Lake Ontario fishing

Fishing at Lake Ontario has Lake Trout, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 5 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn for Lake Trout, dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout.

Last stocked

June 1, 2025

Plants on record

75

Since 2011

Species recorded

3

Average size

7.2 in

Elevation

285 ft

Access and facts

Nearest town
Oswego
Boat ramp
Yes
Facilities
dock

Public ramps at Mexico Point (two hard-surface ramps, 105-car lot), Wright's Landing Marina in the City of Oswego, and North Sandy Pond in the Town of Sandy Creek.

Sources: access , shore_notes , nearest_town , facilities , 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 48 of 75 plants on record, ahead of Lake Trout and one more.

Brown Trout 48 plants
Plants
48 of 75
Last stocked
June 1, 2025
Average length
7.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Lake Trout 26 plants
Plants
26 of 75
Last stocked
May 1, 2024
Average length
6.5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Lake Trout guide.

Rainbow Trout 1 plant
Plants
1 of 75
Last stocked
November 1, 2011
Average length
6 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Fishing Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario maintains an important freshwater fishery. Specific areas, like the Z-shaped Bay of Quinte, support many wetlands and aquatic plants, along with associated fisheries. Despite this, the fishery has been negatively affected by various factors.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

Anglers should be aware that Lake Ontario's freshwater fishery has been negatively affected by factors including overfishing, water pollution, and invasive species.

Fish stocked per year

  • 164,6002011
  • 63,8602012
  • 175,0702013
  • 302,6432014
  • 311,4422015
  • 213,3902016
  • 125,0902017
  • 142,4702018
  • 208,6302019
  • 61,6702020
  • 149,9672021
  • 80,9162022
  • 162,0172023
  • 161,0412024
  • 117,9902025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 75 plants Showing 75 plants

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 1, 2025 Brown Trout 12,130 8.2 in report
June 1, 2025 Brown Trout 16,870 6.1 in report
May 1, 2025 Brown Trout 38,500 7.9 in report
May 1, 2025 Brown Trout 50,490 7.6 in report
May 1, 2024 Brown Trout 37,450 7.8 in report
May 1, 2024 Lake Trout 39,700 6.7 in report
May 1, 2024 Lake Trout 30,800 6.8 in report
May 1, 2024 Brown Trout 3,981 7.3 in report
May 1, 2024 Brown Trout 49,110 8 in report
May 1, 2023 Brown Trout 45,917 8 in report
May 1, 2023 Brown Trout 35,000 7.8 in report
May 1, 2023 Lake Trout 40,364 6.1 in report
May 1, 2023 Lake Trout 40,736 6.4 in report
May 1, 2022 Brown Trout 45,916 7.5 in report
May 1, 2022 Brown Trout 35,000 8 in report
June 1, 2021 Brown Trout 6,600 9 in report
June 1, 2021 Brown Trout 1,650 7.6 in report
May 1, 2021 Brown Trout 45,917 8.1 in report
May 1, 2021 Brown Trout 35,000 7.5 in report
May 1, 2021 Lake Trout 20,100 6.5 in report
May 1, 2021 Lake Trout 40,700 6.6 in report
May 1, 2020 Brown Trout 19,740 7.6 in report
May 1, 2020 Brown Trout 5,100 7.6 in report
May 1, 2020 Brown Trout 36,830 7.6 in report
July 1, 2019 Brown Trout 20,290 3.9 in report
July 1, 2019 Brown Trout 15,400 3.6 in report
June 1, 2019 Brown Trout 9,000 8.6 in report
June 1, 2019 Brown Trout 8,900 7.9 in report
May 1, 2019 Brown Trout 31,900 7.6 in report
May 1, 2019 Brown Trout 10,540 7.5 in report
May 1, 2019 Brown Trout 31,900 7.5 in report
May 1, 2019 Lake Trout 40,000 6.4 in report
May 1, 2019 Lake Trout 40,700 6.3 in report
May 1, 2018 Brown Trout 31,320 7.5 in report
May 1, 2018 Brown Trout 31,320 7.6 in report
May 1, 2018 Lake Trout 39,470 7.1 in report
May 1, 2018 Lake Trout 40,360 6.5 in report
June 1, 2017 Brown Trout 3,950 7.3 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 29,700 7.1 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 29,700 7.5 in report
May 1, 2017 Lake Trout 51,080 7.3 in report
May 1, 2017 Lake Trout 10,660 6.6 in report
November 1, 2016 Brown Trout 13,000 – report
July 1, 2016 Brown Trout 32,700 – report
May 1, 2016 Lake Trout 38,360 6.5 in report
May 1, 2016 Brown Trout 35,000 8 in report
May 1, 2016 Brown Trout 35,000 8.4 in report
May 1, 2016 Lake Trout 18,490 6.8 in report
May 1, 2016 Lake Trout 40,840 6.3 in report
October 1, 2015 Lake Trout 122,942 4.1 in report
June 1, 2015 Brown Trout 11,000 8.8 in report
May 1, 2015 Lake Trout 41,100 6.2 in report
May 1, 2015 Brown Trout 30,810 7.3 in report
May 1, 2015 Brown Trout 30,810 7.4 in report
May 1, 2015 Lake Trout 40,950 7.7 in report
May 1, 2015 Lake Trout 33,830 6.1 in report
October 1, 2014 Lake Trout 122,093 4.6 in report
May 1, 2014 Brown Trout 4,000 9.1 in report
May 1, 2014 Brown Trout 31,010 7.7 in report
May 1, 2014 Brown Trout 31,010 7.6 in report
May 1, 2014 Lake Trout 42,980 7.4 in report
May 1, 2014 Lake Trout 30,820 6.5 in report
May 1, 2014 Lake Trout 40,730 6.3 in report
May 1, 2013 Brown Trout 26,180 7.9 in report
May 1, 2013 Brown Trout 26,180 7.9 in report
May 1, 2013 Lake Trout 81,870 7.2 in report
May 1, 2013 Lake Trout 40,840 6.7 in report
May 1, 2012 Brown Trout 31,930 8 in report
May 1, 2012 Brown Trout 31,930 8 in report
November 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 9,000 6 in report
July 1, 2011 Brown Trout 12,000 9.5 in report
June 1, 2011 Brown Trout 2,600 9 in report
May 1, 2011 Brown Trout 30,480 7.5 in report
May 1, 2011 Brown Trout 30,480 7.5 in report
May 1, 2011 Lake Trout 80,040 7.4 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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