Stump Pond Fishing near Livingston Manor, New York

• Overview

  Look for Stump Pond in Sullivan County, New York. The bank is 1,742 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 23 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Livingston Manor, 5.8 miles off. The nearest city of size is Paterson, 74 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Stump Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Open biodiversity records for Sullivan County list brown trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass, white sucker and rainbow trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The near bank of Stump Pond is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 20°F and July at about 66°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan any trip to Stump Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Sand Pond sits 2.1 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Stump Pond is worth confirming on the day.