Case Lake

Introduction

Case Lake is a 71-acre man-made lake located outside of Franklinville in east central Cattaraugus County. It was built in 1970 for flood control as a part of the Ischua Creek Watershed Protection District by impounding Gates Creek. Case Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet and a mean depth of 15 feet. The 2.0 mile shoreline is undeveloped and consists primarily of mowed fields, scrub and some wooded areas.

Case Lake is open for fishing year round (including ice fishing) and fishing access is unlimited. Shoreline fishing is allowed around the entire lake. Abbotts Road runs the length of the western shore. There is an unimproved boat launch on the east shore for small trailered boats or cartop rowboats or canoes. Boats are limited to the use of electric motors only.

Trout

Case Lake is stocked annually with yearling brook trout and brown 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 legal as there is no closed season. Case Lake is a popular spot in the spring if local streams are swollen with snow melt or rainwater in April.

Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass are abundant with good growth rates. There are good numbers of bass in the 12-15 inch size range, and the fish habitat is found in the form of extensive weed beds mainly around the inlet, on the eastern shore and somewhat on the north western shore. Bass anglers have success with spinner baits, surface plugs, plastic worms, crank baits as well as live crayfish or worms.

Panfish

Bluegill and pumpkinseed are the dominant panfish and there are also good numbers of yellow perch. Less abundant are black crappie and brown bullhead. Kids can be kept busy with a bobber and a worm, but don't expect large fish of any of these species.