First Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  First Pond sits within Franklin County in New York. It sits in lake country bush. With some 54 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Start from Saranac Lake, 4 miles down the road. The big place round here is Ville-Marie, 89 miles distant. Close by you have: Second Pond (0.2 miles), Lower Saranac Lake sits 0.9 miles out, Kiwassa Lake (1.6 miles), Little Ampersand Pond sits 2.2 miles out and Owl Pond (2.2 miles). A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on First Pond

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Franklin County names brook trout, white sucker and brown trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Read First Pond before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 65°F and January reads 14°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. On First Pond that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Second Pond Boat Launch gives a made launch, half a mile off. Second Pond Boat Launch sits half a mile away and handles boats. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Second Pond sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at First Pond are worth checking on the day.