Fishing Stillwater Pond in Putnam County, New York

• Overview

  Stillwater Pond sits in Putnam County, out in New York. The coast is 11 miles away. At about 51 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The bank runs about 1.2 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Mahopac sits 6.7 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 25 miles to North Stamford, the nearest city. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Stillwater Pond

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Putnam County cover brown trout, bluegill and largemouth bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Stillwater Pond the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 25°F to 71°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late March. From about late March to around late December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Stillwater Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A ramp at Stillwater is mapped half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Roaring Brook Lake, 0.8 miles away. Treat access at Stillwater Pond as something to verify.