Fishing Mud Pond in Sullivan County, New York

• Overview

  This water sits in Sullivan County, New York. This is pine and birch ground. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Sullivan County standards. The closest town, Barryville, is 6.3 miles distant. Paterson sits 56 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Mud Pond

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name brown trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass, white sucker and rainbow trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Take Mud Pond a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 69°F and January at 22°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate figures give an open season running early April to mid December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mud Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Highland Lake is 1.6 miles off. Signs at Mud Pond carry more weight than any list.