Chautauqua Lake sprawls across more than 13,000 acres in Western New York, and offers some of the best fishing in the region. Chautauqua gives up 40- to 50-inch muskellunge every year, and next to Lake Erie may be New York’s best bet for 4-pound-plus smallmouth bass.
About the Lake
Chautauqua is a long, narrow lake divided into two basins of almost equal size above and below Bemus Point. The two halves of the lake can both be productive, but offer substantially different environments. Chautauqua Lake’s northern basin is considerably deeper – 25 feet on average with a maximum depth of 75 feet – while the southern basin averages just 11 feet deep, with a 19-foot maximum. Boat ramps and shore access are available at a number of locations around the lake, including Bemus Point, Prendergrast Point and Long Point State Park.
Bass
Both largemouth and smallmouth bass are abundant in Chautauqua Lake, but these fish utilize radically different habitat. Largemouth bass are more plentiful in the southern basin, where they hunt around weed edges and under the boat docks that ring the lake. Largemouths strike surface plugs, spinnerbaits and plastic worms, especially in the morning and evening.
Smallmouths are more at home in northern Chautauqua Lake. Smallies thrive in rocky habitat, and can often be found around reefs, rockpiles, sloping points and rocky drop-offs, especially near creek mouths. Rocky spots with quick access to both deep and shallow water are almost sure to host smallmouth bass at some time during the year, and fishermen have a lot of potential areas to choose from. Jigs, tubes and Senko-style stickbaits are among the top smallmouth lures.
Muskellunge
Muskies draw many anglers to Chautauqua Lake. These massive members of the pike family are most abundant around shallow weed beds and other structure, but studies by the New York DEC suggest that the largest muskies spend their time suspending in deep water. Muskellunge enthusiasts catch these fish by casting or trolling big 8- to 12-inch bucktails and crankbaits and swimbaits. Wire leaders, 20-pound-plus line, and rods and reels that can take a serious pounding are essential if you plan to go out after muskellunge; these are some tough fish.
Walleye
Though not native to Chautauqua Lake, walleye were introduced in the early 1900s and grew rapidly in abundance in the ’60s. The best time to fish for walleye on Chautauqua Lake is on spring mornings and evenings, when big ‘eyes congregate on gravel shoals and strike minnow-imitating baits. Hot spots include Prendergast Point, Warner Bar, Cheney’s Farm, Bemus Bay, Long Point and Tom’s Point.
Panfish
Chautauqua Lake is one of the better lakes in New York for crappies, though population fluctuations can make fishing hit-or-miss. These fish are easiest to find in spring and fall, when the wind blows warmer water and baitfish into shallow, weedy embayments. Crappie can be caught on live minnows, small spinnerbaits and all manner of soft plastics.
Perch and sunfish are abundant (and delicious) and offer a year-round resource on Chautauqua Lake. Even when other fish refuse to bite, it is a rare day when you can’t fill a pail with sunnies around the edges of the lake’s many weed beds. The best way to tempt these fish is with live worms or small jigs on ultralight tackle – you might be surprised how hard a hand-sized bluegill can fight on 4-pound line.