Long Pond Fishing Guide, St. Lawrence County, New York

• Overview

  Long Pond lies within the bounds of St. Lawrence County, New York. Height above sea level is 1,519 feet. It measures about 50 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Roughly 1.3 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. The closest town, Tupper Lake, is 8.9 miles distant. Saranac Lake is 26 miles and Hannawa Falls 30 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Long Pond

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. St. Lawrence County records list rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and white sucker among the fish reported. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The shape of Long Pond rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 13°F in January and 65°F in July. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around 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 Long Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Round Pond at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Long Pond is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.