Cherry Lake near New Cumberland: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Cherry Lake stands in Hancock County, West Virginia. The setting is mixed woodland. This is a pocket water of some 3 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The closest town, New Cumberland, is 2.1 miles distant. It is 32 miles to Pittsburgh, the nearest city. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Cherry Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across Hancock County, recorded fish include bluegill, freshwater drum, banded darter and black crappie. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Cherry Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 72°F; the cold one sits at 27°F. In milder years the surface never sets. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Cherry Lake follows the weather closely. Water temperature lags behind air temperature by days, not hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Tomlinson Run Lake at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Cherry Lake in what we hold.