Chautauqua Lake Fishing
A 13,304-acre New York lake in Chautauqua County.
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Say hello to Chautauqua Lake
On the NHD layer, Chautauqua Lake spreads across about 13,304 acres in Chautauqua County. DEC lists the owner as DEC (2) – State Parks (1). The nearest village or town on the Census list is Bemus Point, around 2 miles off. It is a Western New York water in DEC terms.
Its DEC roster includes smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie and muskellunge. 6 mapped launches put boats on it. The DEC launch type reads trailer improved. DEC lists its ice status as ice fishing permitted. Hatchery releases appear in 15 years of DEC lists starting 2011.
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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DEC lists, records and stocking rows place these fish in Chautauqua Lake.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Getting on the water at Chautauqua Lake
- Bemus Point Launchhard surface ramp, 30 car-and-trailer spaces, toilets; managed by DEC
- Lakeside Park on Chautauqua Lakehard surface ramp, parking: 30 spaces (dec park field); managed by Municipal
- Lakewood Community Parkhard surface ramp, parking: 50 spaces (dec park field); managed by Municipal
- Long Point State Park on Chautauqua Lakehard surface ramp, parking: 126 spaces (dec park field); managed by OPRHP
- Lucille Ball Memorial Parkhard surface ramp, parking: 50 spaces (dec park field); managed by Municipal
- Prendergast Point, Chautauqua Fish Hatchery Launchhard surface ramp, 50 car-and-trailer spaces, toilets; managed by DEC
Casting from the bank at Chautauqua Lake
- Stow Farm Fishing Pier, Chautauqua Lake Fish and WMAFishing Pier, pier, bank fishing
Nearby ramps if Chautauqua Lake is busy
- McCrea Point ParkChautauqua Lake/Chadakoin River, 11 miles southeast
- Public Launch on Bear LakeBear Lake, 12 miles north
- Public Launch on Cassadaga LakeCassadaga Lake, 13 miles northeast
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Readings from the Chautauqua Lake gauge
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Chautauqua Lake At Bemus Point Ny | 1,307.95 ft lake elevation | Oct 27 12:30 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 27, 2026 1:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Sizes and bag limits at Chautauqua Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Lake trout | 3; minimum 21" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30) | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Dec 1 to Jun 14) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum 40" | Jun 1 – Nov 30 |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1; minimum 30" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Northern pike | 5; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Chain pickerel | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Black and white crappie | 25; minimum 10" | All year |
| Yellow perch | 50 | All year |
| Sunfish | 25 | All year |
| American eel | 25; minimum 9" | All year |
The rows above repeat the statewide DEC table that applies at Chautauqua Lake.
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations (statewide table effective April 1, 2026); county special regulations from the DEC region pages; retrieved October 24, 2026, figures checked against the DEC pages October 25, 2026.
Stocking tallies for Chautauqua Lake
The DEC lists carry 14 stocking entries for Chautauqua Lake between 2023 and 2025, led by walleye.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | stocked | 4 | 16,110 | 8.3 in |
| 2024 | Walleye | stocked | 2 | 45,310 | 1.3 in, 1.4 in |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | stocked | 4 | 15,640 | 8.5 in |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | stocked | 4 | 10,700 | 8.5 in |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and DEC Current Season Spring Trout Stocking, 2026 (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 24, 2026. New York stocking.
How Chautauqua Lake compares locally
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chautauqua Lake | 13,304 | 6 | 8 | yes | |
| Bear Lake, Chautauqua County | 12 miles north | 137 | 1 | 8 | yes |
| Cassadaga Lakes | 13 miles northeast | 241 | 1 | 9 | |
| Findley Lake | 16 miles west | 309 | 1 | 8 | yes |
| Allegheny Reservoir | 29 miles southeast | 12,222 | 3 | 6 | |
| Red House Lake | 36 miles east | 109 | 1 | 5 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
The Chautauqua Lake neighborhood
Neighboring lakes of Chautauqua Lake
- Bear Lake, Chautauqua County12 miles north
- Cassadaga Lakes13 miles northeast
- Findley Lake16 miles west
- Allegheny Reservoir29 miles southeast
- Red House Lake36 miles east
Bait and tackle stops for Chautauqua Lake
- Bemus Bay Water Toysmarina, Chautauqua, 2 miles
- Camp Merz – Waterfrontmarina, Chautauqua, 5 miles
- Chautauqua Marinamarina, Chautauqua, 5 miles
- Chautauqua Reel Outdoors Guide & Tackle Llcbait and tackle shop, Ashville, 6 miles
- Smith Boys Marinamarina, Chautauqua, 7 miles
- Valley Outdoors Incsporting goods store, Cassadaga, 13 miles
Captains and guides near Chautauqua Lake
- Adirondack Guide Servicefishing guide, Adirondack, Westfield
- Trout Encountersfishing guide, Fredonia
Overnight options close to Chautauqua Lake
- Mayville6 miles
- Lakewood8 miles
- Celoron9 miles
Chautauqua Lake and the counties it spans
- Chautauqua Countycounty seat Mayville
Piscifun gear worth stowing for Chautauqua Lake
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Photographs of the species found at Chautauqua Lake
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
Trip questions for Chautauqua Lake
How do I locate Chautauqua Lake on a New York map?
The state map puts it in Chautauqua County, DEC Western New York, about 2 miles from Bemus Point.
How large is Chautauqua Lake on New York maps?
About 13,304 acres on the NHD outline.
Where is the public launch at Chautauqua Lake?
Yes: 6 mapped launches, including Long Point State Park on Chautauqua Lake.
Which fish turn up in DEC files for Chautauqua Lake?
Fish to hope for: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie, muskellunge and walleye.
What goes home in the cooler from Chautauqua Lake?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30.
Is a New York license required at Chautauqua Lake?
Anglers 16 and older need a DEC freshwater fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, $5.00 for residents 70 and older, with 1-day and 7-day options.
Which hatchery fish go into Chautauqua Lake?
Yes, 14 releases, most recently 2025.
Which shop on the list is nearest Chautauqua Lake?
Bemus Bay Water Toys, about 2 miles off.
What is the current level at Chautauqua Lake?
See USGS in the water level band.
May I fish through the ice at Chautauqua Lake?
The DEC entry reads Ice Fishing Permitted.
Save a date for Chautauqua Lake
Fees, seasons and every DEC table are on the license page.