US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 131844118).
The red circle marks Francis Lake.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.
Official NYSDEC pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
Fish species listed by NYSDEC for this recommended fishing water: Sunfish, Yellow perch, Chain pickerel.
Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds and Fish Stocking Lists (2011 on) on data.ny.gov, records for Francis Lake (Lewis County). NYSDEC page.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 131844118), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
We found 3 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Francis Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Toilets · Dump station
Showers · Toilets · Drinking water · Dogs allowed
All campgrounds & RV parks in New York
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (43.8555, -75.1729). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Francis Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.
1 public access site listed.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Lake DEC boat launch | Watson | NYSDEC | Hand Launch | 3 car | — | Boating | 43.8608, -75.1654 |
NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Francis Lake covers about 142 acres in Watson, New York (Lewis County).
NYSDEC fishing and stocking data lists Yellow perch, Sunfish and Chain pickerel.
No trailer ramp is listed, but there is 1 public access site for car-top boats or shore access.
Yes. We list 3 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.
Francis Lake touches Watson in Lewis County, New York.
Know Francis Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All New York lakes & ponds · All waters in Watson