Owasco Lake
Owasco Lake is located in Cayuga County on the south edge of the city of Auburn. Compared to the other Finger Lakes, Owasco Lake is an intermediate sized lake. Owasco Lake has a large drainage basin to surface ratio, this accounts for the high nutrient loading of Owasco Lake.
Physical Features
Elevation: 712 feet
Area: 6,665 acres
Length: 11.1 miles
Maximum Width: 1.3 miles
Maximum Depth: 177 feet
Thermocline: about 35 feet
Plant Life
The south end of the lake supports good weed growth.
Public Access Sites
Emerson Park - Off Rte. 38 (Boat and Shore), private boat launch is also available on south end.
Owasco Inlet Public Fishing Rights (187 Kb pdf file)
General Fishing Information
South end noted for good panfishing, northern pike and smallmouth bass fishing. Lake trout fishing is excellent year round, but particularly during May, June and September. Owasco Lake is a good ice fishing location for trout, panfish and northern pike. Walleye fishing is good during the spring and early summer in the north end of the lake. Casting or trolling stickbaits after dark works well for walleye. For current fishing information a fishing hotline is available at Central New York Fishing Hotline or by calling (607) 753- 1551.
Fisheries Management
Gamefish present include lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike and pickerel. Panfish present include pumpkinseed, bluegills, rock bass, bullhead and yellow perch. The major forage fish are alewives and yellow perch.
Owasco lake is stocked annually with approximately 16,000 lake trout, 5,000 rainbow trout and 10,000 brown trout. Owasco Inlet is stocked with 20,000 rainbow trout. For fishing regulations refer to the Finger Lakes and Tributary regulations in the fishing guide.
An ongoing angler diary cooperator program for gamefish provides DEC fisheries staff with useful data on population trends. Angler diary results can be viewed at region 7 angler diary results . We are always looking for new cooperators, so if you are interested please contact the Region 7 office at (607) 753-3095 ext. 213 or online at reg7info@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Owasco Lake Contour Map ( 209 KB pdf file)
Wildlife Management
Owasco Flats is included as a priority area for open space in the latest edition of New York State's Open Space Plan. In 2006, DEC announced the goal of acquisition of lands on the flats for their consolidation into a Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Consolidation and establishment of a WMA will provide additional opportunities to address threats to the area. Owasco Flats Wildlife Management Area A Conceptual Wildlife Management Plan has been created as a statement of the agency's vision for acquisition and future management of the area. The Plan is guided by a number of state laws and regulations pertaining to the acquisition of lands by the DEC and the public use of wildlife management areas. Acquisition will be only from willing sellers and, by law, must be at fair market value.
Owasco Flats Wildlife Management Area -A Conceptual Management Plan (PDF, 953 Kb)
Watershed Management
Nutrients, pathogens and other pollutants from various sources throughout the watershed that impact recreational uses in Owasco Lake are being addressed through Owasco Lake Watershed Management efforts.
More about Owasco Lake:
- Large Map of Owasco Lake - Detail map of Owasco Lake in Cayuga County
