Fishing at White Lily Pond, Franklin County, New York

• Overview

  Out in Franklin County, New York, sits White Lily Pond. The bank gives way to mixed forest. About 13 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The nearest place of any size is Saranac Lake, 8.8 miles away. It is 94 miles to Ville-Marie, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on White Lily 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. Survey and observation records for Franklin County include brook trout, white sucker, brown trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. On White Lily Pond a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 63°F and January about 13°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near late November in autumn. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on White Lily Pond rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Ampersand Lake is 0.8 miles off. None of that is settled for White Lily Pond in what we hold.