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Rushford Lake

Rushford · Caneadea, New York — Allegany County.

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588Surface acres
2Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 84202017).

Location & fast facts

Where Rushford Lake is in New York

The red circle marks Rushford Lake.

Fast facts

About Rushford Lake

  • County: Allegany
  • Shore towns: Rushford, Caneadea
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 227 mi from Albany and 114 mi from Syracuse, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in New York

Official NYSDEC pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 2 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Smallmouth bass, Rainbow trout and Brown trout
  • Camping. 4 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Curly-leaf pondweed and Brittle waternymph recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

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.

Official fishing data (NYSDEC)

Fish species listed by NYSDEC for this recommended fishing water: Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Smallmouth bass, Sunfish, Yellow perch, Crappie, Walleye, Carp.

Stocked by the state: Brook trout, Brown trout, Rainbow trout (2011–2025, 15 years; 127,010 fish in all, fry included)

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 Rushford Lake (Allegany County). NYSDEC page.

Lake map

Rushford Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Balcom Beach Small Boat Launch (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)21 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Balcom Beach Small Boat Launch
    Boat launch · Rushford
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Rushford

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 84202017), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Rushford Lake

We found 4 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Rushford Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

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.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (42.3739, -78.1956). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Rushford Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Rushford Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    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.

    Boat launches & access sites

    2 public access sites listed, 2 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Balcom Beach Small Boat LaunchRushford—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp—No feeBoating42.3847, -78.2067
    Boat rampRushford—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating42.3875, -78.2137

    NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Rushford Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Rushford Lake

    How big is Rushford Lake?

    Rushford Lake covers about 588 acres in Rushford and Caneadea, New York (Allegany County).

    What fish are in Rushford Lake?

    NYSDEC fishing and stocking data lists Walleye, Smallmouth bass, Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Crappie, Yellow perch, Sunfish and Carp.

    Is there a public boat launch on Rushford Lake?

    Yes. 2 public trailer launches are listed: Balcom Beach Small Boat Launch and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Rushford Lake?

    Yes. We list 4 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Rushford Lake?

    Rushford Lake touches Rushford and Caneadea in Allegany County, New York.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Rushford 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).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All New York lakes & ponds · All waters in Rushford