Mongaup Pond, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Mongaup Pond lies in Ulster County, New York. The land about it is lake country bush. Roughly 106 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. About 1.5 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. On our Ulster County list it sits near the top for size. For supplies, Livingston Manor is 8.5 miles out. After that come Liberty at 12 miles and Fallsburg at 17 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Mongaup Pond

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Ulster County include common carp, brown trout, brook trout, goldfish and rainbow trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Mongaup Pond the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 19°F at the bottom of winter. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about early December in an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on Mongaup Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Frick Pond sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. For Mongaup Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.