Canandaigua Lake Fishing Spot

  • County: Ontario Lake
  • Acreage: 10560
  • Mean Depth: 127'
  • Max Depth: 250'
  • Elevation: 687'
  • Last Modified By: kash87 on 03/21/21 08:14 AM
  • Ask about Canandaigua Lake in our Fishing Forums

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  • Poor fishing exists around Squaw Island because of carbonate of lime deposits. Pickerel, the swimming submarine will strike most lures but the one Fred finds most productive is a Mister Twister spinner with a purple tail. Another lure he is successful with is a white, chartreuse or yellow spinnerbait. Both are used over weed beds. When still fishing for perch and rock bass use live perch minnows, crayfish or night crawlers. The main salmonoid forage is smelt & sawbellies in Canandaigua and the optimum temperature for lake trout is 58- 60 degrees. The Trout roam the shallow cool water in April & May. Shallow trolling with a flat line rig is productive. In the summer time deep troll with down riggers, dipseys or Seth Green Rigs at a depth of 50 to 60 feet. Use sutton spoons or NK- 22 thru NK- 28 as productive lures. If you prefer to anchor and still fish then use live bait like crayfish, minnows and worms. NAPLES CREEK- At the south end of the lake there is a spring spawn run of rainbow trout. In the springtime drift egg sacks or worms in the creek exploring holes for rainbows. When angling from shore targeting trout little Cleos are the tools needed through the month of May. When fishing for smallmouth bass in the summer months try anchoring in 25 to 30 feet of water. Use crayfish or perch minnows with light tackle. If you are going to cast lures then crank baits over the rocks and gravel will be successful. In the autumn months a 1/4 ounce hair or curly tail jig near rocky shoreline or points will put smallmouth in the livewell. Ice fishing occurs at the north and south ends only. Because of the depth of the lake and the constant current the lake water doesn't freeze completely in winter.

Canandaigua Lake Description

Canandaigua Lake is the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes (by length). Once the home to Roseland Park (an amusement park) it is now home to Roseland Water Park. Squaw Island is located on the Northern end of Canandaigua Lake. It is a rarity as there are only two islands in the Finger Lakes. It was given this name because it was a refuge for native-American women and children during a raid by the Sullivan campaign. Sadly the island is losing ground and continues to get smaller. Some efforts are underway to maintain the island. Public access: * Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park - Located off Route 5 and 20 in the city of Canandaigua. Hard surface ramps; parking for 110 cars and trailers; an entrance/launch fee is charged. * Woodville - Located on Route 21, 3 miles north of Naples at Woodville. Hard surface ramps; parking for 86 cars and trailers, no charge. Maintained year round and provides parking for ice fishing when ice conditions allow. * Onanda - Located on West Lake Road, 6.5 miles south of the city of Canandaigua. Hard surface ramp; parking for 25 cars and trailers. Maintained year round and provides parking for ice fishing when ice conditions allow. Picnic area, fishing, hunting, launch site. Free. South end of Canandaigua Lake. Canandaigua Lake is 15 1/2 miles (25 km) long, 1 1/2 miles (2.4 km) wide, and has a shore line of about 36 miles (58 km). There is a healthy population of different fish species in Canandaigua Lake. For the cold water angler lake, brown and rainbow trout are here to be caught. For the angler that targets warm water fish species pickerel, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass can be brought to the net. If your preference is pan fishing perch, sun fish both pumpkinseed and blue gills , rock bass, bullhead will take your bait.

Canandaigua Lake is the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes, in the U.S. state of New York. It is called the "Chosen Spot" in the Seneca language. The city of Canandaigua is located at the northern shore of the lake and the village of Naples is just a few miles south of the southern end. Travelling west to east in the Finger Lakes region, it is the first of the major, or larger Finger Lakes (or coming from east to west, it is the last major Finger Lake).

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