Upper Rhoda Pond near Pine Plains: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In New York, Upper Rhoda Pond belongs to Columbia County. It sits at 538 feet above sea level. Around 73 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The full circuit measures close to 1.1 miles on foot. It ranks high for size among our Columbia County listings. Pine Plains sits 8.6 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Beyond it, Philmont at 11 miles and Sheffield at 12 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Upper Rhoda Pond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Columbia County: common carp, brown trout, goldfish, rudd and striped bass. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Upper Rhoda Pond in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 70°F and January at 22°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Upper Rhoda Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Snyder Pond, 0.8 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Upper Rhoda Pond.