Franks Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Franks Pond belongs to Hamilton County, New York. The surface lies 1,762 feet up. The town to know is Dolgeville, 16 miles out. Little Falls lies 21 miles off, Saint Johnsville another 21 miles. Within a short drive: Ferris Lake within 0.6 miles, Black Cat Lake out at 2.1 miles, Iron Lake within 2.4 miles, Jockeybush Lake out at 2.5 miles and Christian Lake within 2.7 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Franks Pond

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Hamilton County, recorded fish include lake trout, brook trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and brown bullhead. The county list is broader than any single water. Franks Pond repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 15°F in January. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That is the shape of the year on Franks Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Ferris Lake, 0.6 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Franks Pond.