Fishing at Upper Cat Pond, Hamilton County, New York

• Overview

  Upper Cat Pond lies in Hamilton County, in New York. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. It covers about 7 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Hamilton County standards. Nearest place of any size is Tupper Lake, 13 miles away. Kingston sits 98 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Upper Cat Pond

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Hamilton County: lake trout, brook trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Upper Cat Pond fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 64°F, with January the cold end at about 13°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Anyone fishing Upper Cat Pond regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. 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. If the gate is shut, Middle Cat Pond at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Upper Cat Pond are worth checking on the day.