Fishing at Florence Pond, Essex County, New York

• Overview

  This water sits in Essex County, New York. The setting is mixed forest. About 24 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Keeseville lies 6.5 miles from the water. For a city, Ville-Marie is 75 miles off. In the same area: Highlands Forge Lake lies 0.5 miles on, Hadley Pond the better part of 1.3 miles, Keenan Pond lies 1.6 miles on, Long Pond the better part of 2 miles and Butternut Pond lies 2.4 miles on. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Florence Pond

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name brown trout, brook trout, white sucker and pumpkinseed. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Florence Pond rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 69°F on average, January about 18°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about mid December in a typical year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Florence Pond runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Highlands Forge Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Florence Pond is worth confirming on the day.