Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

[rndn]

I'm looking for a decent lake in the NY or Penn area where I can get a cottage large enough to have my kinds and grandkids visit for a few days. The lake needs to be big enough for my boat in my signature, but not so big where I need to worry about big waves. I would also like someplace that is not as busy as the finger lakes area during the summer. I'd prefer NY so I don't need to pay for an out of state fishing license, but would consider Penn if someone knows of a really nice place. I always used to go to Canada but with the weak dollar, I can't afford it this year. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Dave K.]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

Lake George!! been boating there for 30+ years. your crestliner would handle it well & the scenic stuff is amazing (especially north of bolton landing), not to mention the kids would absolutely LOVE the village...

 

[rndn]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

How is the boat traffic in the summer on weekends and during the week?

 

[rolmops]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

Either Keuka or Owasco lake would be your ticket.Boat traffic is light on both lakes and the fishing is down right fantastic.

 

[Dave K.]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

traffic isn't bad during the week anywhere on the lake. it does get busy on weekends (during prime summer) from the basin (village) up to bolton. anything past bolton i.e. the narrows islands, mother bunch islands and points north are not bad, even remote in some places any time.

if you want a real treat for you & your family - LG will be - Really!

Now the down side: it is very pricy... especially in the village, and boarding/cottages/rooms etc... up the west side of the lake to bolton. fuel on the water will be @ least 4+ a gallon. i bring 5 gal cont & go to gas stations in queensbury if i'm staying more than 4 or 5 days. you will need a lake pass for the boat but that's cheap...something like 10 bucks for two weeks. i get a yearly pass for 30...launching will be around 30 (in & out) but they can get you on leaving your trailer 10bucks daily unless you can leave it where you stay.. i have more info if you need it....glad to help!

Oh Yeah, fishing is great! esp: small & large mouth - tons!!!

 

[rndn]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

I have a 40 gallon fuel tank so I may decide to run it low and then trailer it to fill it up.

 

[rndn]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

Thanks Rolmops, I have never been to either Keuka or Owasco lake. Is the water decent enough for a beach and water sports and snorkeling as well as fishing?

 

[Expidia]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

Hi Dave, I hail out of Albany too! We are either on Lake George, The Hudson River or Lake Champlain "every" weekend weather permitting. Have you gotten up on Lake Champlain yet?

rndn
I would second the vote for Lake George cause you need to see it at least once. And Dave is right on about there is so much to do with the kids in the village. My Family and I have been going to Lake George for 33 years now!

One other suggestion is to get a campsite on Lake George if you really want to save some bucks. Go up to the North end of the lake at Rogers Rock State park campgrounds and launching the boat is free since they have their own boat launch within the campgrounds.

Kids would love to see Fort Ticonderoga too as it's only a few minutes from the campgrounds,

The village is the other end of the lake, so if it's a windy day you can leave the boat at your campsite and drive the 32 miles and spend the day with the kids in the village area. There is a water slide park and an amusement park in the village and another fort to tour there too. Six Flags is also just outside the village.

You can also pre reserve and camp ground site on one of the many many islands in the Narrows area on the lake through the park dept. Each island has it's own dock and most have freestanding bathrooms.

The narrows is about half way up the lake and is truely a boaters pardise.

Feel free to PM me if you ever go there and I'll give you some more ideas on how to do Lake George "cheap", since you have offered me tips on the finger lakes already in other threads. I'll get there this summer for sure.

 

[Dave K.]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

expidia, haven't been on champlain for a few years, use to fish there all the time..& yes i'm on LG every weekend, weather of course???

rndn, you mentioned earlier snorkeling. well their isn't enough room on this thread to talk about all the spots i've gone on the lake. in the mother bunch islands especially it's really beautiful, but really anywhere, either the narrows or around any island. i also second expidia on ways to do the lake "cheap" i go to ticonderoga where they have a free boat launch at moseys point. i stay on my boat but camping is really terrific either on shore or any of the islands. the kids would really love that!!! i always did & still do.

if nothing else, try at some point to get up there one of these times...you really won't be dissapointed. gd luck!!

 

[rndn]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

What month does the lake warm up enough snorkel? July?

 

[borz170]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

I would check out Keuka. I believe it is the most beautiful lake in NYS. Keuka Lake State Park in Branchport has camping, free launch and boat slips you can rent. Lake traffic is heavier on the weekends, but still not too bad. Lots of watering holes that u can pull your boat up to. If you go, take the family for lunch at The Switzerland Inn accross from the bluff at the junction of the Y. 3rd weekend in June, the water will probably be warm enough, but i would wait until late July/early august.

Hope you enjoy it.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

What month does the lake warm up enough snorkel? July?

Haha . . . This is the Northeast . . . It doesn't in my opinion. Maybe Aug!

Ice out might be early this year though which would help the water temps. I was walking along the Hudson River (1 hour south of Lake George) on Sun and there was no ice.

Lake George is Landlocked and spring fed I think, hence the cooler crystal clear water.

I fish in spots that are 150 feet deep, so it takes the general lake awhile to warm up. But the shallow areas especially around the islands would probably be warm enough in late June and July for swimming.

 

[arks]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

I would check out Keuka. I believe it is the most beautiful lake in NYS. Keuka Lake State Park in Branchport has camping, free launch and boat slips you can rent. Lake traffic is heavier on the weekends, but still not too bad. Lots of watering holes that u can pull your boat up to. If you go, take the family for lunch at The Switzerland Inn accross from the bluff at the junction of the Y. 3rd weekend in June, the water will probably be warm enough, but i would wait until late July/early august.

I agree! We have relatives in Hammondsport (a wonderful little town BTW) and used to haul our 23' Wellcraft to Keuka quite often. The water is usually clear enough to see the bottom at 15-20 feet. Good beaches at the state park and Hammondsport. Compared to our local waters (upper Chesapeake), the weekend boat traffic up there was never even close to "busy". They do have a 45 MPH speed limit on Keuka and (from my experience) the water can stay pretty darn cold till the end of June. Cottage rentals are numerous but expensive. If you're into it, Hammondsport's having their classic boat show and regatta July 18-20. I might try to make it this year- it's nice.
More info here: http://www.hammondsport.com/

I might also suggest you check out Waneta lake, a smaller, (3 miles x 3/4 mile) calmer lake only 3 or 4 miles to the east of Keuka. I used to own a home there. It's shallow (max 30') and somewhat murky, but the water warms up quickly and has some of the best pickerel, muskie and largemouth fishing in the Northeast. The weed problem they used to have is pretty much gone, and there's very little boat traffic even on weekends. I HIGHLY recommend Wrights Cottages on the west shore. The Wrights are retired schoolteachers and do a fabulous job. http://www.wrightscottages.com/
Aside from Wrights, I don't know of any good beaches or watering holes, but Waneta has a decent and free launch ramp at the south end. Here's an interesting webcam setup on Waneta with some good local links: http://www.wanetawebcam.com/

 

[rolmops]

Re: Looking for cottage in NY or Penn

Thanks Rolmops, I have never been to either Keuka or Owasco lake. Is the water decent enough for a beach and water sports and snorkeling as well as fishing?

In Keuka lake I use a 5 gallon bucket with the bottom replaced with glass and I can easily see 30 feet down.In the Branch port side opposite the park there is a very long and rich rock reef where snorkeling is great.Owasco water is so clean that we have been drinking it in our cottage for years now without ill effects.When we go to Owasco we always are amazed at how few boats there are on the lake.
Go see for yourself.You can trailer your boat from home in less then an hour to Keuka and 30 minutes more to Owasco.