Chautauqua

Chautauqua Lake Muskies

Tracking surveys show how fish relate to surroundings

By Chris DePaola

Chautauqua Lake in Western New York has 13,156 acres of water and is 17 miles in length.

It is divided into northern and southern basins. The northern basin has well defined weed lines and deep water. The southern basin is relatively shallow with plenty of weeds. Interstate route 86 intersects the lake at midpoint.

Through the years Chautauqua fish has been aggressively managed. Annually, spring nettings of muskie have indicated less than 25 percent natural reproduction. The remaining 75 percent are the result of annual stocking. Each fall the Prendergast hatchery stocks advanced muskie fingerlings 8- to 10 inches.

TRACKING STUDIES

In April 1998 the New York Department of Environmental Conservation conducted a radio tracking study on Chautauqua Lake’s muskies. Radio transmitters were placed on 20 adult female muskies.

Tracking began in May and continued through August. The intent was to identify seasonal habitats and homing behavior to spawning sites. The study showed some muskies traveled long distances, up to 10 miles, from the tagging site.

Also, muskies moved readily between basins. During the hot summer months the fish traveled short distances or suspended from one depth to another.

STRUCTURE VERSUS OPEN WATER

The tracking study revealed the relationship between structure and open water. The majority of muskies less than 40 inches related to some type of structure, mostly weeds. Those muskie larger than 40 inches were found suspended in open water relating to large schools of baitfish.

One tagged 34-inch fish moved approximately three miles from her spawning site. Once in her summer range, which was in five feet of water and on the inside weed edge, she remained there all summer.

This study further supports the theory that big fish dwell in open water. One of the largest fish, a 50 incher, entered open water after completing her spawning ritual. Once in her summer home, she never moved more then one mile.

This study as well as others previously conducted confirms that very little movement occurs once summer ranges have been established. Hopefully with this information you can increase your muskie catch rate this year. Good Luck and remember practice CPR (catch, photo and release.)