FishinBuck07 Posted December 11, 2021 Posted December 11, 2021 Hey guys my little brother lives near Syracuse, he asked me the other day if I wanted to come up end of May or early June next year and go fish Cayuga with him. Neither of us has ever fished it before, so wondering if anyone has any pointers. Where to start, how to fish it that time of year, maybe some baits to try? I know like most lakes there it is full of vegetation and the north end of the lake is best for bass! Quote
Kirtley Howe Posted December 11, 2021 Posted December 11, 2021 North End of the lake is best for Largemouth. Mid lake is better for small mouth. At the northern part of the lake you can launch at Deans' Cove, or Pirates Cove or at Cayuga Lake State Part, or even at Hibiscus Harbor and run north. Mid lake you can launch at Taughannock Falls State Park, or from Myers Point, or Long Point State Park. (a little farther north). At the South end, you can launch at Roger Treman State Park. The Lake is only about 45 miles long, so you really can launch just about anywhere and run the whole lake. with out much problem. And the lake is only 2 miles wide at the widest point. As far as tips....just use your usual approach and let the fish tell you what they want. The lake is very deep (like 475 feet at the deepest), so you should brush up on drop shoting and deep finesse techniques. There are not a lot coves or bays, but there are shallow weed beds at the north end, and weeds near shore along most of the east side of the lake. Be sure to check out fishing near the Yatch club on the west shore...they don't fishing inside any of the Marinas, but you can fish the outside (lake side) of the docks. Also not a lot of boat houses to fish. There are some awesome vertical stone walls, with ledges and drops on the east side above Taughannock Falls State Park. Good luck. 2 1 Quote
FishinBuck07 Posted January 22, 2022 Author Posted January 22, 2022 On 12/10/2021 at 10:44 PM, Kirt Howe said: North End of the lake is best for Largemouth. Mid lake is better for small mouth. At the northern part of the lake you can launch at Deans' Cove, or Pirates Cove or at Cayuga Lake State Part, or even at Hibiscus Harbor and run north. Mid lake you can launch at Taughannock Falls State Park, or from Myers Point, or Long Point State Park. (a little farther north). At the South end, you can launch at Roger Treman State Park. The Lake is only about 45 miles long, so you really can launch just about anywhere and run the whole lake. with out much problem. And the lake is only 2 miles wide at the widest point. As far as tips....just use your usual approach and let the fish tell you what they want. The lake is very deep (like 475 feet at the deepest), so you should brush up on drop shoting and deep finesse techniques. There are not a lot coves or bays, but there are shallow weed beds at the north end, and weeds near shore along most of the east side of the lake. Be sure to check out fishing near the Yatch club on the west shore...they don't fishing inside any of the Marinas, but you can fish the outside (lake side) of the docks. Also not a lot of boat houses to fish. There are some awesome vertical stone walls, with ledges and drops on the east side above Taughannock Falls State Park. Good luck. I really appreciate your response here, you have given me some good ideas of what to expect! I rented a house that is directly on the lake near Seneca Falls, thought that way my brother and I can have more fishing time. May 19 is when we are going so I figure the largemouth most likely be in prespawn and the smallies may be spawning. But just my thoughts. 2 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted January 27, 2022 Super User Posted January 27, 2022 On 1/22/2022 at 11:22 AM, FishinBuck07 said: May 19 is when we are going so I figure the largemouth most likely be in prespawn and the smallies may be spawning. But just my thoughts. They're likely all spawning. You can pretty much fish anywhere in 5-12 FOW and catch. These are from Cayuga: 1 1 Quote
FishinBuck07 Posted January 27, 2022 Author Posted January 27, 2022 1 minute ago, J Francho said: They're likely all spawning. You can pretty much fish anywhere in 5-12 FOW and catch. These are from Cayuga: Thank you for the response! My brother lives around an hour away and has never fished it, so just trying to get some ideas of how to fish it that time of year. Very much appreciated! 1 Quote
T.J. Posted January 28, 2022 Posted January 28, 2022 6 hours ago, J Francho said: They're likely all spawning. You can pretty much fish anywhere in 5-12 FOW and catch. These are from Cayuga: How would fishing be in late April? Also thinking about a run to Cayuga April or May from NJ. Quote
FishinBuck07 Posted May 11, 2022 Author Posted May 11, 2022 Welp next week is my trip to Cayuga, wondering if any of ya have been out? Water Temps? Maybe some info where to start looking? Any info is appreciated! Quote
Super User J Francho Posted May 11, 2022 Super User Posted May 11, 2022 I haven't hear anything, but you should be good to go with prespawn patterns. 1 Quote
FishinBuck07 Posted June 7, 2022 Author Posted June 7, 2022 It was a great trip, started out slow. The Monday before we left my brother and I caught probably 60# of bass off one stretch of bank. Fished that stretch 5 times that day and caught nice fish every time. His biggest was almost 6# and mine was just under 5#. We had a blast, and thanks everyone on here that helped me out! Sorry meant to post on here about it, and got busy after we returned home catching up on things. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted June 7, 2022 Super User Posted June 7, 2022 Nice job! I tore it up a week later on the south shore of Ontario. 1 Quote
FishinBuck07 Posted June 8, 2022 Author Posted June 8, 2022 13 hours ago, J Francho said: Nice job! I tore it up a week later on the south shore of Ontario. Yeah Cayuga was awesome! Won't be the last time I fish there for sure. Beautiful area, lake is absolutely beautiful. Beats Ohio bass fishing any day of the week! 2 Quote
bacolmm Posted July 19, 2024 Posted July 19, 2024 On 6/8/2022 at 9:36 AM, FishinBuck07 said: Yeah Cayuga was awesome! Won't be the last time I fish there for sure. Beautiful area, lake is absolutely beautiful. Beats Ohio bass fishing any day of the week! Resurrecting an old thread. I am a fellow AEP Rec Lands angler and I'm interested in checking out Cayuga. I'm guessing when you went in May is about the best time you can go. Anyone have any feedback on how the lake fishes in the Summer and/or Fall? Quote
JackstrawIII Posted July 23, 2024 Posted July 23, 2024 On 7/19/2024 at 2:32 PM, bacolmm said: Resurrecting an old thread. I am a fellow AEP Rec Lands angler and I'm interested in checking out Cayuga. I'm guessing when you went in May is about the best time you can go. Anyone have any feedback on how the lake fishes in the Summer and/or Fall? The new state record just came out of Cayuga Lake a few days ago. 1 Quote
spslewis Posted August 9, 2024 Posted August 9, 2024 Hi all. Fishing Cayoga for the first time week of sept 15. Any info on general locations for smallmouth. I am staying in auroa. ty in advance. Quote
bacolmm Posted August 21, 2024 Posted August 21, 2024 On 7/23/2024 at 11:29 AM, JackstrawIII said: The new state record just came out of Cayuga Lake a few days ago. State record Largemouth and Smallmouth from the same lake just a few years apart! Quote
Frezzy Posted August 22, 2024 Posted August 22, 2024 Hey Guys, I'm planning a trip to Cayuga for some fall bass fishing in October (in a kayak). Planning to fish mostly largemouth up the northern end of lake. Can anyone recommend a good hotel or place to stay? Not afraid to spend some money for a nice comfortable place. Thanks for the help! Quote
Middlestone Posted January 23 Posted January 23 Hey guys looking for info on Cayuga. Planning a trip first week of June/2025 but I’ve read bass season starts June 15. Is it legal to catch and release before season? I’ve also read it was prohibited to catch and release during the closed season for bass Quote
Super User Jar11591 Posted January 24 Super User Posted January 24 @Middlestone in New York State you can target bass out of season provided they are taken on artificial lures and they are released alive. Quote
Super User Jar11591 Posted January 24 Super User Posted January 24 @J Francho could you provide a link with the information? I do the majority of my fishing in 5, mainly Saratoga, Warren, and Hamilton counties and I am not seeing anything regarding bass regulations being different than the state wide rules. https://www.eregulations.com/newyork/fishing/region-5-regulations#:~:text=Black Bass%2C June 15 through,St. The DEC website has the same information as above. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted January 24 Super User Posted January 24 Franklin and Hamilton Counties are in Region 5. Probably better to use the DEC site: https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/regulations/region-5-special-fishing Quote Black Bass: June 15 through November 30, Minimum Length-12", Daily Limit-5 Fishing for black bass, including catch & release, is prohibited outside of the open season 1 Quote
Super User Jar11591 Posted January 24 Super User Posted January 24 @J Francho thank you. I always read through the regulation book every season. I don’t know if this was recent or I somehow missed it. I find it surprising that the DEC cares enough about the bass of Hamilton and Clinton counties to make special regulations for them. Either way, thanks for educating me on something that as a bass angler I shouldn’t be ignorant to. 1 Quote
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