Findley Lake Fishing
A 309-acre New York lake in Chautauqua County.
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Findley Lake: size, place and access
Findley Lake is a lake of about 309 acres, its outline lying in Chautauqua County. DEC files the shoreline owner as DEC – Private. Head to Sherman, some 8 miles away, for food and fuel. It falls in DEC Region Western New York.
Fish on the DEC list here: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie and tiger muskellunge. There are 1 mapped launch on its shore. The DEC list describes the launch as trailer improved – hand launch. Its ice entry reads ice fishing permitted. DEC stocking lists show releases in 13 separate years since 2011.
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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DEC sources tie these fish to Findley Lake; more species surely swim there.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Launches on Findley Lake
- Public Launch on Findley Lakehand launch, parking: 25 car and 0 car-trailer spaces; managed by DEC
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Seasons and creel rules at Findley 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 |
Statewide DEC limits govern Findley Lake wherever a county rule below does not replace them.
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.
What DEC puts in Findley Lake
DEC stocked Findley Lake 4 times in 2023 to 2025; walleye top the count.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | stocked | 1 | 1,450 | 8.3 in |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | stocked | 1 | 1,450 | 8.6 in |
| 2023 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 5,500 | 1.3 in |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | stocked | 1 | 1,450 | 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.
Comparing Findley Lake with nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Findley Lake | 309 | 1 | 9 | yes | |
| Chautauqua Lake | 16 miles east | 13,304 | 6 | 8 | yes |
| Bear Lake, Chautauqua County | 24 miles northeast | 137 | 1 | 8 | yes |
| Cassadaga Lakes | 26 miles northeast | 241 | 1 | 9 | |
| Allegheny Reservoir | 42 miles east | 12,222 | 3 | 6 | |
| Red House Lake | 50 miles east | 109 | 1 | 5 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
A few miles from Findley Lake
New York lakes in the Findley Lake area
- Chautauqua Lake16 miles east
- Bear Lake, Chautauqua County24 miles northeast
- Cassadaga Lakes26 miles northeast
- Allegheny Reservoir42 miles east
- Red House Lake50 miles east
Shops worth a stop en route to Findley Lake
- Camp Merz – Waterfrontmarina, Chautauqua, 15 miles
- Chautauqua Marinamarina, Chautauqua, 15 miles
- Bemus Bay Water Toysmarina, Chautauqua, 17 miles
- Barcelona Harbormarina, Chautauqua, 18 miles
- Chautauqua Reel Outdoors Guide & Tackle Llcbait and tackle shop, Ashville, 18 miles
- Smith Boys Marinamarina, Chautauqua, 19 miles
Fishing guides who work Findley Lake
- Adirondack Guide Servicefishing guide, Adirondack, Westfield
- Trout Encountersfishing guide, Fredonia
Towns handy for Findley Lake trips
- Mayville15 miles
- Westfield17 miles
- Lakewood21 miles
Counties along Findley Lake
- Chautauqua Countycounty seat Mayville
Piscifun picks for fishing Findley Lake
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Shores, kills and lakes by Findley Lake, pictured
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Findley Lake, asked and answered for Empire State anglers
Which New York county is Findley Lake in?
Find it in Chautauqua County, DEC Western New York, about 8 miles from Sherman.
How wide a footprint does Findley Lake have?
309 acres, give or take.
Which launch site sits closest to Findley Lake?
1 mapped launch on file, Public Launch on Findley Lake among them.
Does Findley Lake hold bass or trout?
DEC files list smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie, tiger muskellunge and northern pike.
Which DEC rules cover Findley Lake?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30.
What is the out-of-state fee for angling at Findley 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.
Does DEC stock Findley Lake?
4 rows on the DEC lists, 2023 to 2025.
Which listed tackle counter is nearest Findley Lake?
Camp Merz – Waterfront sits about 15 miles from the water.
Does DEC permit ice fishing at Findley Lake?
DEC notes Ice Fishing Permitted.
Hitch up and haul the boat to Findley Lake
Every New York fee and season sits on one page.