Finger Lakes

The Long Blue Streak

Cayuga is the longest of the five major Finger Lakes. It is 38.3 miles long and up to 2 miles wide at certain sections, giving it an area of about 66 square miles. Excluding the Great Lakes, it is the second deepest lake east of the Rockies with a depth of 435 feet. Within Cayuga Lake is Frontenac Island, known for its northern pike population and good fishing.It is one of two major Finger Lake islands.

Cayuga Lake is part of the Erie Canal System. Ithaca, home of Cornell University, lies at the south end of the lake. Some fine fishing can be found right there within the city limits! Many people identify Cayuga Lake with Cornell University, because of the song, "Far above Cayuga Waters."

For fishermen, Cayuga Lake has lake, brown and rainbow trout. For the warm water species angler, smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike and pickerel can be brought to the net. Cayuga didn't forget the panfisherman with its perch, bluegill, crappie, rockbass, bullhead and others.

While most of the lake drops off into deep water, the unique north and south ends have their conspicuous shoals. Fishing in the flats at Ithaca and by Cayuga Lake State Park is excellent. The cattail marshes are breeding grounds for northern pike, largemouth bass, bullhead and yellow perch. The northern shoals border the Montezuma Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and provide good breeding grounds for warm water species. Thousands of waterfowl frequent the area yearly making for good waterfowl hunting as well. Ice anglers keep to the shoals because the lake seldom freezes over.

The lake is best suited for trout angling. The principle summer trout fishing grounds are along the west shore at Varick and the east shore from Kings Ferry to Willets. Most of the trout caught strike standard type spoons fished with down riggers or planer boards at depths of 50 to 100 feet. In the early season fish can be caught close to shore in shallow water on light tackle while flat line trolling or casting while drifting.

Smallmouth bass angling is most consistent in the waters around Union Springs on the east side of the lake. The wintering grounds for smallmouth is around Flat Rock at the southwest section of the lake by Taughannock Falls State Park.

Two state parks; Cayuga Lake State Park at the northwest end and Taughannock State Park on the southwest side, provide launch facilities on the lake. The launch site at Taughannock Falls State Park is especially dramatic because the falls drop 215 feet, the highest straight drop in the Eastern USA. Launch sites are also available at Varick and Union Springs near Frontenac Island. In addition, there are two sites at south end of the lake and one by Lock #1 on the northeast corner of the lake.

Come visit Cayuga Lake, "This Long Blue Streak." Stay at a park, launch your boat and fish its variety of species every day during your visit.

Directions

To arrive at Cayuga lake take the New York State Thruway to Route 90 toward Seneca Falls. Exit and take Route 89 following the signs. For more information, contact the Ithaca/Tomkins Visitor Center at 607-272-1313.