Fishing at Makomis Pond, Essex County, New York

• Overview

  Set in Essex County, New York, this is Makomis Pond. The ground round it is pine and birch. Small at around 8 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Mineville sits 7.8 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Port Henry follows at 11 miles, then Crown Point at 15 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Ledge Pond 0.6 miles, Moss Ponds within 0.9 miles, New Pond 1.3 miles, Secret Pond within 1.8 miles and Birch Pond 2.1 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Makomis Pond

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Essex County include brown trout, brook trout and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Makomis Pond the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 64°F, while January sits near 15°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about early December in an average year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Time your trip to Makomis Pond by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Ledge Pond sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Makomis Pond locally before you travel.