Little Hope Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Franklin County entry here is Little Hope Pond, in New York. Land around it is mixed forest. The water measures roughly 8 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Franklin County standards. For supplies, Saranac Lake is 13 miles out. Lake Placid is 18 miles away, with North Elba at 21 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Little Hope Pond

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Franklin County cover brook trout, white sucker, brown trout and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fish Little Hope Pond where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 64°F and January at 13°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Little Hope Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. 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. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Hope Pond at 0.2 miles is the sensible second choice. For Little Hope Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.