Dolph Pond Fishing in Washington County, New York

• Overview

  Dolph Pond is one of the Washington County waters in New York. The water sits 502 feet up. Surface area is around 44 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. There is roughly 1.2 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Whitehall lies 5.7 miles from the water. The big place round here is Albany, 59 miles distant. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Dolph Pond

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Washington County, recorded fish include brown trout, white sucker, tessellated darter and pumpkinseed. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Dolph Pond responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 70°F in July and bottom out at 19°F in January. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near mid December in autumn. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan any trip to Dolph Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Dolph Pond State Forest covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Spruce Pond is 1.3 miles off. The position on Dolph Pond is worth confirming on the day.