Cayuta Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cayuta Lake |
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 Cayuta Lake
Location in New York
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| Location | Schuyler County, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°22′04″N 076°44′05″W / 42.36778°N 76.73472°W |
| Primary inflows | Cayuta Lake Inlet |
| Primary outflows | Cayuta Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 2 mi (3.2 km) |
| Surface area | 380 acres (150 ha) |
| Average depth | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Max. depth | 26 ft (7.9 m) |
| Surface elevation | 1,316 ft (401 m) |
| Settlements | Catharine |
Cayuta Lake is a small lake in Schuyler County, New York. It is located in the Town of Catharine, about three miles (4.8 km) north of Odessa. Many local people call it Little Lake.
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What's in a Name? The Story of Cayuta Lake
The name "Cayuta" comes from Native American languages. This name is also used for a nearby stream, a town, and a hamlet.
The name might mean "a river" or "a lake." Some think it could mean "prickly ash" or even "mosquito." Native Americans also knew the lake as Ganiatarenge, which means "at the lake."
There's a legend that the lake is named after a Seneca princess. The story says she was taken by another tribe. Her mother's tears then formed the lake. An older spelling, "Kayutah," is sometimes still used today.
About Cayuta Lake
Cayuta Lake is about 2-mile-long (3.2 km). Its surface covers about 380 acres (150 ha). The lake is 14 feet (4.3 m) deep on average. At its deepest point, it reaches 26 feet (7.9 m).
The lake connects to the Susquehanna River through Cayuta Creek. This creek flows out from the south end of the lake. A main stream feeding Cayuta Lake is Cayuta Lake Inlet. It flows into the lake through a marsh area on the north side. Much of this northern shore is part of the Allen Preserve.
You'll find many plants growing underwater along most of the shoreline. This is especially true in the shallow water near the lake's south end. Many types of fish live here. These include walleye, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. You can also find chain pickerel, black crappie, and brown bullhead.
Fishing at Cayuta Lake
Cayuta Lake is a great spot for warmwater fishing. The main fish you can catch are largemouth bass and chain pickerel. Anglers sometimes catch largemouth bass that weigh five pounds (2.3 kg) or more!
Besides bass and pickerel, walleye are also present. Bluegills, yellow perch, and black crappie are common. These are popular panfish to catch. When the lake freezes, you can also go ice fishing. People often target pickerel and panfish during winter.
In the past, walleye numbers were increased by adding fish from hatcheries. However, a lot of alewife fish have made it harder to catch walleye. Even with many walleye fingerlings added, they are still tricky to catch.
How to Access the Lake
Most of the shoreline around Cayuta Lake is private property. But there is a public boat launch owned by the state. You can find it on the north end of the lake. It's located on Loch Heid Road, off of Cayutaville Road.
This public launch has a concrete ramp for boats. There is also a dock that is available during certain seasons. Parking is available for about 15 cars and trailers.
