Western Somerset County's Cranberry Glade Lake is one of a handful of waters that fall outside the typical physical character of a Pennsylvania impoundment.

Nestled in a depression within the Laurel Ridge, this 110-acre lake provides a home for an abundance of fish and wildlife, highlighted by a fine population of excellent-sized largemouth bass.

Cranberry Lake is extremely shallow. When my frequent fishing partner, Dave Lehman, and I visited the lake earlier this spring the deepest water we found was seven feet. The average depth is in the three foot range.

The water color is stained. Not muddy, but heavily seasoned with a tea-like color typical of swampy waters. And it's the only lake I've fished where a 10-unit windmill farm silhouettes the skylight, and indicator of the region's elevation.

As one might expect of a shallow, soft-bottomed impoundment, Cranberry Glade is rich in aquatic vegetation. The most predominate weed type, at least in the spring of the year, is floating vegetation such as lily pads and spatterdock. Stands of submergent weeds like coontail are also present.

In addition to the lake's weedgrowth, it also features a substantial amount of standing and submerged timber. The upper half of the lake in particular is interspersed with standing timber; submerged stumps, some of which are only inches under the surface, are common in this portion of the lake.

The highlight of standing timber is an active osprey nest, which Lehman and I enjoyed from a distance as we fished Cranberry Glade's upper end. Much of Cranberry Glade is encircled by the impressive acreage of State Game Lands 111, which extends into eastern Fayette County.

The shoreline of the lake, the western shore in particular, features numerous woody laydowns. Several active beaver lodges are present, which add to the amount of wood cover present. Brushy cover overhangs the water's edge, beckoning casts skipped underneath.

According to Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Fisheries Manager Rick Lorson, relatively low fertility limits Cranberry Glade's fish carrying potential. He said the Commission has been looking for volunteers to take on a liming project, which would add to the lake's productivity, but has met no success thus far.

Cranberry Glade hosts panfish such as bluegills, crappies and yellow perch. It also contains northern pike. But it was the promise of chunky largemouth bass that beckoned Lehman and I to make the two-hour drive to the lake. And it didn't disappoint.

The first hour of the adventure was spent quickly covering inviting cover. We worked spinnerbaits and rattlebaits over weed cover just under surface. In the upper end of the lake we pitched jigs and worms around standing timber, as well as submerged stumps.

But as good as the cover looked, the skunk was still in the box. We worked our way back down the eastern edge of the lake, past the boat launch, to the face of the dam.

I told Lehman one can almost always catch a bass or two off the rip-rap face of the dam. Moments later, a two-and-a-half pounder inhaled my five-inch Yum Dinger sinking worm and headed for the open water. Once in the boat, the subject posed for a quick photo, and was back in the lake.

With the ice broken, Lehman and I slowed down our approach and began picking apart shoreline cover with a renewed sense of both confidence and patience. A two-pounder soon picked up Dave's flippin' jig from a woody snag.

Shortly afterward a three-plus-pounder grabbed the Dinger I'd pitched near a laydown.

For that day, the best pattern was finding shoreline-connected cover next to relatively deeper water. And on this lake, I do mean relative. The productive places had a foot-and-a-half to two-feet of water leading up to the cover, while similarly-looking, yet unproductive spots where a foot or less.

Owned by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission, Cranberry Glade is limited to non-powered or electric motors only. The ramp is of beach-style design, suitable for smaller, shallow-draft trailered boats and car-toppers.

Fishing kayaks and personal pontoon boats (catarafts) would also be ideal. As summer arrives, and weedgrowth thickens, expect navigation to become an issue in some areas of the lake.

The Commission has a nice gravel parking lot next to the ramp, which is located near the southeastern corner of the lake. The lake's off-the-beaten-path location seems to keep the fishing pressure light; Lehman and I had the place to ourselves during our weekend outing.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.