Central New York is a large area, blessed with 11 lakes that resemble fingers… hence the term “the Finger Lakes Region.”
For anybody who has never lived in or visited the Finger Lakes Region of New York, it’s important to note that this region is much larger than it appears on a map. I mention this because I am writing about fishing in the Finger Lakes, and I wouldn’t want to upset anybody because I am focusing on Cayuga Lake.
Cayuga Lake is the lake I grew up on, and the lake I know most. Other lakes I have fished in the Fingerlakes Region include nearby Seneca Lake, Owasco Lake, Skaneateles Lake, and Otisco Lake. But here in the heart of the Fingerlakes Region… the two largest lakes (let’s call them the middle and the pointer finger) are Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake. This article deals specifically with fishing on Cayuga Lake….
Where to Stay on Cayuga Lake
If you are visiting the Fingerlakes Region, there are many options for Cayuga Lake rentals. Depending on your budget, Cayuga Lake cottage rentals are the best way to stay overnight on lakefront property. Many of the Cayuga Lake cottage rentals are very nice lakeside rental properties, but this can be very expensive.
The options for Cayuga Lake cottage rentals range from rental communities (such as Kingtown Beach in Ithaca, NY) to user owned lakeside cottages on Cayuga Lake for rent. Obviously, the price will vary depending on where you look, so if planning a vacation to Cayuga Lake for fishing you definitely want to compare your options and shop around for the best deal. If you prefer a user owned cottage on Cayuga Lake, the best place to start looking is a local classified site or Craigslist. (To find Cayuga Lake cottage rentals on Craigslist, search “vacation rentals” under Ithaca, Syracuse, and Rochester.)
Another option for lodging at Cayuga Lake is to stay in a hotel or motel. This can be less costly than a lakeside cottage rental, and even the pricier inns (offering luxurious packages, wine tours, a lakeside view, and even chartered fishing on Cayuga or Seneca Lake) give you an outstanding value for the money. (Try the Aurora Inn located in Aurora, NY… )
Or, if you are anything like me, camping on Cayuga Lake is more desirable and much more affordable. It’s no wonder that Cayuga Lake is home to many campgrounds, and if you like you can plan a trip around the lake… visiting many Cayuga Lake campsites on the way so you have more time to fish and enjoy yourself. Many of the Cayuga Lake campsites include fishing onsite, either with riverfront campsites or with Cayuga Lake being in walking distance. I recommend the smaller campsites found around Cayuga Lake, such as Yawger Brook Campground in Aurelius, NY. However, you can always find the bigger campgrounds around Cayuga Lake with less searching. Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca, NY (which, by the way, is gorges and you will understand that when you visit…) offers camping facilities along with picnic area alongside a beautiful waterfall. You can’t beat an experience like that!
Well, in summary, there are many places to stay along Cayuga Lake, whether you are on the Seneca Falls end, the Ithaca end, or anywhere in the middle. There are many things to do near Cayuga Lake, such as take wine tours or golfing. Cayuga Lake offers a variety of entertainment… and the most important one is fishing. Cayuga Lake is a great location for bass, bullhead, catfish, and others.
But, like any lake, it helps to know where to go to fish on Cayuga Lake. If you are a fisherman or woman who will be visiting Cayuga Lake– I am here to help.
Where to Fish on Cayuga Lake
Finding your way around Cayuga Lake is easy enough. If you are travelling around Cayuga Lake by land (as opposed to boat) I can help you locate some of the best fishing hotspots, and what you can expect to catch.
Starting with the fishing spots that are easier to locate on Cayuga Lake for somebody unfamiliar with the area…
State parks on Cayuga Lake are often overpopulated with fishermen and women. This does not have to be a bad thing, but I tend to prefer the lesser known fishing spots (which I’ll get to next.) Fishing at a state park is convenient, especially because you can camp or rent a lakeside cottage right there… and there are still many fish to be caught.
Long Point State Park in Aurora, NY
Heading down Rte. 90 towards Ithaca, just past Aurora, you’ll find Long Point State Park... a popular picnic and fishing spot on Cayuga Lake.
If you are fishing for perch, you’ll want to cast off from the shore. (Please see the picture of my 2 year old, who caught his first fish-a perch-in this very spot.)
Around the boat launch, and off the rocky point, you can often catch both large and small mouth bass.
Also there are trout and salmon waiting to bite if you are trolling or flat lining a few yards out.
Cayuga Lake State Park in Seneca Falls, NY
If you are headed down Rte. 89 towards Ithaca you can’t miss Cayuga Lake State Park, which offers camping and cottage rentals as well as a large beach on Cayuga Lake for swimming and fishing… among other amenities.
When fishing from the shore at Cayuga Lake State Park, you can expect to catch bass, bullhead, catfish, and pan fish.
Taughannock Falls State Park in Trumansburg, NY
Closer to Ithaca, this state park on Cayuga Lake has it all and then some. Camping, picnic areas, fishing, and some of the most beautiful waterfalls that you can hike up to.
To catch bass or pan fish at Taughannock Falls– fish from the shore. You’ll also find trout or salmon in the spill way, or by trolling or flat lining.
Better Fishing Spots on Cayuga Lake
If you’re like me, you like a little privacy when fishing. If an area is crowded, the chances of catching anything are less likely. But you can’t just go fishing on private property, and if you don’t know the area… where should you go?
I will tell you the area I know best, and that is the north end of Cayuga Lake. Keeping true to the title, I cannot mention the Potato Flats or the Rte. 31 bridge because that is, technically, the Seneca River. (And, because those are fishing spots I would not want to publicize and overpopulate…)
So, I recommend the following spots for fishing on Cayuga Lake…
Macintosh Park in Cayuga, NY
Cayuga is a very small town... so small you could blink and miss it. Even a lot of residents of the Fingerlakes Region in NY have no idea where this little town is. Unless, of course, they enjoy fishing.
To find Cayuga, you can take Rte. 5 west of Auburn for about 7 miles until you reach a pair of flashing red lights (where you will cross over Rte. 90) and go straight. You’ll see the lake right in front of you, and even though It doesn’t look like there is a road… there is. Follow it down and park… the little patch of green grass (with a gazebo) is Macintosh Park. You might see a train go down the tracks (bring change, just in case) around 5 pm… but if it’s safe there are spots to fish down the tracks, alongside the bridges— but I stress you are not supposed to fish there.
To play it safe, fish off the shore at Macintosh Park. You’ll still have access to bass, perch, bullhead, pike, catfish, and crappie. Tight lining with a worm works best, unless you are fishing for bass in which case you’ll want to use a jig or a rapala.
Frontenac Park in Union Springs, NY
If you get back onto Rte. 90 and head south (towards Aurora) you will come into another small town called Union Springs. You’ll pass a high school on the right hand side and then come up to a small plaza (where you will see a Big M, a pizza shop, and a Laundromat.) This is downtown Union Springs, and if you take a right onto the small road that runs next to this plaza, down through the parking lot, you’ll see a large park with basketball courts, a soccer field, a playground, and a boat launch. You have found the well hidden Frontenac Park.
While there are many fish to be caught here, the best thing to do is take a small boat or rubber raft and drift out to the island where you can catch perch and small mouth bass.
*Also, you can catch your own live bait. There are many crayfish down the point if you follow the park down to the right, down past the pavilion.
Cayuga Locke in Cayuga, NY
Yes, back to Cayuga… only because what better place to fish Cayuga Lake than right in this village of the same name? If you are leaving Macintosh Park to head to “the Locke” you’ll take a left on Rte. 90 (where you would be taking a right to head to Frontenac Park) and about a few miles down you’ll see a small road that forks off to the left. Follow that tiny path (with a speed limit of 20) and on your left hand side you will find the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, or Lock CS1… or “The Locke in Cayuga.” There are three popular fishing locations here: the lake side and the river side are most obvious. Do not cast a line inside the lock walls… this is illegal both morally and legally. However if you cross the lock wall, and follow the path through the woods on the other side, you’ll find a more secluded spot of the river.
The Lockes in Cayuga are a great place for bullhead, catfish, pike, and crappie.
For those who are visiting Cayuga Lake– you’ll have a good time fishing. I promise! Ask the locals for different tips and fishing hot spots to get the most out of your stay.
