Bonesteel Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Bonesteel Pond is a Rensselaer County water, New York side. The ground round it is mixed forest. Surface area is around 33 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Start from Cropseyville, 3.5 miles down the road. Then Poestenkill, 3.9 miles, and Averill Park, 6.6 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Bonesteel Pond

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Rensselaer County cover brown trout, common carp, pumpkinseed and chain pickerel. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Bonesteel Pond gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 67°F and January near 19°F on the long-run figures. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bonesteel Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Hosford Pond, 0.6 miles away. The position on Bonesteel Pond is worth confirming on the day.