South Lake, Herkimer County versus the lakes close by
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Lake, Herkimer County | 496 | 1 | 1 | yes | |
| North Lake | 2 miles northwest | 432 | 1 | 4 | yes |
| Fourth Lake, Herkimer County | 5 miles northwest | 63 | 0 | 0 | yes |
| Third Lake, Herkimer County | 6 miles northwest | 48 | 0 | 0 | yes |
| Nicks Lake | 12 miles north | 209 | 1 | 0 | yes |
| Brandy Lake | 13 miles west | 17 | 0 | 0 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby
Places bordering South Lake, Herkimer County
Lakes to combine with a South Lake, Herkimer County trip
- North Lake2 miles northwest
- Fourth Lake, Herkimer County5 miles northwest
- Third Lake, Herkimer County6 miles northwest
- Nicks Lake12 miles north
- Brandy Lake13 miles west
Where to grab bait before South Lake, Herkimer County
- Fourth Lake Boat Launchmarina, Hamilton, 18 miles
- Burke's Marinamarina, Raquette Lake, 25 miles
DEC-licensed guides for South Lake, Herkimer County
- Adirondack River Outfitters, Ifishing guide, Adirondack, Old Forge
- C.P.'s Guiding Servicefishing guide, Richfield Springs
- Fort Noble, Inc.fishing guide, Cold Brook
- White Dog Trail Co.fishing guide, Ilion
Places to sleep within reach of South Lake, Herkimer County
- Boonville22 miles
- Dolgeville29 miles
- Little Falls32 miles
County guides sharing South Lake, Herkimer County
- Herkimer Countycounty seat Herkimer
Piscifun
Reels and pliers from Piscifun for South Lake, Herkimer County trips
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Photographs
Camera views of lakes and streams around South Lake, Herkimer County
Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: 420Traveler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Benjamin Turon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dclemens1971, CC BY 4.0
Answers
South Lake, Herkimer County in a handful of answers
Under which DEC region does South Lake, Herkimer County fall?
Herkimer County, DEC Western Adirondacks and Eastern Lake Ontario, about 12 miles from Otter Lake.
How large does South Lake, Herkimer County measure?
Roughly 496 acres.
Is a public launch mapped beside South Lake, Herkimer County?
DEC data show 1 mapped launch, such as Public Launch on South Lake.
Which species appear on the DEC list for South Lake, Herkimer County?
The DEC roster names brook trout.
Which daily limits apply at South Lake, Herkimer County?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30.
May an out-of-towner wet a line at South Lake, Herkimer County?
Trout and salmon need no stamp in New York; the DEC freshwater license ($25.00 resident, $50.00 nonresident, $5.00 for residents 70 and older) covers them.
Is South Lake, Herkimer County on the DEC stocking lists?
Yes: 6 entries from 2023 to 2025, mostly brook trout.
Is there a bait store near South Lake, Herkimer County?
Fourth Lake Boat Launch is roughly 18 miles away.
Pencil in a day on South Lake, Herkimer County
Read the limits above, then choose a launch.