Finger Lakes Open – Keuka Lake (Branchport)

The Finger Lakes Open at Keuka Lake unfolds from June 7 through July 4, 2026, transforming the shores of New York’s only Y-shaped lake into a month-long celebration of competitive angling, community gathering, and the simple pleasures of summer on the water. Based at the Branchport Public Launch where Sugar Creek meets Keuka’s crystalline waters, this event draws fishing enthusiasts and families alike to one of the most beautiful and productive lakes in the Northeast, where lake trout, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and landlocked salmon swim beneath waters so clear you can watch the rocks shimmer on the bottom.

Tournament weekends anchor the festival calendar, offering anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for cash prizes while testing themselves against Keuka’s legendary fishery. The lake has sustained excellent smallmouth bass and lake trout populations for generations, with “lakers” reproducing naturally in numbers that keep serious anglers returning year after year. Between competitions, the celebration expands to include live music performances, artisan markets showcasing regional craftspeople, and food trucks serving cuisines that reflect the agricultural abundance of the surrounding hillsides. Families will discover face painting stations, treasure hunts designed around the lake’s natural features, and interactive storytelling sessions that weave together the region’s rich history of winemaking, aviation innovation, and indigenous heritage.

The Finger Lakes region surrounding Keuka Lake rewards exploration with experiences found nowhere else in New York State. The Saunders Finger Lakes Museum in Branchport offers paddling access to Sugar Creek and the Townsend-Grady Wildlife Preserve, where forested waterways and cattail wetlands provide habitat for the birds and wildlife that make this region an ecological treasure. Keuka Lake State Park lies just southeast of Branchport, featuring swimming beaches, hiking trails, and boat launches that extend your time on the water. The Keuka Outlet Trail stretches seven miles between Keuka and Seneca Lakes, passing Seneca Mills Falls and Cascade Mills Falls along a route perfect for hiking or cycling through wooded terrain that predates human settlement by ten thousand years.

No visit to Keuka Lake is complete without exploring the wine trail that has made this region internationally renowned. Hunt Country Vineyards operates just minutes from Branchport, where seven generations of the Hunt family have cultivated vinifera grapes using sustainable practices that honor the land. Continue to Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars, the pioneering estate that proved European grape varieties could thrive in this microclimate, or discover smaller producers like Stever Hill Vineyards and Lime Berry Winery tucked into the surrounding hillsides. Keuka Brewing Company and Steuben Brewing Company offer craft beer alternatives for those seeking different flavors of the region’s agricultural creativity.

The charming village of Penn Yan anchors the northeastern shore, where Amity Coffee Company serves morning espresso alongside fresh pastries before you browse the remarkable Windmill Farm and Craft Market, a Saturday tradition featuring nearly 200 vendors selling everything from Mennonite baked goods to antique furniture. At the lake’s southern tip, Hammondsport earned recognition as one of America’s Coolest Small Towns, offering the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum celebrating the Father of Aviation, alongside dining options like Timber Stone Grill and Burgers and Beer of Hammondsport. For waterfront dining with sunset views, The Switzerland Inn has become a regional favorite.

Whether you arrive seeking tournament glory, family adventure, or simply the peace that settles over the water as evening light paints the surrounding vineyards gold, the Finger Lakes Open delivers a summer experience that captures everything special about this corner of New York. Book a vacation rental on Lake.com to establish your home base on Keuka’s shores, where each morning brings the promise of tight lines, good company, and memories that will last far beyond the final cast.