21 facts about Cayuga Lake

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The Busch Beer Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake is the seventh stop of 2016 season. The site headquarters is Union Springs, a village of 1,197 on the northeast side of the lake.
The Busch Beer Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake is the seventh stop of 2016 season. The site headquarters is Union Springs, a village of 1,197 on the northeast side of the lake.
Cayuga Lake, along with the Great Lakes, was formed by glaciers. More than 100,000 years ago, massive sheets of ice carved trenches in the earth as they advanced southward.
Cayuga Lake, along with the Great Lakes, was formed by glaciers. More than 100,000 years ago, massive sheets of ice carved trenches in the earth as they advanced southward.
As glaciers melted, water filled the deep trenches. In mid-state New York, a series north to south troughs were formed. They looked like two hands reached down and gouged them, thus the name Finger Lakes.
As glaciers melted, water filled the deep trenches. In mid-state New York, a series north to south troughs were formed. They looked like two hands reached down and gouged them, thus the name Finger Lakes.
There are 11 Finger Lakes, ranging in length from Cayuga, at 40 miles, to Canadice, only 3 miles long. Seneca is the deepest at 618 feet while Cayuga is second deepest, bottoming out at 435 feet.
There are 11 Finger Lakes, ranging in length from Cayuga, at 40 miles, to Canadice, only 3 miles long. Seneca is the deepest at 618 feet while Cayuga is second deepest, bottoming out at 435 feet.
The region and lakes are known for their natural beauty. This is a shot of the canyons in famed Watkins Glen State Park, on the south end of Seneca. Cayuga has similar features, like Taughannock Falls on the southern end. The huge fall in that state park plunges 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge.
The region and lakes are known for their natural beauty. This is a shot of the canyons in famed Watkins Glen State Park, on the south end of Seneca. Cayuga has similar features, like Taughannock Falls on the southern end. The huge fall in that state park plunges 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge.
The lake’s deep waters and high hills have created a “micro-climate” ideal for wine production. The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail offers the chance to taste award-winning wines, visit scenic waterfalls and eat at local gourmet establishments.
The lake’s deep waters and high hills have created a “micro-climate” ideal for wine production. The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail offers the chance to taste award-winning wines, visit scenic waterfalls and eat at local gourmet establishments.
The Elites visited Cayuga in 2014, when the event was originally scheduled out of Ithaca at the lake’s southern end. But city officials decided the Aug. 21-24 event coincided with students returning to Cornell University and Ithaca College and begged out. This is a shot from McGraw Tower on Cornell’s West Campus.
The Elites visited Cayuga in 2014, when the event was originally scheduled out of Ithaca at the lake’s southern end. But city officials decided the Aug. 21-24 event coincided with students returning to Cornell University and Ithaca College and begged out. This is a shot from McGraw Tower on Cornell’s West Campus.
So Union Springs came to the rescue and rolled out the red carpet. Their hospitality garnered a second Elite tournament Thursday-Sunday. The anglers take off at 6:15 a.m. ET at Frontenac Park at 26 Chapel St., Union Springs, NY 13160. The village is among the smallest the Elites have ever visited.
So Union Springs came to the rescue and rolled out the red carpet. Their hospitality garnered a second Elite tournament Thursday-Sunday. The anglers take off at 6:15 a.m. ET at Frontenac Park at 26 Chapel St., Union Springs, NY 13160. The village is among the smallest the Elites have ever visited.
The Elite weigh-ins, a big draw in 2014 with the region, will also be at Frontenac Park at 3 p.m. ET daily. There will also be live music each day, fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights, chainsaw sculpture exhibitions, kids activities as well as food, beer and wine from local vendors.
The Elite weigh-ins, a big draw in 2014 with the region, will also be at Frontenac Park at 3 p.m. ET daily. There will also be live music each day, fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights, chainsaw sculpture exhibitions, kids activities as well as food, beer and wine from local vendors.
Cayuga Lake, which depths reach 53 feet below sea level, is among the deepest lakes in North America. Among the Finger Lakes, Cayuga Lake is a close second to Seneca in both surface area, at almost 43,000 acres, and volume.
Cayuga Lake, which depths reach 53 feet below sea level, is among the deepest lakes in North America. Among the Finger Lakes, Cayuga Lake is a close second to Seneca in both surface area, at almost 43,000 acres, and volume.
There are bluffs along some shoreline, adding to the beauty. A total of 140 streams flow into Cayuga Lake. Its waters flow north to the Seneca River toward the Oswego River and Lake Ontario. There is a massive canal system that connects all but one of the Finger Lakes. Because of Cayuga’s size and depth, water that comes into the lake takes 10 years to cycle through.
There are bluffs along some shoreline, adding to the beauty. A total of 140 streams flow into Cayuga Lake. Its waters flow north to the Seneca River toward the Oswego River and Lake Ontario. There is a massive canal system that connects all but one of the Finger Lakes. Because of Cayuga’s size and depth, water that comes into the lake takes 10 years to cycle through.
As experienced by the Elites in 2014, there are a myriad of social classes represented in buildings and structures on Cayuga Lake. Popular among recreational boaters, Cayuga boasts the largest state marina and boat launch in Ithaca. There are two yacht clubs on the western shore and several other marinas and boat launches scattered up and down its shores.
As experienced by the Elites in 2014, there are a myriad of social classes represented in buildings and structures on Cayuga Lake. Popular among recreational boaters, Cayuga boasts the largest state marina and boat launch in Ithaca. There are two yacht clubs on the western shore and several other marinas and boat launches scattered up and down its shores.
The AES Cayuga electrical generating station operates in the Town of Lansing, on the east shore of Cayuga Lake at mid-lake. The coal-fired plant uses lake water as a cooling source. The lake’s average width is 1.7 miles and the widest point is about 3.5 miles near Aurora.
The AES Cayuga electrical generating station operates in the Town of Lansing, on the east shore of Cayuga Lake at mid-lake. The coal-fired plant uses lake water as a cooling source. The lake’s average width is 1.7 miles and the widest point is about 3.5 miles near Aurora.
The anglers coo over the beauty of the lake, as well as the fishing. Here Stephen Longobardi shows nice representatives of the lake’s largemouth and smallmouth populations he caught during the 2012 Northern Open.
The anglers coo over the beauty of the lake, as well as the fishing. Here Stephen Longobardi shows nice representatives of the lake’s largemouth and smallmouth populations he caught during the 2012 Northern Open.
Pete Gluszek finished the August 2012 Open with a three-day total of 56 pounds, 1 ounce to win by 4 pounds. Gluszek fished two patterns, starting deep and then finishing shallow. He focused on a 15-mile stretch in the central part of Cayuga, switching to his shallow pattern around 11 a.m.
Pete Gluszek finished the August 2012 Open with a three-day total of 56 pounds, 1 ounce to win by 4 pounds. Gluszek fished two patterns, starting deep and then finishing shallow. He focused on a 15-mile stretch in the central part of Cayuga, switching to his shallow pattern around 11 a.m.
“Early in the morning I was flipping and pitching milfoil in 10 to 16 feet of water,” Gluszek said. “I was using a black 5-inch Yamamoto Senko behind a 1/2-ounce Round Valley tungsten sinker. Later in the day, as the sun came up, lots of bass were moving shallower, and I caught them by skipping a weightless black Senko underneath boat docks.”
“Early in the morning I was flipping and pitching milfoil in 10 to 16 feet of water,” Gluszek said. “I was using a black 5-inch Yamamoto Senko behind a 1/2-ounce Round Valley tungsten sinker. Later in the day, as the sun came up, lots of bass were moving shallower, and I caught them by skipping a weightless black Senko underneath boat docks.”
Greg Hackney won the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Cayuga in 2014 en route to his Toyota Angler of the Year title. Hackney was leery of fishing to his strength in the shallow grasses on the northern end of the lake. He wanted to get away from the crowds. He discovered a deep-grass bite in practice that suited his desires.
Greg Hackney won the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Cayuga in 2014 en route to his Toyota Angler of the Year title. Hackney was leery of fishing to his strength in the shallow grasses on the northern end of the lake. He wanted to get away from the crowds. He discovered a deep-grass bite in practice that suited his desires.
Justin Lucas checks out his electronics, possibly monitoring one of the abundant humps. Cayuga also has long flats, loads of grass out to 20 feet or more and an ocean of deep, clear water. The 2014 Elite was in August, so some believe the grass won’t be as prominent this year.
Justin Lucas checks out his electronics, possibly monitoring one of the abundant humps. Cayuga also has long flats, loads of grass out to 20 feet or more and an ocean of deep, clear water. The 2014 Elite was in August, so some believe the grass won’t be as prominent this year.
Hackney thought his primary area surely would have been discovered by others, but the only other anglers he saw nearby were fishing docks. He took the lead on Day 2 with a 23-pound bag, was one short of a limit on Saturday and closed out the event with a 23-15 stringer.
Hackney thought his primary area surely would have been discovered by others, but the only other anglers he saw nearby were fishing docks. He took the lead on Day 2 with a 23-pound bag, was one short of a limit on Saturday and closed out the event with a 23-15 stringer.
His four-day total of 85-0 was more than 9 pounds ahead of his closest competitor, and the victory increased his lead in the AOY race from 1 to 15 points. It was Hackney’s second of three Elite titles. He won on Sam Rayburn in 2006 and earlier this month at BASSfest on Lake Texoma.
His four-day total of 85-0 was more than 9 pounds ahead of his closest competitor, and the victory increased his lead in the AOY race from 1 to 15 points. It was Hackney’s second of three Elite titles. He won on Sam Rayburn in 2006 and earlier this month at BASSfest on Lake Texoma.
Pundits call for Fantasy Fishing players to pick expert flippers, the grass guys, to win at Cayuga. There are predictions that there will be some 20-pound bags and a big fish of around 7 pounds, but the winning weight might not eclipse Hackney’s 2014 total.
Pundits call for Fantasy Fishing players to pick expert flippers, the grass guys, to win at Cayuga. There are predictions that there will be some 20-pound bags and a big fish of around 7 pounds, but the winning weight might not eclipse Hackney’s 2014 total.