Northern New York state is known for its expansive borders along two of the Great lakes, Erie and Ontario. In the state’s northwestern-most county, though, is an inland lake that offers a bonanza of fishing opportunities ranging from abundant crappie and yellow perch to that “fish of 1,000 casts,” the muskellunge. Chautauqua Lake, located in Chautauqua County, is the largest inland lake in western New York, with 13,156 acres with clear, clean water along 42.5 miles of shoreline. Spring and fall are prime time for crappie. The fall is also an opportune time to visit the region’s many vineyards and wineries just as they are harvesting their grapes and transforming it into a variety of wines. Slip on a bobber and entice some slab-sized fish in the morning and then slip away for an afternoon of wine tasting followed by lakefront dining. Click on the photo below to go to the full story...then scroll down for maps of the lake and more photos of the area and fishing...
