Discover Cranberry Lake

Cranberry Lake offers good fishing for brook trout and smallmouth bass. In the late 1800s'
the lake earned a reputation for quality brook trout fishing, and that reputation stands today
as anglers catch a number of brookies weighing over four pounds every year. Since 1981, the
DEC has been stocking over 20,000 brook trout annually. The best fishing occurs in the
spring at the mouth of the various creeks and brooks that flow into the lake. Anglers troll
Mepps spinners, Lake Clear Wobblers and nightcrawlers, or their favorite streamers and
flies.

Smallmouth bass can be caught throughout the summer by working points and rocky areas.
Wind blown shorelines can be especially productive. Succesful techniques include drifting
live minnows or crayfish, trolling minnow plugs, or casting in-line spinners, small crankbaits or
tipped jigs. Evening is the best time to fish.

The Oswegatchie River at the lakes outlet is a popular trout water because of good access
and high numbers of fish. Annual DEC stockings here include a combination of several
thousand brookies and browns. A number of the brown trout are two year olds that measure
over 14 inches.

Cranberry Lake Boat Launch & Handicapped Access

The Five Ponds Wilderness Area, which borders the southern portion of the lake, is home
to numerous ponds that hold brook trout. These trout are accessible to anglers who are
willing to do some hiking and to carry in an inflatable raft. Among the stocked ponds here are
Cowhorn, Darning Needle, Fishpole, Glasby, Nicks, Olmstead, Simmons, and Spectacle.

The Cranberry Lake area offers unlimited camping opportunities. At the lake itself, the
DEC operates a public campground with tent and trailer sites. Most of the lake's shoreline
is state owned, and 46 sites around the lake and on Joe Indian Island have been designated
for camping. Also, wilderness camping is available to individuals who are willing to backpack

Oswegatchie River

Meandering through St. Lawrence County from Newton Falls to Ogdensburg where it
empties into the St. Lawrence River, the Oswegatchie River offers anglers 100 miles of
fishable water. Nearly 40 public access sites dot the river. Good fishing exists for shore
anglers, waders, and boaters who use canoes, car-top boats, or small trailered boats.
Available species include smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, catfish, some largemouth
bass, and the occasional muskie.
The headwaters of the Oswegatchie River above High Falls might be the county's best spot
for fishing native brook trout in a remote setting. Accessible by a 13.5 mile canoe trip from
Inlet and a portage around High falls, this stretch of river teems with native brookies albeit
small ones.or canoe.

Grasse River

The Grasse River for the most part, receives light angling pressure. Smallmouth bass,
walleyes, and panfish can be found throughout most of the middle and lower stretches of the
Grasse. Some sections hold northern pike and even muskies.