Fishing at Follensby Pond, Franklin County, New York

• Overview

  Follensby Pond is listed under Franklin County, New York. It lies 1,545 feet above sea level. At 723 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. It ranks high for size among our Franklin County listings. Tupper Lake is the closest place, 5.6 miles off. Ville-Marie sits 99 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Follensby Pond

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Franklin County cover brook trout, white sucker and brown trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Follensby Pond the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 14°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on Follensby Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Line Pond, 1.7 miles out. For Follensby Pond in particular, ask before you travel.