Ellis Pond Fishing Guide, Sussex County, Delaware

• Overview

  Out in Sussex County, Delaware, sits Ellis Pond. The country round it is farm and woodlot from end to end. The water measures roughly 6 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Our Sussex County list holds plenty of bigger water. For a base, Laurel sits 4.8 miles out. Delmar follows at 5.2 miles, then Pittsville at 9.3 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Ellis Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Sussex County include American eel, white perch and bluegill. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Ellis Pond light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 35°F in January up to 77°F in July. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. That is the shape of the year on Ellis Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Trap Pond is 2.2 miles distant. Where Ellis Pond is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.