Second Pond in Hamilton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Hamilton County, New York. It sits in mixed forest country. It measures about 41 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. With about 1.1 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Tupper Lake sits 11 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Albany, 103 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Second Pond

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Hamilton County records list lake trout, brook trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and brown bullhead among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. Work Second Pond in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 64°F, while January sits near 13°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It holds true on Second Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Hedgehog Pond sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Second Pond.