Fishing Butternut Pond in Clinton County, New York

• Overview

  Butternut Pond sits within Clinton County in New York. It stands 659 feet above sea level. Roughly 163 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The edge runs 2.0 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. For a base, Keeseville sits 5.3 miles out. It is 74 miles to Ville-Marie, the nearest city. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Butternut Pond

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Clinton County include brown trout, white sucker, brook trout, pumpkinseed and brown bullhead. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Butternut Pond before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in January up to 69°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Butternut Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Keenan Pond, 1.3 miles away. For Butternut Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.