Fishing Cranberry Pond in Jefferson County, New York

• Overview

  Set in Jefferson County, New York, this is Cranberry Pond. Height above sea level is 240 feet. It measures about 56 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Most waters listed here for Jefferson County are larger. Pulaski lies 9.1 miles from the water. Further out sit Richland (11 miles) and Adams (12 miles). The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Pond

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Jefferson County list common carp, alewife and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Cranberry Pond to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 69°F, with January the cold end at about 22°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Cranberry Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. South Colwell Pond, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Cranberry Pond before loading the car.