Fishing Bear Pond in Essex County, New York

• Overview

  Within Essex County, New York, you have Bear Pond. This is lake country bush country. Small at around 18 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Ticonderoga lies 7.8 miles from the water. It is 85 miles to Albany, the nearest city. Also on the doorstep: Otter Pond at 0.6 miles, Heart Pond out at 1.1 miles, Eagle Lake at 1.1 miles, Little Rock Pond out at 1.3 miles and Gooseneck Pond at 1.3 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Bear Pond

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Essex County records list brown trout, brook trout, white sucker, pumpkinseed and yellow perch among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of Bear Pond rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 67°F; the cold one sits at 17°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. On Bear Pond the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Otter Pond, 0.6 miles out. Signs at Bear Pond carry more weight than any list.