Bradford City Number Five Reservoir Fishing near Bradford, Pennsylvania

• Overview

  Bradford City Number Five Reservoir falls in McKean County, part of Pennsylvania. Height above sea level is 1,716 feet. It measures about 101 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. With about 2.2 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Nothing else we list in McKean County covers more water. Head to Bradford, 6 miles away, for anything you forgot. Foster Brook is 7.9 miles and Smethport 15 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bradford City Number Five Reservoir

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. McKean County records list brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and largemouth bass among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Bradford City Number Five Reservoir gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 20°F in January and 66°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. The lid tends to go about early April and return around mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Bradford City Number Five Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Number One Reservoir sits 4.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Bradford City Number Five Reservoir.