Fishing at Horseshoe Pond, St. Lawrence County, New York

• Overview

  Set in St. Lawrence County, Horseshoe Pond is a New York water. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. Roughly 28 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Tupper Lake at 9.3 miles is the nearest place to stop. Saranac Lake lies 26 miles off, Hannawa Falls another 30 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Horseshoe Pond

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for St. Lawrence County cover rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. The near bank of Horseshoe Pond is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 13°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Horseshoe Pond runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Massawepie Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Rules at Horseshoe Pond are worth checking on the day.