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Fishing Lake Ontario - Rochester Shore: what the data says
296,064-acre section. Braddock Bay to Sodus: spring browns tight to the beach, kings on the thermocline out of the Genesee, steelhead over deep water all summer. The lake tops out around 723 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Chinook Salmon fishing at Lake Ontario - Rochester Shore
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 50 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 30 to 90 ft. The spot to know is Genesee River mouth, a inflow / creek mouth in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| 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 - Rochester Shore
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 Genesee River mouth: a inflow / creek mouth around 5 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 - Rochester Shore
In spring, steelhead run shallow here, mostly 3 to 20 ft. They move out to 5 to 45 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 15 ft. Genesee River mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring steelhead. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards and you're in the game.
| 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 - Rochester Shore
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 25 to 60 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Genesee River mouth: a inflow / creek mouth around 5 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 - Rochester Shore
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 50 to 120 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 16 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| 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 - Rochester Shore
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. The spot to know is Genesee River mouth, a inflow / creek mouth in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for landlocked salmon in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core gets it done.
| 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 - Rochester Shore 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 696 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 518 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 467 ft
- Deep hole: deep basin, around 424 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 358 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 350 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 333 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 331 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 183 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 181 ft
- Irondequoit Bay outlet: inflow / creek mouth, around 43 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 39 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 18 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 16 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Ontario - Rochester Shore?
Lake Ontario - Rochester Shore is about 723 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 - Rochester Shore?
Anglers target chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout, landlocked salmon, white perch on Lake Ontario - Rochester Shore.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Ontario - Rochester Shore?
Genesee River mouth is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 5 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 - Rochester Shore?
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
Canandaigua Lake · Honeoye Lake · Conesus Lake · Hemlock Lake · Canadice Lake · Keuka Lake
See how Lake Ontario - Rochester Shore 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.