Cranberry Lake in St. Lawrence County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Cranberry Lake is set in St. Lawrence County, New York. Elevation runs to 1,483 feet. Around 9.5 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. The bank runs about 49 miles in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Size puts it in the front rank of our St. Lawrence County list. The nearest town is Tupper Lake, 22 miles away. The big place round here is Kingston, 80 miles distant. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Survey and observation records for St. Lawrence County include rock bass, smallmouth bass and pumpkinseed. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Cranberry Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 13°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Cranberry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Toad Pond is 1.2 miles off. Rules at Cranberry Lake are worth checking on the day.