Chautauqua Lake Fishing Information & Tips
ChautauquaLakeFishingReports.com & FishPins.com
Updated: October 5th, 2025 with New NYS Fishing Regulations for Chautauqua Lake below
Live View from We Wan Chu Cottages on Beautiful Lake Chautauqua, NY…
Chautauqua Lake is a Glacier – Naturally made Lake and is Spring and Artesian well fed along with a few Creeks. It is one of, if not the cleanest fresh water lakes in all of New York State. Approximately 18 miles long and up to 1 & ½ miles wide, with world famous muskie and small mouth bass fishing, as well as really good calico, perch, pan fishing, and walleye fishing.
Chautauqua Lake is about ten miles from Lake Erie and some fantastic Steelhead Creek fishing in the early Spring and the late Fall. Although Lake Erie runs into the Atlantic, Chautauqua Lake is on the other side of the continental divide, 750 feet above Lake Erie’s level and its waters run into the Allegheny River going by Pittsburgh, PA, on its way to the Mississippi River and out the Gulf of Mexico. Chautauqua Lake is at the top of the food chain in that its’ waters are the cleanest they will ever be before heading down stream to the Gulf of Mexico.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) website on Chautauqua Lake.
There is Fantastic sailing weather, water-skiing, and boats of all shapes and sizes which makes Chautauqua Lake already a Favorite of so many…
CHAUTAUQUA LAKE 2025 FISHING REGULATIONS:
Black Bass ( Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass ) Catch and Release only Season starts on December 1st thru the Friday preceding the 3rd Saturday in June. Artificial Lures only.
2026 Fishing Regulations for Chautauqua Lake.
Walleye Season from May 1st – March 15
Min. length = 15″ Daily Limit = 5
Large & Smallmouth Bass Season from June 15th through November 30
Min. length = 12″ Daily Limit = 5
Muskie Season from June 1st – November 30
Min. length = 40″ Daily Limit = 1
Perch, Sunfish, Crappie & other Pan Fish Season is All Year…
Crappie is Min. 10” and a Daily Limit of 25 per day
Perch Daily Limit = 50
Sunfish or Pumpkinseed Daily Limit = 25
2026 Fishing Licenses: New York State Fishing License Information:
Resident = Season = $ 25.00 or a Senior = $ 5.00
Non-resident = Season = $ 50.00 or a Seven Day = $ 25.00 or a
One Day = $ 10.00
2019 Chautauqua Lake Annual Walleye Survey results.
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We do not report on Ice thickness on Chautauqua Lake, nor does the Sheriff’s Department or anyone else for liability reasons.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NY State Fishing Licenses at Hogan’s Hut
NY State Fishing License Online
Chautauqua Lake water level = normal = 1308.2 ft. above sea level.
Chautauqua Lake & Lake Erie Fishing Guides & Charters
MAPS:
North Basin:
South Basin:
