Lillypad Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lillypad Pond is an Essex County water, New York side. It sits in mixed forest. It covers about 4 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Essex County. The closest town, Mineville, is 10 miles away. Port Henry lies 14 miles off, North Elba another 15 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lillypad Pond

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Essex County: brown trout, brook trout, white sucker and pumpkinseed. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Lillypad Pond the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 64°F; the cold one sits at 15°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lillypad Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. A campsite lies 110 yards away for anyone staying over. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Rhododendron Pond at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Lillypad Pond before loading the car.