Mendel Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Putnam County entry here is Mendel Pond, in New York. It sits at 463 feet above sea level. Small at around 19 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. 3.2 miles away sits Putnam Lake, the nearest town. The big place round here is North Stamford, 24 miles distant. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Mendel Pond

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Putnam County include brown trout, bluegill and largemouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Mendel Pond fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 25°F to 72°F. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Anyone fishing Mendel Pond regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Ice Pond at 1.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Mendel Pond if anything is unclear.