Jones Pond Fishing Guide, Allegany County, New York

• Overview

  Jones Pond is one of the Allegany County waters in New York. It sits in rolling bush. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. It is a small entry by Allegany County standards. The closest town, Houghton, is 9.5 miles away. For a city, Rochester is 53 miles off. Also worth knowing: Palmers Pond about 11 miles, Moss Lake 11 miles off, Spring Lake about 11 miles, Rockville Lake 12 miles off and Rushford Lake about 13 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Jones Pond

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Allegany County: white sucker, brown trout and fantail darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Jones Pond light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 66°F at the top of summer and 20°F at the bottom of winter. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. The water is typically free of ice between early April and mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. At Jones Pond the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Palmers Pond at 11 miles is the sensible second choice. For Jones Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.