Black Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Black Pond is listed under Franklin County, New York. The water sits 1,339 feet up. At roughly 7 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Franklin County list. The closest town, Malone, is 17 miles away. Ville-Marie sits 75 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Black Pond

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Franklin County include brook trout, white sucker and brown trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Black Pond gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 13°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The season between ice runs from about mid April to early December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Black Pond fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Clear Pond, 0.1 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Black Pond are worth checking on the day.