Fishing at Follensby Clear Pond, Franklin County, New York

• Overview

  Follensby Clear Pond is a Franklin County water, New York side. Elevation runs to 1,578 feet. At 495 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The edge covers about 7.4 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. Size puts it in the front rank of our Franklin County list. Tupper Lake sits 8.9 miles from the bank. Then Saranac Lake, 11 miles, and Lake Placid, 18 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Follensby Clear Pond

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Franklin County, recorded fish include brook trout, white sucker, brown trout and yellow perch. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Anyone new to Follensby Clear Pond should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 65°F and January near 14°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Time your trip to Follensby Clear Pond by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. Mapping shows a campsite some 80 yards from the water. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Horseshoe Pond at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. For Follensby Clear Pond in particular, ask before you travel.