Sands Pond in Washington County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Sands Pond stands in Washington County, Rhode Island. The water sits 3 feet up. At roughly 12 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Some 1.2 miles away sits New Shoreham, the nearest settlement. After that come Charlestown at 16 miles and Bradford at 19 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off. The setting is plain rather than dramatic, and it fishes well for it.

• Where to Fish on Sands Pond

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Time trips to the tide table rather than the clock here. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Washington County include alewife, bluegill and striped bass. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Sands Pond where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 71°F for July and 31°F for January. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. That is the shape of the year on Sands Pond. Late summer often means an early start or nothing at all.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try John E's Pond, 0.4 miles away. The position on Sands Pond is worth confirming on the day.