Hamilton Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Hamilton County, New York, this is Hamilton Pond. Mixed forest runs right down to the water. This is a pocket water of some 15 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Tupper Lake, 20 miles off. The nearest city of size is Kingston, 95 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Hamilton Pond

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Hamilton County include lake trout, brook trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Hamilton Pond repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 13°F to 64°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Hamilton Pond the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Pear Pond, 0.2 miles out. Rules at Hamilton Pond are worth checking on the day.