Cayuga Lake

Cayuga Lake

Overview
Length 40 Miles / Max Depth 435 Feet / Max Width 3.5 Miles / Shoreline 96 Miles
Cayuga Lake is the longest of the Finger Lakes. The water level is regulated by the Mud Lock at the north end of the lake. The level is lowered during the winter to minimize ice damage and to support the runoff from the winter melt. It is connected to Lake Ontario by the Erie Canal and to Seneca Lake by the Seneca River.

Wineries
The Cayuga Wine Trail is the oldest wine trail in the United States. Started by Mary Plane of Cayuga Vineyards (since renamed Cayuga Ridge) in the early 1980's, the Cayuga Wine Trail has blossomed into a string of highly regarded vineyards. As the winemaking industry has grown, so has the Cayuga Wine Trail.

Fishing
The lake has a wide variety of fish populations. The fish population is managed and substantial sport fishing is practiced in warm weather and in the winter ice fishing season. Cayuga Lake supports a diverse fish community, with different fish species occupying varied habitats within the lake. Fish are generally grouped by their preference into cold water and warm water communities.

Cold water fish in Cayuga Lake generally inhabit cooler, deeper waters. This water supports a thriving fish community including water column (pelagic) and bottom oriented (benthic) species. The fish community is dominated by four salmonid species as the top predators: rainbow trout, lake trout, brown trout, and landlocked Atlantic salmon. Only the lake trout and landlocked salmon are native to Cayuga Lake; the other salmonids have been introduced. Cold water fish with the exception of lake trout migrate to streams and shallow areas to spawn. When water temperatures are low, such as late fall through early spring, these cold water species may be found in the shallower regions of the lake and may move up the tributaries to feed. Lake trout usually spawn on rocky shoals.

Due to its shape, Cayuga Lake has a relatively small shallow area necessary to support a warm water fish community. The majority of warm water habitat is found at the extended shelf on the northern end of the lake. The small shelf in the southern lake provides additional habitat. Dominant warm water predators include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and northern pike. These fish prey on yellow perch, pumpkinseed, bluegill, rock bass and various minnows. With the exception of largemouth bass, all these fish are native. In the southern end, white suckers spawn in Cayuga Inlet and other southern tributaries. Historically, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, northern pike, yellow perch and bullhead have been less abundant than smallmouth bass in Cayuga Lake. Draining and filling of wetlands in the northern and southern ends of the lake have been detrimental to the habitat and populations of these fish. Active fisheries currently exist for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and black crappie throughout Cayuga Lake.

Bird Watching
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge - This 10,000 acre expanse of grasslands and wetlands provides essential habitat for thousands of migratory birds and wildlife. The diversity is striking; come see the bald eagles, the snow geese, the many shorebirds and waterfowl.

Myers Point - Together with Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Stewart Park, Myers Point is one of the three best birding spots in the Cayuga Lake Basin. It offers birders a place to see a great variety of birds, often at close range, and it has also hosted a large number of Basin rarities.

Stewart Park - Strategically located at the south end of Cayuga Lake, Stewart Park is arguably the premier birding spot in the Ithaca area, and one of the best sites for finding birds in the entire Cayuga Lake Basin. From a birding standpoint, Stewart Park has it all--an expansive view of the lake to scan for ducks, geese, and other water birds; a convenient spot to look for migrant songbirds; and a patch of bottomland forest that hosts a nice collection of breeding birds.

Boating the Lake
As the largest of the Finger Lakes, Cayuga Lake is a fantastic place for all kinds of recreational boating. It can accommodate some of the larger sail and motorboats and has many inlets and coves that can be explored by canoe or kayak. Cayuga Inlet is several miles long and offers a pleasant trip for beginning and mid-level paddlers.

Did You Know
There is a salt mine below the lake. This is the deepest rock-salt mine in North America. The lake has one of only two islands in all the Finger Lakes - Frontenac Island. Cayuga Lake used to have one of the largest bridges in the northern hemisphere.

Keeping it Clean
In addition to its recreational value, numerous communities depend on Cayuga Lake and its watershed as a drinking water source from both surface and ground waters. It is imperative that we all work to keep it clean. The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network identifies key threats to Cayuga Lake and its watershed, and it advocates for solutions that support a healthy environment and vibrant communities.

Personal
I spent countless hours on Cayuga Lake as a child and currently live on the western shore of the lake.

References:
Note: The information above was compiled from various websites. It is meant to provide a general overview of the lake. It does not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of the information.

Bob Markel
“Your Personal Guide For Lakefront Real Estate”