DEC Announces Continued Impacts to Fishing and Fishing Access in Harwood Lake

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that limited fishing access will continue at Harwood Lake, located off State Route 98 in Farmersville, Cattaraugus County, due to low water levels. As a result, Harwood Lake will not be included in Randolph State Fish Hatchery's fall stocking of broodstock trout this year.

Harwood Lake's water level was lowered this summer for an extensive dam rehabilitation project which limited fishing access and other water recreation. While the project is near completion, the lake remains four feet below normal and dry conditions affecting most of New York will not allow the lake to refill in time for trout stocking in early October.

Broodstock trout originally scheduled to be stocked into Harwood Lake will be redistributed into other lakes in the region, including Case, New Albion, Red House, Quaker, and Allen lakes.

DEC lists regional fishing information and other lakes and creeks stocked with broodstock trout on the Lake Erie and Western New York Fishing Hotline webpage.

Broodstock trout range between 13 to 30 inches, and increased numbers of fish available this fall from the Randolph Hatchery should provide excellent fishing opportunities. Spring stocking of trout is scheduled to resume in Harwood Lake in 2026.

For more information about Harwood Lake, visit DEC's website.