Fishing at Lily Pond, Washington County, New York

• Overview

  Lily Pond lies in Washington County, New York. It stands 679 feet above sea level. It covers about 17 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The town to know is Hartford, 2.4 miles out. It is 51 miles to Albany, the nearest city. Water in the same corner: Halls Pond out at 2.2 miles, Smith Pond roughly 3.5 miles, Green Pond out at 4.2 miles, Mud Pond roughly 5.7 miles and Barkley Pond out at 6.8 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Lily Pond

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Washington County records list brown trout, white sucker, tessellated darter, pumpkinseed and brook trout among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. On Lily Pond the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 70°F and January near 19°F on the long-run figures. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about mid December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It holds true on Lily Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Halls Pond, 2.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing here settles the position at Lily Pond for certain.