Hicks Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Hicks Pond belongs to Rensselaer County, New York. Around the bank it is rolling bush. At roughly 22 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Poestenkill sits 3.8 miles from the bank. It is 13 miles to Albany, the nearest city. Within easy reach: Big Bowman Pond 1.5 miles away, Little Bowman Pond within 1.8 miles, Hosford Pond 3.1 miles away, Davitt Pond within 3.2 miles and Vosburg Pond 3.4 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Hicks Pond

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Rensselaer County: brown trout, common carp, pumpkinseed and chain pickerel. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat Hicks Pond as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 67°F and January at 19°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Hicks Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Big Bowman Pond at 1.5 miles is the sensible second choice. For Hicks Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.