Moss Pond in Otsego County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Moss Pond lies within the bounds of Otsego County, New York. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Otsego County. Nearest town is Cooperstown, 4.5 miles off. The big place round here is Albany, 60 miles distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Moss Pond

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name brown trout, brook trout, white sucker and common carp. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Moss Pond gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 67°F, while January sits near 20°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near mid December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It sets the rhythm of the year at Moss Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Goey Pond at 2.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Moss Pond before loading the car.