Fishing Black Pond in Jefferson County, New York

• Overview

  Look for Black Pond in the Jefferson County part of New York. It sits at 236 feet above sea level. At about 25 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Most waters listed here for Jefferson County are larger. Adams lies 10 miles from the water. Kingston is the closest city, 32 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Black Pond

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name common carp, alewife, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. The near bank of Black Pond is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 20°F to 69°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. That shapes the year on Black Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is a car park at Black Pond WMA Parking, roughly half a mile away. The water borders Black Pond Wildlife Management Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Henderson Pond, 3.8 miles away. Rules at Black Pond are worth checking on the day.