Fishing
Chautauqua Lake, Lake Erie, Findley Lake, Cassadaga Lakes, and Bear Lake are excellent fishing destinations. Chautauqua Lake was host to the 2013 Major League Fishing General Tire Summit Cup professional bass fishing tournament and boasts a renowned history for muskellunge as well. The Chadwick Bay/Dunkirk Harbor area on Lake Erie was recently named Walleye Capital of the Northeast and also plays host to excellent small mouth bass fishing. Trout and salmon anglers will find the spring and fall runs on the Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and 18 Mile Creeks the finest of any of the Great Lakes tributaries. Click here for a 2011 - 2012 New York State Fishing Guide
Check out detailed fishing information and maps on the NYS Dept. of Enviromental Conservation website.
Click here for Chautauqua County Fishing Tournaments
Check out iKidsFishing.com for a great kids "Learn to Fish" video.
Help preserve the lakes and fisheries for future generations. Please follow these recommendations while fishing the lakes and waterways in Chautauqua County:
STOP INVASIVE SPECIES: "Hichhikers", such as Zebra Mussels and Water Chestnuts, are spreading from lake to lake throughout the Northeast. Help keep them out of our waters:
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Purchase local baitfish approved by the NYSDEC for our lakes.
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Insepct boats, trailers and equipment to avoid transporting invasive species.
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Drain water from boats, live wells, bilges and bait buckets before leaving all boat launches.
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Wash and dry your boat before leaving all boat launches.
DON'T POLLUTE: Every year, truckloads of plastic and glass bottles, food wrappers, snack bags and other refuse wash up on the lakeshore. Help make the lakes beautiful while improving the ecology:
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Pick up after yourself; don't leave trash behind.
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Secure loose items in your boat to prevent accidental littering.
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Properly dispose of septic waste - it feeds the weeds and algae.
BOAT RESPONSIBLY: Have respect for the lake and everyone enjoying it:
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Abide by posted speed and wake limits to reduce shoreline erosion.
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Properly maintain your boat and keep paints, solvents, antifreeze, fuel and lubricants out of the water.
|
Species |
Season |
Min Length |
Daily Limit |
Habitat |
Special Regulations |
|
Lake Trout |
all year |
12" |
1 |
Lake Erie |
|
|
Trout (brown,brook rainbow) |
Apr 1- Oct 15 |
any size |
5 in comb. |
All streams and lakes |
|
|
Trout & Salmon |
all year |
12" |
3 in comb. |
Lake Erie |
|
|
Large and Smallmouth Bass |
3rd Sat in June - Nov 30th |
12" |
5 |
All streams and lakes |
NOTE: Cassadaga Lake-Fish 12"-15" prohibited. |
|
Large and Smallmouth Bass(special early season) |
1st Sat in May - 3rd Sat in June |
20" |
1 |
Lake Erie ONLY |
|
|
Muskellunge |
3rd Sat in June - Nov 30 |
40" |
1 |
All streams and lakes |
40" min. for Chautauqua Lake; Lake Erie - 54" min. |
|
Northern Pike |
1st Sat in May - Mar 15 |
18" |
5 |
All streams and lakes |
Lake Erie - 22" min. NOTE: For Lake Erie only season is 3rd Sat. in June - Nov. 30. |
|
Tiger Muskellunge |
3rd Sat in June - Nov 30 |
40" |
1 |
Findley Lake & Lake Erie |
|
211 Chestnut Street , Fredonia NY 14063
Whether you are a beginner or an expert, a guide to accomodate your needs & choose locations appropriate to your skill level. All equipment, flies and instruction are provided as part of your guide fees.
8246 Route 5 , Westfield NY 14787
Fishing licenses, bait and much more. Plus serving genuinely homemade Breakfast & Lunch daily and Dinner served weekends with Fish Fry and Prime Rib on Fridays & Saturdays. Beer & local wines available.
Bear Lake Rd , Bear Lake NY 14784
Public boat launch on Bear Lake.
Lakeside Dr , Bemus Point NY 14712
Public boat launch with no fees, and a large public parking lot. Not recommended for boats over 16 feet.
3389 Bonita Drive , Jamestown NY 14701
Bob Green, your NYS licensed guide has over 40 years of fishing experience. The most recent 25 years have been spent fishing and accumulating knowledge about Chautauqua Lake both as a local resident and as a tournament angler.
104 W Lake Rd , Mayville NY 14757
A full service marina offering: NEW Boat and Personal Watercraft Rentals; Boat and Personal Watercraft Sales; Dockage, Storage and Service.
P.O. Box 41, Ashville NY 14710
Mike Sperry, is a NYSDEC Licensed Guide who has been fishing the waters of Chautauqua Lake for over 30 years. Guided fishing trips for musky, walleye, bass, panfish. Also, handmade fishing lures are also available.
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7 Newton St , Silver Creek NY 14136
35 Coast Guard licensed and insured Charter Boats for diving and fishing on the eastern basin of Lake Erie, the upper Niagara River and Chautauqua Lake.
3503 Old Bridge Rd., P. O. Box 65, Stow NY 14785-0009
The One-Stop General Store! Hogans Hut Bait & Tackle and Hunting & Fishing Licenses. Plus Groceries, Gas, and a full deli, subs, hot and cold sandwiches, meat and cheese by the pound.
4442 West Lake Road P.O. Box 65, Chautauqua NY 14722
A Kids’ Fishing Show starring Kids teaching Kids and You "How to Catch Fish". The 1st Kids’ Fishing Show in the USA available on DVD showing kids and adults how easy and inexpensive it is to take kids fishing, using inexpensive poles & reels while fishing from public access areas on lakes, docks or harbors.
4459 Route 430 , Bemus Point NY 14712
Located on Chautauqua Lake - a 320 acre day-use park, The park's boat launch is the most modern on Lake Chautauqua. Restaurant, marine supplies, gas docks
P. O. Box 501 , Chautauqua NY 14722
Chautauqua Lake's favorite Musky... teaches kindergarten through second grade Sight Words through storytelling, coloring pages, and my Sing Along Song DVD with highlighted text and lyrics.
438 Hunt Road , New Castle PA 16101
Fishing Guide Service for Chautauqua Lake Musky Trips. Our boats are fully equipped with updated electronics, fish handling tools, and safety equipment. We will provide all appropriate bait and tackle for your trip. Fully Licensed by NYSDEC, fully Insured and handicap accessible
Chautauqua Lake , NY
Fishing Guide Service for Chautauqua Lake Musky Trips. Our boats are fully equipped with updated electronics, fish handling tools, and safety equipment. We will provide all appropriate bait and tackle for your trip. Fully Licensed by NYSDEC, fully Insured and handicap accessible
Dale Drive , Cassadaga NY 14718
Free, public launch on Cassadaga Lake.
P. O. Box 549 , Bemus Point NY
Expert Guide Service for Fishing and Hunting Trips.NUMBER ONE Spring Turkey producing county in NYS, chase whitetail deer, enjoy some of the waterfowl action in the Northeast, pursue rabbits and up-land game in farm land rich country.