Harwood Lake is a man-made lake located north of Franklinville in east central Cattaraugus County. It was built in 1965 by impounding Carpenter Brook for flood control, as a part of the Ischua Creek Watershed Protection District. The shoreline is undeveloped and consists of mowed fields, scrub and some wooded areas.
Physical Features:
Elevation: 1,800 feet
Area: 34 acres
Shoreline Length: 1.1 miles
Max Depth: 14 feet
Mean Depth: 8 feet
County and Town: Cattaraugus County, Town of Farmersville
Access:
Fishing access is unlimited with shoreline fishing allowed around the entire lake. State route 98 runs along the western shore with a DEC access area located 2 miles south of the Hamlet of Farmersville Station. The site provides hand launching for cartop boats and canoes with parking for 24 cars.
For more information on this launch including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Cattaraugus County page.
Fish Species:
Brook trout, brown trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead, bluegill, pumpkinseed
Fishing:
Trout: Harwood Lake is stocked annually with yearling brook trout and two-year-old brown trout. Surplus hatchery breeders are stocked in the fall in most years. The trout fishery is essentially a put and take fishery, as there is little holdover of trout. Ice fishing for trout is permitted, as there is no closed season. Harwood Lake is a popular trout fishing spot in the spring if local streams are high and turbid with snow melt or April showers.
Largemouth Bass: Largemouth bass have a moderate population with average growth rates. There are fair numbers of bass in the 10-14 inch size range, but do not expect to catch your trophy bass here. Fish habitat is found in the form of moderate weed beds around the inlet and on both the east and west shores. Bass anglers have success with spinner baits, surface plugs, plastic worms, crank baits as well as live crayfish or worms.
Panfish: Yellow perch and brown bullhead are both very abundant in Harwood Lake. Less numerous are bluegill and pumpkinseed. Kids will be kept busy with a bobber and worm, but do not expect large fish of any of these species.
Ice Fishing:
Ice fishing is permitted on Harwood Lake.
Regulations:
Special Fishing Regulations Apply.
Electric motors only.
