Lake Ontario

The south shore of Lake Ontario offers some excellent smallmouth bass fishing when the bass are in an "up cycle".   Currently, their numbers appear to be down. The southern shore of the lake is full of rock, including some huge boulders. The best fishing typically takes place from late June/early July through September/October and is terrific along the entire south shore from the Rochester area to Oswego and beyond.  In 2007 we did better on bass further east.   The Rochester area and ports west seemed to be full of gobies and somewhat lacking in bass.   We didn't spend much time targeting smallies in 2008 or 2009, and we didn't do well when we did!    With the presence of gobies, Lake Ontario bass fishing appears to be moving deeper and deeper - like Lake Erie.   Time will tell how this fishery matures in the "post Goby era".   

Typically I’ll combine some Lake Ontario smallmouth bass fishing with some fishing in south shore bays or rivers including Irondequoit Bay, Sodus Bay, Port Bay or the Oswego River. This back-up strategy is helpful as Lake Ontario can be an unpredictable body of water to fish.

This lake is subject to upwellings of cold water that can be very detrimental to the bass fishing. These upwellings typically occur in August and can also move incredible numbers of fish into warm bays and rivers. The wind and waves are obviously other key factors to consider.

Occasionally I’ll target brown trout in the lake as well using fly-fishing gear. This is done in the spring-time and is usually low-percentage fishing. Conditions have to be perfect in order to have successful fly-fishing. Warm water inshore, some chop, low boat traffic and low light conditions are best. I generally have much more consistent fishing in the Finger Lakes for trout, but Lake Ontario does offer up the shot at larger fish.   The fall and winter offer good brown trout opportunities, but given how much great fishing is available in my area, it's hard to drive up to LO to try!

Over the past 4 or 5 years I've been making an ongoing effort to try to get in some deepwater jigging on Lake Ontario for King Salmon.    A couple friends of mine have had limited success with them.   I try a few trips every year with Kings in mind, but with my busy schedule and the distance involved, I don't get to put in the effort I'd like to.