Fishing at Square Pond, Franklin County, New York

• Overview

  Within Franklin County, New York, you have Square Pond. The surroundings are mixed forest. At about 46 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 1.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Saranac Lake at 11 miles is the nearest place to stop. After that come Lake Placid at 17 miles and North Elba at 19 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Square Pond

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Franklin County records list brook trout, white sucker and brown trout among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Work Square Pond in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 65°F and January about 13°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near early December in autumn. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Time your trip to Square Pond by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Oregon Pond at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Square Pond are worth checking on the day.