Keuka Lake in late October

[trenchfisherman]

I have over 20 years of experience trolling Lake Ontario but no knowledge of the Finger Lakes.  We rented a house for the weekend in Keuka Lake near Penn Yan in late October and I want to bring my 15 foot aluminum boat to try and catch some dinner.  I would preferably like to go for lake trout if they are biting that time of year.  Since I have only ever trolled for trout in the big lake I don't have any experience jigging for lakers.  Any suggestions on lures and lure sizes?  I do have some downriggers with 100 foot of cable if trolling is an option as well.  Any advice would be helpful!!

 

Thanks

[camper4lyfe]

I can't help with specifics, but I've been seeing a few YouTube videos from guys jigging on Cayuga.

 

This one was the one that comes to mind (I don't know if it's Cayuga specific) 

 

[camper4lyfe]

He also has a video using standard 2D sonar 

 

[jk1]

He uses awful heavy tackle for jigging.  We have caught trout up to 15 pounds (our biggest) on 10 and I use 6 in Keyuka, just to get down fast.   Most anything works that you see on U-tube, you just have to have faith in you tackle.   I like the white fireline so we can see our lines above the waterline and not get messed up with each other.  I then tie on 8-10 feet of Berkley XT or XL just to hide the line form the fish.  I use a snap at the end because I am always changing and trying some thing new.  If you want to match the hatch it is perch up to 2 inches but they are not fussy.  Paddle tails swim bait blade bait jigging spoons all work.  Use one ounce if you are over 100 feet and 1/2 if less.   and yes you will frequently be over 100 feet down.   Oh use a rubber net as they will roll, but they do taste good, not walleye good but good enough.   don't worry about snagging bottom we have not, but I have had several cut off over the years up there.......jk

[ANGLERSS]

I have great luck on this lake every year up to Thanksgiving. I only troll with downriggers, so don`t know about jigging. I am staying on the PennYan arm October 10th-12th, so I will update you how we make out. Hoping the weather holds so I can take my grandson out for his first lakers. I usually start out 38-55 ft down, but if nothing there then always fish close to bottom.    Chuck

[trenchfisherman]

31 minutes ago, ANGLERSS said:

I have great luck on this lake every year up to Thanksgiving. I only troll with downriggers, so don`t know about jigging. I am staying on the PennYan arm October 10th-12th, so I will update you how we make out. Hoping the weather holds so I can take my grandson out for his first lakers. I usually start out 38-55 ft down, but if nothing there then always fish close to bottom.    Chuck

Thanks a lot!  What do you run on your riggers...spoons, flashers, cowbells?  How about using dipsey divers on this lake?

[jk1]

The fish are not big as they used to be.  25-30 years ago this was the big fish lake with lots of smelt around for food.   Then it changed to alewives, fish grew fast but topped out at 30 inches and the alwives died off  half a dozen years ago and now perch are the main food and the size shrunk again, with 22 inches being big now.  there are stray monsters in there I think eating these little guys but you can't prove it by our success.   You will not be skunked, just the opposite and there will be some under the 15 inch size limit......jk

[ANGLERSS]

I only have a 16 ft. boat, thats why I fish this lake alot. I run 4 rods--2 downriggers & 2 leadcore mostly with spoons, but smaller stickbaits on leadcore works at times. Never tried dipseys, but I`m sure they should work.

[jk1]

My boat is  smaller (14 with a 9.9) and GUFF who used to be here called it "Trailer Trash"   We now frequently are in a old bass tracker with a 30 hp Merc.  But still stay close to the bluffs, up either side for a miles or so......jk

[guff]

Hi jk1 - Say, had  to reply to your last post. My boat is an old, beat up, 38 year old aluminum sixteen footer (does not leak a drop) that I love. I would never call someone else's boat "trailer trash".  You must have me mixed up with somebody else. Got heavy into smallmouth and perch fishing lately so have not been out near the end of the bluff jigging for lake trout lately so have not met up with you. 

[jk1]

You might be right but someone said that as a joke and it stuck.    Several friends now call it that.    Haven't seen you in a while, was nice being around someone you know, just in case.   They are biting more than ever before just small and some are very shallow, have caught some casting plugs in 20 feet of water.    Good luck to you.....jk

[ANGLERSS]

Are the fleas gone yet?

[jk1]

Never was aware of any in Keyuka, but maybe they do not  mess you up when you are jigging.   that is all we do-jigging and it is fun......jk

[ANGLERSS]

I`ve always wanted to try it, even bought stuff to do it, but never knew where to start.  Some day when I am there for couple days will take a day to jig.      Chuck

[trenchfisherman]

19 hours ago, jk1 said:

Never was aware of any in Keyuka, but maybe they do not  mess you up when you are jigging.   that is all we do-jigging and it is fun......jk

Any lure suggestions on the later season?  Down in NJ on our reservoirs we use blade baits and bucktails.  Want to stock up before I take my trip in October 

[bulletbob]

 I you fish lakers at the Reservoirs in NJ, you will be very disappointed in the lakers in Keuka.. NJ reservoirs all have alewives[We call them Sawbellies, and NJ folk call them Herring].. The NJ Lake Trout are  much bigger, and easier to catch than Keuka Lake fish,  mainly because the waterways are tiny in comparison, and much much shallower. Better managed there as well!. Not as much wind there either.. Keuka  Lake  lakers are very small and very skinny compared to what you see in NJ.. You will find much larger fish in Cayuga, Owasco, or Seneca Lake than in Keuka... If you want to fish Keuka , they can be caught on the same baits  you use in NJ, but typically the fish are much deeper, and not as easy to find....If you have good electronics however, you will find enough to keep you busy... Fish the same way you would fish in Round Valley ...bob

Edited September 27, 2025 by bulletbob

[trenchfisherman]

9 hours ago, bulletbob said:

 I you fish lakers at the Reservoirs in NJ, you will be very disappointed in the lakers in Keuka.. NJ reservoirs all have alewives[We call them Sawbellies, and NJ folk call them Herring].. The NJ Lake Trout are  much bigger, and easier to catch than Keuka Lake fish,  mainly because the waterways are tiny in comparison, and much much shallower. Better managed there as well!. Not as much wind there either.. Keuka  Lake  lakers are very small and very skinny compared to what you see in NJ.. You will find much larger fish in Cayuga, Owasco, or Seneca Lake than in Keuka... If you want to fish Keuka , they can be caught on the same baits  you use in NJ, but typically the fish are much deeper, and not as easy to find....If you have good electronics however, you will find enough to keep you busy... Fish the same way you would fish in Round Valley ...bob

Good to know...thanks!

[ANGLERSS]

Fished Keuka last weekend from Penn Yan. Wind stopped us from fishing on Friday &  Saturday, But Sunday morning was finally calm enough to make to the bluff area. Started out with downriggers at 38` & 55` with 2 leadcores out also. Picked up 1 laker at 55 ft on michigan stinger spoon. After about 45 min dropped down to 75` & 95`--game on--got 9 more lakers in the next hour. Leadcore was not effective because of the floating grass. All fish between 18 & 21in, most looked healthier than last few years. Grandson only lasted 2 hours, but got his first lakers which we ate a couple that night.        Chuck