Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay: what the data says
240,143-acre section. Oswego to the Salmon River at Pulaski: the heart of the king fishery, with staging fish stacking off the river mouths from late summer on. The lake tops out around 630 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Chinook Salmon fishing at Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 50 to 120 ft, and winter fish settle into 30 to 90 ft. Oswego River mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 13 ft, rated prime for spring chinook salmon. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Coho Salmon fishing at Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay
Start shallow in spring: coho salmon sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 30 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Oswego River mouth: a inflow / creek mouth around 13 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Small spoon, slow troll |
Steelhead fishing at Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay
In spring, steelhead run shallow here, mostly 3 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 45 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Oswego River mouth, a inflow / creek mouth in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Brown Trout fishing at Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 25 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Oswego River mouth: a inflow / creek mouth around 13 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Lake Trout fishing at Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 50 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 80 ft. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Tie on a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Landlocked Salmon fishing at Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay
Start shallow in spring: landlocked salmon sit in 1 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 25 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Oswego River mouth: a inflow / creek mouth around 13 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay also holds white perch (15 to 40 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 609 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 528 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 435 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 421 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 337 ft
- Deep hole: deep basin, around 313 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 253 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 197 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 153 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 143 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 139 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 93 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 63 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 23 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay?
Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay is about 630 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay?
Anglers target chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout, landlocked salmon, white perch on Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay?
Oswego River mouth is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay?
For chinook salmon, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Cross Lake · Salmon River · Lake Ontario - Henderson Harbor and Golden Crescent · Skaneateles Lake · Owasco Lake · Otisco Lake
See how Lake Ontario - Oswego and Mexico Bay stacks up: best chinook salmon lakes in New York · best steelhead lakes in New York · best lake trout lakes in New York · best brown trout lakes in New York
Browse all New York fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.