Lake Chautauqua

Chautauqua Lake, at 1,308 meters above sea level, is one of the top plates of North America. It gives special fishing for walleye, bass, muscle and lung of several species of panfish. Located in the southeast corner of Chautauqua County, Chautauqua Lake is approximately 17.5 miles long and has an area of 13,156 hectares.

Chautauqua Lake is divided into two pools of almost same size as Bemus Point. The north along the Chautauqua Lake averages 25 feet deep, with a maximum depth of 75 meters. South Basin is significantly flatter, with an average depth of 11 meters and a maximum depth of 19 meters.

Public boating access and shoreline fishing are available at Prendergast Point boat launch, and Long Point State Park, where a marina and day-use area exists. Public boating access to Bemus Point boat launch. Additional shoreline fishing is available at Tom's Point area of multiple uses, the newly acquired Cheney Farm (provider 1100 meters from shore access) and Stow Property (provided 1,100 meters from the shore access).

History:

Management and culture of lung muscle was born the waters of Chautauqua Lake. The first attempts to culture muscle lung, in 1888, took place near Hurst Green (south basin), but operations were quickly moved to Bemus Point, where the first permanent hatchery building was built in 1904. Culture of lung muscle in Bemus Point Hatchery continued until 1973 when all the fish production was moved across the lake to Prendergast point where more space for the ponds and a better source of spring water was available.

Not much left of the original Bemus Spawning except garage, now used for equipment storage by Village of Bemus Point. How Bemus Point Hatchery once stood now sits the recently (2006) revived Bemus Point Fishing Access site, providing access to trailer launch Chautauqua Lake. Production of lung muscle in the modern Prendergast Hatchery facility uses a combination of in-hatchery and outside / pond rearing to maximize survival 25-30000 eight inches + Fingerling muscular pulmonary stock out to Chautauqua Lake and other areas waters. The 12, one acre hatchery ponds are also used to rear approximately 250,000 Fingerling walleye. These walleye are also stocked to Chautauqua Lake and other areas waters.

Strange and Unusal Events :

Perhaps no event in the annals of Chautauqua Lake fishing history was stranger than the catch of a paddlefish from Bemus Point in 1872. The Jamestown Journal (July 15, 1872, a big thing at Fish Market);

"Bemus Point yesterday was somewhat surprised by the appearance of the surface of the old Chautauqua Lake a gigantic fish, which was terribly agitating the otherwise quiet and calm waters. It was the biggest fish ever caught in the lake, measuring six meters in length, and its nose was a bill, very wide and flat, almost a meter long. The fish weighed one hundred and twenty pounds."

One can only assume that this single paddlefish model migrated during flood conditions in the lake from the Ohio River through the Allegheny, Conewango and Chadakoin rivers. The distressed fish was later stuffed and on display at Union School in Mayville and a photograph was apparently taken that are not seen to date.

Perch, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Crappie & Bullhead :

Yellow perch, white perch, pumpkinseed, Bluegill, crappie and bullhead can be caught year round in Chautauqua Lake. These tasty fish are fun to catch for both novice and expert angler alike. Weed lines are often good places to find panfish, they provide safety from predators and is an abundant food source for insects and other invertebrates. During summer and autumn, producing live bait such as worms or minnowss the best catches. Preferred tool is an ultra light rod and reels with 4-6 pound test line. Live minnowss fished with a Bobber is a popular technique, but anglers fishing small jigs tipped with bait are also successful.

Fishing for bullhead is a popular activity during the spring and early summer. Because bullhead are most active after sunset, fishing during the evening hours by means of a lantern is usually the most effective way to catch these fish. Try still-fishing, using Nightcrawlers, crayfish or fragrance-Attractant baits. During the spring spawning period, concentrating Bullhead over areas with soft bottoms.

Recent studies suggest December healthy numbers of bullhead, yellow perch, sunfish and white perch and fishing predictions are favorable for these species. Effort has been fluctuating for crappie still experiencing cyclical changes in abundance. The best fishing for crappie continue to be in the spring and fall in the shallow embayment luv how warm surface water attracts baitfish. Today, Statewide regulations apply to these species.

Bass :

Chautauqua Lake ranks among the better bass lakes in upstate New York. Shallow, weedy areas and docks offer special coverage for large mouth bass, while deep drop-offs and gravel bars often contain good numbers of smallmouth bass. Casting from land or boat has been effective in Chautauqua Lake bass, it allows the angler to place a lure directly into the structure where bass wait to ambush prey. Early morning and evening are the most important times for surface-type connectors. Anglers also have good luck using spinner baits, plastic worms, jig-and-pig, crank baits and live bait, as crayfish and shine.

December Fisheries staff consider appropriate, that the smallmouth fishing to be exceptional and under-utilized. Recent fishing tournaments held in October has regularly won the attention of more than 20 pounds for 5 fish Creel items. Surprisingly, rocky shoals at the river mouths and islands of the southern basin prove to be the most productive areas in the autumn of smallmouth bass. Although studies suggest moderate number of "trophy" bass fishing can only improve if more bass is released by anglers.

Muscle Lung :

Chautauqua Lake is recognized as a premiere world-class muscle lung fishing. Many fish in the 40-50 inch class are caught each year. Although not known for producing New York's biggest muscle lung (St. Lawrence River or Buffalo Harbor hold this honor) the action can be fast and furious and the lake is almost always fishable. While anglers use different methods to catch musky, are two proven techniques trolling and casting into the shallow weedy bays. Trolling is generally more effective, but requires specialized techniques and experience. Speed trolling, or trolling in the "prop wash" has been popular in recent years, but the specialized gear needed to handle the strike trophy lung muscle in the shortest line. If you are interested in only the largest musky, a radio tracking study in the late 1990s showed the largest fish spent their time suspended over deep water rather than in the structure. Minor to moderate size musky was usually associated with the weed lines and drop offs. December surveys indicate a healthy musky population back from the decline in the early 1990s. More than 75% of the musky handled in traps due Fingerling stock at NYS-December Prendergast hatchery. In 2006, the occupancy rate increased from 10,000 to 13,000 pond-finished Fingerling average 8.5 to 9 inches in length with an even greater length reached ponds receiving minnowss donated by Chautauqua musky Hunters, a local chapter of Muskie Inc. minimum size limit for musky in Chautauqua is 40 inches and Creel are limited to one fish per person per day. To maintain quality muscle lung fishing, anglers are encouraged to release their catch without even bringing the fish into the boat. Studies show that if the muscular pulmonary handled carefully odds to survive being trapped again is excellent.

Ice Fishing :

Chautauqua Lake offers "hard water" fishing opportunities for walleye, and panfish. Ice Fishing can be an enjoyable outing for the whole family, and only requires a minimum of equipment. Clothes are key to an enjoyable experience, ice-dress in layers and use a good pair of insulated pack boots.

Anglers will also need an Ice auger, or Spud, to cut a hole in the ice and an ice skimmer to clean the ice chips out of the hole. Ice fishing equipment should be directed at the size fish you want to catch. Generally, lighter is better to capture sensitive-biting fish such as Bluegill and crappie. Use a short, light rod equipped with 4-6 pound test line and small baits. When fishing for panfish, small jigs work well. Many anglers bait the jigs with "Mousie", "oak leaf", larvae, or Mayfly larvae (Michigan wiggle). For best results, fish the bait just off bottom. Some ice anglers use a small Bobber placed on the line just below the surface eater, to prevent icing up and detect the slightest nibble.

Popular areas for yellow perch and other panfish include Mayville, Prendergast, Long Point, Dewittville, Ashville Bay and Celoron area. For walleye, fish Chautauqua's north basin. Good areas include Warner Bar, Belltower, Dewittville, Prendergast Point, Mission Meadows, Long Point, Victoria and Magnolia. Since walleye in the 5-8 pound range occasionally caught, anglers use heavier fishing tackle. Short, thick spinning rods with a reel that has a good drag system work best. Minnow-imitating lures and "sonars" is a traditional favorite of Chautauqua Lake anglers. Often lures baited with a minnow to make them more inviting. Tip-ups also work well, and anglers often described their legal number of tip-ups and continue to use templates with a second pole.

Access during the winter months, is available at Prendergast Point, Bemus Point, Long Point State Park, the city of Mayville Park and Village of Lakewood Park.