Cranberry Lake Fishing

Cranberry Lake offers good fishing for brook trout and smallmouth bass. In the late 1800s' the lake earned a reputation for quality brook trout fishing, and that reputation stands today as anglers catch a number of brookies weighing over four pounds every year. Since 1981, the DEC has been stocking over 20,000 brook trout annually. The best fishing occurs in the spring at the mouth of the various creeks and brooks that flow into the lake. Anglers troll Mepps spinners, Lake Clear Wobblers and nightcrawlers, or their favorite streamers and flies.

Smallmouth bass can be caught throughout the summer by working points and rocky areas. Wind blown shorelines can be especially productive. Succesful techniques include drifting live minnows or crayfish, trolling minnow plugs, or casting in-line spinners, small crankbaits or tipped jigs. Evening is the best time to fish.

The Oswegatchie River at the lakes outlet is a popular trout water because of good access and high numbers of fish. Annual DEC stockings here include a combination of several thousand brookies and browns. A number of the brown trout are two year olds that measure over 14 inches.

Cranberry Lake Boat Launch & Handicapped Access

The Five Ponds Wilderness Area, which borders the southern portion of the lake, is home to numerous ponds that hold brook trout. These trout are accessible to anglers who are willing to do some hiking and to carry in an inflatable raft. Among the stocked ponds here are Cowhorn, Darning Needle, Fishpole, Glasby, Nicks, Olmstead, Simmons, and Spectacle.

The Cranberry Lake area offers unlimited camping opportunities. At the lake itself, the DEC operates a public campground with tent and trailer sites. Most of the lake's shoreline is state owned, and 46 sites around the lake and on Joe Indian Island have been designated for camping. Also, wilderness camping is available to individuals who are willing to backpack or canoe.

Accomodations

CRANBERRY LAKE WILD FOREST
NYS Hwy. 3
Cranberry Lake
265-3090
39 sites. May - October

CRANBERRY LAKE STATE CAMPSITE
243 Lone Pine Rd.
Cranberry Lake
848-2315
173 sites, open May 15 - Oct. 15

Guide Services

Cranberry Lake
Guide Service
N.Y.S. Licensed Guides, Trip planning, and Equipment rental
for: Fishing, Hiking, Camping, Photography, Hunting, Snowshoeing,
X-country skiing, Outdoor School.

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