Fishing Cuba Lake in Allegany County, New York

• Overview

  The Allegany County end of New York holds Cuba Lake. Height above sea level is 1,539 feet. At 464 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. Some 5.8 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. Size puts it in the front rank of our Allegany County list. Cuba at 2.4 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Buffalo, 53 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Cuba Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Survey and observation records for Allegany County include white sucker, brown trout and fantail darter. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Cuba Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 66°F on average, January about 20°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Cuba Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Cuba Lake Public Boat Launch sits about half a mile away and carries the launch. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Hanging Bog at 4.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Cuba Lake are worth checking on the day.