The lake you are referring to is Onondaga lake. This lake is visable to the north of the "SU Hill" I beleive at one time it was considered the 3rd most polluted lake in the country and they did not even want you boating on it much less fishing in it :S. They have cleaned it up though in recent years and I think you can now fish on it (catch and release only).
Good Lakes in the area to fish on are Oneida lake and the other Finger Lakes