Hedgehog Pond in Hamilton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Hamilton County end of New York holds Hedgehog Pond. Everything around it is pine and birch. Small at around 14 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Tupper Lake is the closest place, 11 miles off. It is 104 miles to Albany, the nearest city. Close by you also have: Second Pond (0.4 miles), Third Pond 1.1 miles away, First Pond (1.1 miles), Upper Moose Pond 1.2 miles away and Lower Moose Pond (1.3 miles). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Hedgehog Pond

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Public occurrence data for Hamilton County names lake trout, brook trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Hedgehog Pond responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 13°F in January and 64°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on Hedgehog Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Second Pond at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Hedgehog Pond before loading the car.