Lake Kushaqua, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Franklin County, New York, sits Lake Kushaqua. The surface lies 1,667 feet up. It measures some 380 acres, and wind has room to build across it. The edge covers about 4.9 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. On our Franklin County list it sits near the top for size. Saranac Lake lies 13 miles from the water. For a city, Ville-Marie is 73 miles off. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lake Kushaqua

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Franklin County include brook trout, white sucker, brown trout and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. At Lake Kushaqua the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 64°F and January reads 13°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan around that when you fish Lake Kushaqua.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Being dammed, it draws down in some seasons and fills in others. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Little Hope Pond, 0.6 miles out. Confirm access to Lake Kushaqua locally before you travel.