Baisley Pond
Baisley Pond in Baisley Pond Park, Jamaica, Queens may not be known for its great largemouth bass fishing, but our fish survey information suggests it should be. Patches of lily pads offer excellent cover for both predators and prey and add to the verdant landscape of the park. This lake has the potential to offer anglers an exciting fishing experience while providing a peaceful day out.
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Physical Features
Area: 28 acres
Access
Shoreline access to Baisley Pond is available from many locations, some are grassed areas but the shoreline also includes a concrete promenade from which a line may be cast. To take mass transit to Baisley take the E, J or Z train to Sutphin Blvd/Archer Ave and transfer to the Q6 bus to Sutphin Blvd/Rockaway Blvd. Alternatively, take the A train to Rockaway Blvd and transfer to the Q7 bus to Sutphin Blvd/Rockaway Blvd. The lake is north of the bus stop.
Fishing Information
Largemouth Bass
Fisheries surveys have been conducted on Baisley Pond in 2001 and 2008. Both surveys collected largemouth bass up to 20 inches in length. For a challenge and a potentially large bass, cast a scum frog into the lily pads. Let it sit until the ripples have gone, then slowly twitch it towards shore. Watch for the strike - with patience and persistence it will happen.
Panfish
The shoreline of Baisley Pond offers plenty of space to fish for panfish so using a bobber with bait (worm, hotdog, dough or corn) should also lead to some nice catches. Bluegills tend to average between 4 and 6 inches, with a few 7 inch bluegills caught during the survey. Pumpkinseed sunfish are also present, but in smaller numbers. There are a few black crappies in the lake. Targeting them in the spring should produce the best results. If you fish the bottom, you might catch a few bullheads up to 12 inches.
Carp
There are a few carp in the lake. Carp are New York City's largest freshwater fish.
Species Present
For more information on these fish species, visit the page on Freshwater Fishes.
Largemouth bass
Black crappie
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Brown bullhead
Common carp.
Special Regulations
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation rules require the use of non-lead weights and barbless hooks.
Fisheries Survey Summary
Out of the eight NYC water bodies listed below, Baisley Pond had the third highest electrofishing catch rate for largemouth bass 15 inches and above. Several large bass were captured during our 2008 survey; in fact, we captured the longest bass recorded in a NYC electrofishing survey. The largest proportion of captured sunfish consisted of bluegills but pumpkinseeds and black crappie were also found.
| Waterbody | 8" and over | 12" and over | 15" and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baisley Pond | 17 | 17 | 9 |
| Central Park Lake | 18 | 15 | 9 |
| Harlem Meer | 76 | 5 | 0 |
| Kissena Lake | 23 | 12 | 4 |
| Oakland Lake | 18 | 8 | 5 |
| Prospect Park Lake | 81 | 31 | 14 |
| Van Cortlandt Lake | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Willowbrook Lake | 54 | 11 | 0 |
