Oswego River fishing

Oswego River fishing is stocked with Chinook Salmon and Steelhead on a river section. Also recorded: Walleye, Brown Trout, Coho Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and 13 more. It is stocked about 2.7 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and Black Crappie, dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch, and dawn and dusk for Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Common Carp.

Oswego River
Photo: Dirk Ingo Franke, CC BY 3.0
Last stocked
May 2025
Chinook Salmon
Plants on record
41
Since 2011
Species stocked
2 (+19 also recorded)
Average size
4 in
Elevation
246 ft

Fish at Oswego River

2 stocked · 19 confirmed present

Steelhead Stocked · 17 plants · last April 2025

Last stocked April 2025 · avg 4.9 in · 17 plants

Steelhead species guide

How Oswego River is stocked

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Lake Ontario (0.7 mi) was stocked more recently.

Fish stocked in 2011

164,830

Fish stocked in 2012

133,580

Fish stocked in 2013

159,700

Fish stocked in 2014

159,700

Fish stocked in 2015

153,880

Fish stocked in 2016

159,700

Fish stocked in 2017

106,610

Fish stocked in 2018

115,030

Fish stocked in 2019

78,060

Fish stocked in 2020

131,390

Fish stocked in 2021

146,390

Fish stocked in 2022

146,390

Fish stocked in 2023

161,330

Fish stocked in 2024

173,210

Fish stocked in 2025

191,712

Stocking history

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 2025Chinook Salmon24,3623.1 inreport
May 2025Chinook Salmon138,2103.8 inreport
April 2025Steelhead29,1405.25 inreport
April 2024Chinook Salmon138,2103.6 inreport
April 2024Steelhead35,0004.5 inreport
May 2023Chinook Salmon126,3303.9 inreport
April 2023Steelhead35,0004.7 inreport
May 2022Chinook Salmon111,3904 inreport
April 2022Steelhead35,0004.5 inreport
May 2021Chinook Salmon111,3903.9 inreport
April 2021Steelhead35,0004.7 inreport
May 2020Chinook Salmon111,3903.6 inreport
March 2020Steelhead20,0005 inreport
May 2019Steelhead5,0006.2 inreport
May 2019Chinook Salmon58,0603.6 inreport
April 2019Steelhead15,0005.1 inreport
May 2018Chinook Salmon20,0803.3 inreport
May 2018Chinook Salmon64,3903.5 inreport
April 2018Steelhead20,0004.8 inreport
April 2018Steelhead10,5604.4 inreport
May 2017Chinook Salmon22,2203.2 inreport
May 2017Chinook Salmon64,3903.8 inreport
April 2017Steelhead20,0004 inreport
May 2016Chinook Salmon97,8103.2 inreport
May 2016Chinook Salmon41,8903.6 inreport
April 2016Steelhead20,0004.6 inreport
May 2015Chinook Salmon97,8103.1 inreport
May 2015Chinook Salmon41,8903.2 inreport
April 2015Steelhead14,1805.1 inreport
May 2014Chinook Salmon97,8103.2 inreport
May 2014Chinook Salmon41,8903.3 inreport
April 2014Steelhead20,0004.9 inreport
May 2013Chinook Salmon97,8102.8 inreport
May 2013Chinook Salmon41,8902.9 inreport
April 2013Steelhead20,0004.7 inreport
May 2012Chinook Salmon79,5203.4 inreport
May 2012Steelhead20,0005.7 inreport
May 2012Chinook Salmon34,0602.9 inreport
May 2011Chinook Salmon99,8103.2 inreport
May 2011Steelhead23,1305.5 inreport
May 2011Chinook Salmon41,8903 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Oswego
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes
ADA accessible
Yes
Facilities
dock, restrooms, cleaning station

In the City of Oswego a concrete walkway with railing runs along both banks, with riverside parking, restrooms and a fish cleaning station. Linear Park gives wheelchair-accessible shore access on the west side. Ramps are town and city run, from Phoenix and Fulton down to Wright's Landing.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation before you go.

About Oswego River

Strong currents exist under the frozen ice sheets, which can endanger anglers if they fall through. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

Photo of Oswego River
Dirk Ingo Franke, CC BY 3.0

Nearest lakes

Lake Ontario 0.7 mi last stocked June 2025 Rice Creek 3.1 mi last stocked March 2020 Sterling Valley Creek 11.1 mi last stocked March 2020 Lake Neatahwanta 11.5 mi last stocked August 2015 Sterling Creek 12.7 mi last stocked March 2020

Common questions

What fish are at Oswego River?

Fishing Oswego River usually means Chinook Salmon: Chinook Salmon accounts for 24 of 41 plants on record, ahead of Steelhead. Chinook Salmon was last stocked May 2025, averaging 3.4 in. Steelhead was last stocked April 2025, averaging 4.9 in. Walleye, Brown Trout, Coho Salmon, and Smallmouth Bass, plus 15 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Oswego River stocked?

Last stocked May 2025. It is stocked about 2.7 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May.

How big are the fish stocked at Oswego River?

Stocked fish average 4 in. Chinook Salmon average 3.4 in. Steelhead average 4.9 in.

How do you get on Oswego River?

Shore fishing is available, there is a boat ramp, and it is ADA accessible. The nearest town is Oswego. Facilities include dock, restrooms, and cleaning station. In the City of Oswego a concrete walkway with railing runs along both banks, with riverside parking, restrooms and a fish cleaning station. Linear Park gives wheelchair-accessible shore access on the west side. Ramps are town and city run, from Phoenix and Fulton down to Wright's Landing.

Which lakes near Oswego River were stocked more recently?

Lake Ontario (0.7 mi) was stocked more recently.

Sources (5) +