Lake Ontario fishing

Fishing at Lake Ontario is on a natural lake, stocked with Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Coho Salmon. It is stocked about 7.5 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, dawn for Lake Trout, and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout.

Last stocked

May 1, 2025

Plants on record

112

Since 2011

Species recorded

5

Average size

6.7 in

Elevation

277 ft

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Boat ramp
No
Float tube friendly
Yes

One of the Great Lakes, forming much of New York's northern border with Canada; DEC lists an unimproved hand/trailer access point on the Wayne County shoreline.

Sources: water_type , shore_notes , access , fishing_notes , watch_outs

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How Lake Ontario is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of May. In 2025 it was May 1, 2025, about when it usually is.

Fish at Lake Ontario

Fishing Lake Ontario is most likely to be for Brown Trout. Brown Trout accounts for 47 of 112 plants on record, ahead of Lake Trout and 3 more.

Brown Trout 47 plants
Plants
47 of 112
Last stocked
May 1, 2025
Average length
8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Lake Trout 29 plants
Plants
29 of 112
Last stocked
May 1, 2024
Average length
6.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Lake Trout guide.

Chinook Salmon 17 plants
Plants
17 of 112
Last stocked
May 1, 2019
Average length
3.4 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Chinook Salmon guide.

Rainbow Trout 12 plants
Plants
12 of 112
Last stocked
May 1, 2019
Average length
8.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Coho Salmon 7 plants
Plants
7 of 112
Last stocked
October 1, 2020
Average length
3.4 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Coho Salmon guide.

Fishing Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario, as one of the five Great Lakes of North America, supports an important freshwater fishery. However, this fishery has been negatively affected by several factors. These include overfishing, water pollution, and invasive species, which have impacted the health of the lake's fishing resources.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

The important freshwater fishery of Lake Ontario has been negatively affected by several factors. These factors include overfishing, water pollution, and invasive species.

Fish stocked per year

  • 370,2702011
  • 159,2602012
  • 277,7802013
  • 411,6952014
  • 381,1022015
  • 282,3202016
  • 199,1762017
  • 225,6952018
  • 229,8502019
  • 114,5102020
  • 59,0902021
  • 127,8702022
  • 48,2002023
  • 130,8412024
  • 53,0202025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 112 plants Showing 112 plants

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 1, 2025 Brown Trout 22,660 8.9 in report
May 1, 2025 Brown Trout 30,360 8.5 in report
May 1, 2024 Brown Trout 22,040 7.7 in report
May 1, 2024 Lake Trout 39,661 6.9 in report
May 1, 2024 Lake Trout 39,610 6.7 in report
May 1, 2024 Brown Trout 14,760 7.7 in report
May 1, 2024 Brown Trout 14,770 7.8 in report
May 1, 2023 Brown Trout 6,600 8.2 in report
May 1, 2023 Brown Trout 14,000 7.8 in report
May 1, 2023 Brown Trout 10,600 8.8 in report
May 1, 2023 Brown Trout 17,000 7.9 in report
May 1, 2022 Brown Trout 20,660 8 in report
May 1, 2022 Lake Trout 79,650 7 in report
May 1, 2022 Brown Trout 13,780 8 in report
May 1, 2022 Brown Trout 13,780 7.5 in report
June 1, 2021 Brown Trout 14,250 7.6 in report
May 1, 2021 Brown Trout 6,220 7.8 in report
May 1, 2021 Brown Trout 12,810 7.9 in report
May 1, 2021 Brown Trout 12,810 7.5 in report
April 1, 2021 Brown Trout 13,000 7.8 in report
October 1, 2020 Coho Salmon 18,000 2.1 in report
May 1, 2020 Lake Trout 39,680 6.7 in report
May 1, 2020 Lake Trout 36,140 6.7 in report
March 1, 2020 Brown Trout 20,690 7.9 in report
October 1, 2019 Coho Salmon 26,000 2.1 in report
May 1, 2019 Brown Trout 1,890 8.8 in report
May 1, 2019 Brown Trout 19,380 7.8 in report
May 1, 2019 Rainbow Trout 20,000 8.5 in report
May 1, 2019 Lake Trout 40,000 6.4 in report
May 1, 2019 Lake Trout 40,000 6.4 in report
May 1, 2019 Chinook Salmon 54,220 3.5 in report
May 1, 2019 Brown Trout 14,180 7.8 in report
April 1, 2019 Brown Trout 14,180 7.7 in report
October 1, 2018 Coho Salmon 12,200 2.4 in report
June 1, 2018 Brown Trout 4,880 8.1 in report
June 1, 2018 Rainbow Trout 840 9 in report
May 1, 2018 Brown Trout 16,000 8.1 in report
May 1, 2018 Rainbow Trout 15,030 9 in report
May 1, 2018 Lake Trout 39,798 7.2 in report
May 1, 2018 Lake Trout 39,697 6.98 in report
May 1, 2018 Chinook Salmon 19,410 3.3 in report
May 1, 2018 Chinook Salmon 50,000 3.1 in report
May 1, 2018 Brown Trout 16,000 8.1 in report
May 1, 2018 Brown Trout 11,840 8.1 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 15,000 8 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 4,800 8 in report
May 1, 2017 Rainbow Trout 20,000 8.4 in report
May 1, 2017 Lake Trout 11,827 7.7 in report
May 1, 2017 Lake Trout 25,786 7.3 in report
May 1, 2017 Lake Trout 23,883 7 in report
May 1, 2017 Chinook Salmon 64,430 3.9 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 18,000 8 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 8,400 8 in report
April 1, 2017 Chinook Salmon 7,050 3.1 in report
November 1, 2016 Coho Salmon 25,390 5.05 in report
May 1, 2016 Brown Trout 20,690 8.1 in report
May 1, 2016 Lake Trout 36,300 7.2 in report
May 1, 2016 Lake Trout 40,670 6.6 in report
May 1, 2016 Chinook Salmon 50,000 3.8 in report
May 1, 2016 Chinook Salmon 60,000 3.2 in report
May 1, 2016 Brown Trout 13,790 8 in report
May 1, 2016 Brown Trout 15,480 8 in report
April 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 20,000 8.5 in report
October 1, 2015 Coho Salmon 19,320 4.4 in report
October 1, 2015 Lake Trout 29,008 5 in report
October 1, 2015 Lake Trout 58,084 4.3 in report
June 1, 2015 Brown Trout 14,400 8 in report
May 1, 2015 Brown Trout 20,540 7.8 in report
May 1, 2015 Rainbow Trout 20,000 8.6 in report
May 1, 2015 Lake Trout 41,400 7.6 in report
May 1, 2015 Lake Trout 40,970 6.5 in report
May 1, 2015 Chinook Salmon 50,000 3.5 in report
May 1, 2015 Chinook Salmon 60,000 2.9 in report
May 1, 2015 Brown Trout 27,380 7.5 in report
October 1, 2014 Lake Trout 122,775 4.3 in report
June 1, 2014 Brown Trout 4,610 8.6 in report
June 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,800 9.1 in report
June 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 5,170 9.1 in report
June 1, 2014 Brown Trout 7,020 8.6 in report
May 1, 2014 Brown Trout 16,060 7.6 in report
May 1, 2014 Lake Trout 42,190 7.5 in report
May 1, 2014 Lake Trout 40,510 6 in report
May 1, 2014 Chinook Salmon 50,000 3.5 in report
May 1, 2014 Chinook Salmon 94,000 3.2 in report
May 1, 2014 Brown Trout 27,560 7.6 in report
October 1, 2013 Coho Salmon 26,000 4.2 in report
May 1, 2013 Brown Trout 17,450 7.9 in report
May 1, 2013 Rainbow Trout 20,000 8.6 in report
May 1, 2013 Lake Trout 40,660 7.3 in report
May 1, 2013 Lake Trout 40,400 7.3 in report
May 1, 2013 Chinook Salmon 50,000 3.3 in report
May 1, 2013 Chinook Salmon 60,000 3.2 in report
May 1, 2013 Brown Trout 23,270 7.9 in report
May 1, 2012 Brown Trout 21,290 8.5 in report
May 1, 2012 Rainbow Trout 20,000 8.6 in report
May 1, 2012 Chinook Salmon 50,000 3.7 in report
May 1, 2012 Chinook Salmon 39,590 3.4 in report
May 1, 2012 Brown Trout 28,380 8 in report
October 1, 2011 Coho Salmon 26,000 3.9 in report
July 1, 2011 Brown Trout 10,500 9.5 in report
June 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 11,480 8.3 in report
May 1, 2011 Brown Trout 20,320 7.2 in report
May 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 8,520 9 in report
May 1, 2011 Lake Trout 62,820 7.1 in report
May 1, 2011 Lake Trout 16,680 7 in report
May 1, 2011 Lake Trout 56,950 6.9 in report
May 1, 2011 Lake Trout 8,420 6.7 in report
May 1, 2011 Lake Trout 9,800 6.7 in report
May 1, 2011 Lake Trout 940 6.5 in report
May 1, 2011 Chinook Salmon 50,000 3.7 in report
May 1, 2011 Chinook Salmon 60,000 3.2 in report
May 1, 2011 Brown Trout 27,840 7.3 in report
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Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

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