Keuka Lake

This is a superb lake for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fishing from the early season opener in May through the fall. Both fish reach trophy sizes on this lake.    I've heard more stories of 8lb+ largemouths on this lake than on any other Finger Lake!    The lake also offers a variety of other fishing options including lake trout jigging, some HUGE pickerel and giant yellow perch. I consider this lake to be a good secondary option when winds aren’t conducive to fishing Cayuga or Seneca Lakes.  This lake is protected from strong west winds since it is surrounded by hills.   The Penn Yan branch usually freezes over and on occasion most of the lake will freeze up.

Keuka is a very interesting lake in many respects.   Some of the deepest water is found further north (relatively speaking) than on other Finger Lakes.   The lake trout are abundant and all wild.   They taste great!   The lake trout spawn later here than on other Finger Lakes and they tend to hit very well throughout the fall.  Very interesting structure here too.  

Recently, we've been spending some more time targeting bass on this lake.   It's a deceptively large lake and there are plenty of areas that harbor nice bass.  Many of these areas don't "jump off the map".   It takes time to learn them.  The pickerel population is large but the fish are running small.     

At times Keuka Lake has had some good fishing for landlocked salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout.   These species currently have very low populations.   Too many lake trout and not enough forage.    People need to keep more lake trout on this lake!   Friends of mine catch lakers with small brown trout in their stomachs from this lake!     Forage levels appear to be rebounding as of 2007/2008, but are still very low when compared to Seneca and Cayuga Lakes.   Other species found on Keuka Lake include crappies, northern pike, rockbass and bluegills/sunfish.    Pike numbers seem to be on the rise, but they would still be considered bonus fish on this lake.   In 2006 I managed to catch a 35" beauty on this lake.   They are around, but rare.  A 23lb northern was taken through the ice here during March of 2009!