Photo by Jack Kidd
Cayuga Lake
Though not the deepest, Cayuga Lake is the longest of the Finger Lakes. The combination of nearly a quarter of the lake in shallows and deep water provides habitat for the greatest fishing diversity in the region. Access is excellent and professional tournament fishing for Largemouth Bass is the rule on weekends. For fun, there’s a Seneca Falls International Carp Derby in June with 30 lb. winners. Lake Trout angling heats up in April at shoreline fishing hot spots between Canoga and Sheldrake Point, off Myers Point, Taughannock Falls State Park, and the area north of Sovocool Point (formerly Milliken Station). Still fishing or casting silver spoons or white hair jigs are popular methods. Deep trolling off Sheldrake, Myers Point and Taughannock Falls State Park is popular among boat anglers. From May to mid-June, as bait moves into the shallows, Trout concentrate south of Sheldrake Point along the shale shelves in 30 feet of water. Copper anglers bounce their lure on the bottom and consistently take limits of Lake Trout. TIP: Cayuga Lake Trout generally move clockwise through the lake as the seasons progress. In early spring, they are concentrated off Sheldrake, after stratification they move to Long Point and in the fall they cross the lake to spawning grounds off Taughannock.
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Downriggers are most effective to fish the thermocline. A Seth Green Rig is preferable when there is no stratification. Lake Trout are bottom oriented, but if they are suspended, you will find them at or below thermocline. Other Salmonids will be found just above it and as shallow as 30 feet below the surface. In late fall and winter, Lakers, Brown Trout and Landlocked Salmon can be taken from shore off Taughannock. Cast spoons or spinners or fish shiners under a bobber. The warm water discharge attracts Salmonids in the winter to the area of Sovocool Point (formerly Milliken Station). Landlocked Salmon fishing occurs mainly in the central and southern waters. Beginning in mid-March, fish the warmest water you can find, usually near discharges from such tributaries as Cayuga Inlet, Salmon Creek and Taughannock Creek. Troll with flat lines along mud lines. Lures may be small silver spoons or tandem streamer flies. Spring Landlocks are also taken from shore by casting or wading out from areas such as Esty and Myers Points. When Cayuga Lake stratifies, Landlocks disburse. But on windy, choppy days, try fishing the same productive points fished prior to the thermocline. The Landlocks are there chasing bait pushed toward shore by the wind.
As leaves change color, the fish migrate to Taughannock Point and other tributaries in preparation of spawning. Brown Trout prefer the warmest water they can find. In early spring, flat line with stickbaits at the channel off Ithaca. As the waters warm, fish the shallows using planer boards early and late in the day when low light conditions allow the Browns to chase bait in the shallows. Browns will suspend in summer. Fish downriggers with long leaders at depths of 30 to 40 feet. Trolling the triangle of Taughannock to Sovocool Point to Salmon Creek and back to Taughannock should be productive. Rainbow Trout are self-sustaining in Cayuga Lake. Spawning waters include Cayuga Inlet, Fall and Salmon Creeks. When the tributaries open to fishing on April 1, Rainbows are easily caught on egg sacs drifted with the current along the bottom of the stream. Once they return to the lake, you will find them with Browns and Landlocks off Sovocool, Myers and Sheldrake Points. Use a fast trolling speed and set your downriggers in the top 30 feet of water. In the fall, they return to the estuaries of the tributaries in anticipation of entering the streams.