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Chautauqua muskie fishery
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Chautauqua Lake is not only popular
with local anglers, it attracts folks from nearby states and
Canada as well. It is also a major muskie tournament site.
The lake provided a record-setting event when the
Professional Muskie Tournament Trail held its annual
championship there last fall. Despite poor weather, the
field of 50 anglers caught a record 46 muskies during the
two-day event. The Ohio-based winning team of Kevin Sellers
and Mike Money boated seven fish. Included in their catch
was a 47.5-inch muskie. Both the tournament total and
winning catch set all-time PMTT records.
In southwestern New York, Chautauqua is a natural lake covering 13,181
surface acres. The lake lies in a north-to-south setting
stretching over 17 miles. Its average width is about 1 1/2
miles. The lake is divided into two major basins
Chautauqua's northern basin is much deeper, with a maximum depth of 81
feet and an average depth of 26 feet. The water is
significantly clearer here. Weed growth is a significant
factor in fish location; weed control plays into the angling
game plan. Chemical treatment and mechanical harvesters are
used for weed control on a controlled basis.
Numerous bays and points dot the shoreline of the upper
lake. Aquatic vegetation is abundant in both the upper and
lower sections of the lake, with deeper weed lines in the
clearer water of the northern basin. The shorelines of the
northern and southern portions of the lake are highly
developed with cottages, homes and marinas. Recreational
boating traffic can be heavy, particularly during summer
weekends.
A wide range of species lure anglers to Chautauqua including crappies,
walleyes, largemouth and smallmouth bass, but it's muskies
that many fishermen associate with Chautauqua Lake.
The mainstay of the Chautauqua muskie fishery is its
excellent numbers of fish in the 40- to 45-inch range. But
the lake also provides the chance for a 50-inch fish, a
significant milestone for many muskie anglers. McKeown said
the largest muskie collected by trap nets measured 56
inches. Each year, however, fish in the 52- to 53-inch range
find their way into the DEC's nets. McKeown estimated these
fish to be approximately 20 years of age and weigh about 35
pounds.
Chautauqua's forage situation has changed in recent years.
Gizzard shad, which had illegally been introduced into the
lake, were a significant food fish for several seasons.
McKeown noted that shad have been absent the past few years.
Chautauqua is a muskie angler's dream, offering opportunities for casting
and trolling. Both methods are highly popular on the lake. A
recently conducted DEC survey suggests that larger muskies
tend to use the open-water zones of the lake more, while
smaller fish relate heavily to the weed beds
Trolling and casting are popular on Chautauqua Lake, but it's likely that
more anglers favor the former method. Trolling is an
efficient way of covering the water. Though many muskie
hunters may be reluctant to admit it, it's also a less
strenuous way of fishing. Heaving heavy muskie lures for
hours on end is physically demanding, to say the least.
"I like to fish the south end with crank baits from 10 to 40
feet back," he said. "I'll start off with the short lines
first, and then go progressively longer if I'm not catching
anything. I'll troll anywhere from 3.5 to 5 mph. I start off
fast and then slow down until I find the speed the fish are
looking for.
"It's important to keep an open mind and keep trying
different speeds, line lengths and lure sizes. Color can be
a factor, but I think other things make a bigger difference.
Crank baits are my choice, but I know other fishermen who
catch just as many muskies as I do on other brands of lures.
The point is to use your favorite lures because they give
you confidence and they will work."
Rimming the northern end of the lake is an extensive weed
flat often called the Mayville Flats. Trolling back down the
east shore will put you past Point Chautauqua, upper and
lower Dewittville Bay, Whitesides Point, Sunset Bay, Big
Bar, Long Point and Bemus Bay.
 New
York's Chautauqua Lake Muskies
One of New York's top-rated fall muskie lakes, Chautauqua is
the place to be for fish in the 50-inch class. Here's a look
at how you can get in on the action this month.
But so it goes on New York's Chautauqua Lake, a fabled
Empire State muskie fishery. The lake has had its ups and
downs in recent years, but it is currently ranked among the
highest quality muskie waters in the country. |
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