Lake Ontario fishing

Fishing at Lake Ontario has Brown Trout and Lake Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 3.7 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and dawn for Lake Trout.

Last stocked

May 1, 2025

Plants on record

56

Since 2011

Species recorded

2

Average size

7.1 in

Elevation

280 ft

Access and facts

Nearest town
Three Mile Bay
Boat ramp
Yes

A dozen public launches along the Jefferson County shore, from Three Mile Bay and Chaumont to Sackets Harbor and Black River Bay; most are hard-surface ramps, several with 80-100 car/trailer capacity.

Sources: access , shore_notes , nearest_town , fishing_notes , watch_outs

View larger map ยท Open on Google Maps

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 as likely to be for Brown Trout and Lake Trout. Each accounts for 28 of 56 plants on record.

Brown Trout 28 plants
Plants
28 of 56
Last stocked
May 1, 2025
Average length
7.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Lake Trout 28 plants
Plants
28 of 56
Last stocked
May 1, 2025
Average length
6.5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Lake Trout guide.

Fishing Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario features an important freshwater fishery. However, this fishery has been negatively affected by factors including overfishing, water pollution, and invasive species. The Z-shaped Bay of Quinte also supports associated fisheries, alongside many wetlands and aquatic plants. As the easternmost of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario reaches a maximum depth of 802 ft in the Rochester Basin.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

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

Fish stocked per year

  • 128,0702011
  • 56,6902012
  • 120,5802013
  • 292,3672014
  • 251,0162015
  • 119,7102016
  • 122,9902017
  • 142,5702018
  • 149,5302019
  • 142,4202020
  • 137,4342021
  • 158,2342022
  • 157,5052023
  • 163,7702024
  • 118,4922025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 56 plants Showing 56 plants

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 1, 2025 Brown Trout 75,680 6.9 in report
May 1, 2025 Lake Trout 31,812 7.2 in report
May 1, 2025 Brown Trout 11,000 6.9 in report
May 1, 2024 Lake Trout 39,850 6.5 in report
May 1, 2024 Lake Trout 39,600 7 in report
May 1, 2024 Brown Trout 73,620 7.3 in report
May 1, 2024 Brown Trout 10,700 7.3 in report
May 1, 2023 Brown Trout 68,834 8.3 in report
May 1, 2023 Lake Trout 40,296 6.4 in report
May 1, 2023 Lake Trout 40,109 6.5 in report
May 1, 2023 Brown Trout 8,266 8.5 in report
May 1, 2022 Lake Trout 39,700 7 in report
May 1, 2022 Lake Trout 39,700 6.5 in report
May 1, 2022 Brown Trout 70,194 8 in report
May 1, 2022 Brown Trout 8,640 8 in report
May 1, 2021 Lake Trout 28,800 6.5 in report
May 1, 2021 Brown Trout 68,834 7.6 in report
May 1, 2021 Lake Trout 39,800 6.7 in report
May 1, 2020 Lake Trout 80,000 6.8 in report
May 1, 2020 Brown Trout 47,770 7.6 in report
May 1, 2020 Brown Trout 14,650 7.6 in report
June 1, 2019 Brown Trout 20,000 7.7 in report
May 1, 2019 Lake Trout 40,000 7.4 in report
May 1, 2019 Lake Trout 40,800 6.3 in report
May 1, 2019 Brown Trout 48,730 7.6 in report
June 1, 2018 Brown Trout 15,000 8.2 in report
May 1, 2018 Lake Trout 39,270 7 in report
May 1, 2018 Lake Trout 40,450 6.5 in report
May 1, 2018 Brown Trout 47,850 7.6 in report
May 1, 2017 Lake Trout 77,610 6.5 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 31,350 7.1 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 14,030 7.1 in report
May 1, 2016 Lake Trout 31,470 6.8 in report
May 1, 2016 Lake Trout 40,830 6.4 in report
May 1, 2016 Brown Trout 47,410 8.2 in report
October 1, 2015 Lake Trout 40,514 5 in report
October 1, 2015 Lake Trout 82,152 4.3 in report
June 1, 2015 Brown Trout 14,400 8 in report
May 1, 2015 Lake Trout 41,240 7.8 in report
May 1, 2015 Lake Trout 40,190 6.4 in report
May 1, 2015 Brown Trout 32,520 7.2 in report
October 1, 2014 Lake Trout 82,161 5.1 in report
October 1, 2014 Lake Trout 80,236 4.4 in report
May 1, 2014 Lake Trout 40,580 6.7 in report
May 1, 2014 Lake Trout 42,020 6.5 in report
May 1, 2014 Brown Trout 32,730 7.7 in report
May 1, 2014 Brown Trout 14,640 7.6 in report
May 1, 2013 Lake Trout 40,780 7.4 in report
May 1, 2013 Lake Trout 39,810 6.9 in report
May 1, 2013 Brown Trout 39,990 7.9 in report
June 1, 2012 Brown Trout 7,900 8.5 in report
May 1, 2012 Brown Trout 33,710 8 in report
April 1, 2012 Brown Trout 15,080 7.8 in report
May 1, 2011 Lake Trout 81,510 8 in report
May 1, 2011 Brown Trout 32,170 7.5 in report
April 1, 2011 Brown Trout 14,390 7.3 in report
Show 41 more plants Show less

Species stocked here

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

Nearest lakes