Chautauqua Lake and its tributaries support a variety of fish including large- and small-mouth bass, muskellunge (musky), walleye, yellow and white perch, crappie, brown and yellow bullhead, carp, and rock bass. A compilation of fishes in Chautauqua Lake is provided below with permission from Fletcher Ward, author of Saving Chautauqua’s Muskies. The table includes the year of introduction or first identified in Chautauqua Lake. A date of 1893 is indicated for the introduction/first appearance of walleye in the Lake.
Fishes of Chautauqua Lake – Click to view PDF
The lake supports year-round sport fishing with walleye and musky two of the most sought after fish. During winter months when ice forms on the lake, anglers catch walleye and yellow perch. The shallow water and weed beds – especially in the South Basin – provide habitat for the fish as well as places anglers go to fish for walleye.
The New York State DEC produce periodic reports that summarize fish populations in the lake. Two recent reports can be found here and here. In late March 2026, Region 9 Department of Environmental Conservation Bureau of Fisheries staff (DEC) held two public meetings to discuss the status of walleye in Chautauqua Lake and provide an opportunity to consider future management goals and objectives. You can read more about the declining population of walleye in the article entitled, “Whither the Walleye?” in the May 2026 Consortium newsletter.