Leonard Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Leonard Pond lies in St. Lawrence County, in New York. The country here is rolling bush. Around 50 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Shoreline comes to about 1.2 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Some 15 miles away sits Tupper Lake, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is Gloucester, 83 miles distant. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Leonard Pond

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in St. Lawrence County include rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Leonard Pond in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 65°F and January reads 13°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Leonard Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. 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. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Crooked Lake, 0.9 miles out. The position on Leonard Pond is worth confirming on the day.