Fishing in the Lake Ontario & Thousand Islands
Explore fishing in the Lake Ontario & Thousand Islands of New York. Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, Oswego River, Salm
Eastern Lake Ontario offers world-class salmon and trout fishing with major ports at Oswego, Henderson, and Cape Vincent.
1. Lake Ontario (Eastern)
Lake Ontario, Jefferson/Oswego/Wayne countiesMexico Bay off Oswego offers world-class salmon trolling with the Oswego River and Salmon River plumes.
- ⚠ This water: Great Lakes and tributaries special regulations apply (salmon/trout limits per DEC).
2. St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands)
St. Lawrence River, Jefferson/St. Lawrence countiesThe upper St. Lawrence River and Waddington offers excellent bass and pike fishing.
3. Oswego River (Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon)
Oswego River, Oswego CountyThe Oswego River flows from Oneida Lake to Lake Ontario, offering excellent walleye and salmon fishing with a fish ladder.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
4. Salmon River (Pulaski)
Salmon River, Oswego CountyThe Salmon River in Wayne County offers good salmon and steelhead fishing.
- ⚠ This water: From Flatrock Road Bridge upstream to 200 yards downstream of the Cargin Road Bridge _(Catch and Release)_ | All year, Catch and Release only, Artificial lures only
Boat Launch: Salmon River Reservoir Boat Launch →
5. Black River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Chinook Salmon)
Black River, Jefferson CountyThe Black River offers excellent trout and salmon fishing with the famous Salmon Run at Watertown.
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
6. Sandy Creek (Jefferson Co.)
Sandy Creek, Jefferson CountySandy Creek is a top Lake Ontario tributary for salmon and steelhead runs.
Boat Launch: North Pond Sandy Creek Waterway Access →
7. South Sandy Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
South Sandy Creek, Jefferson CountySouth Sandy Creek offers excellent salmon and steelhead fishing.
8. Stony Creek (Jefferson)
Stony Creek, Jefferson CountyStony Creek offers good salmon and steelhead fishing in Jefferson County.
9. Lakeview Pond (Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch)
Lakeview Pond, Jefferson CountyLakeview Pond offers good warmwater fishing.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
10. Chaumont Bay (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Crappie)
Chaumont Bay, Jefferson CountyChaumont Bay on Lake Ontario offers excellent northern pike and bass fishing.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
11. Black River Bay (Northern Pike, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Crappie)
Black River Bay, Jefferson CountyBlack River Bay at Watertown offers good warmwater fishing.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
12. Henderson Bay (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Chinook Salmon)
Henderson Bay, Jefferson CountyHenderson Bay on Lake Ontario offers excellent fishing with salmon and warmwater species.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
Boat Launch: Henderson Boat Launch →
13. Guilfoyle Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout)
Guilfoyle Creek, Jefferson CountyGuilfoyle Creek is a Lake Ontario tributary offering good salmon fishing.
Boat Launch: Guilfoyle Creek →
14. Skinner Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Skinner Creek, Jefferson CountySkinner Creek offers good salmon and steelhead runs into Lake Ontario.
Boat Launch: North Pond Sandy Creek Waterway Access →
15. Little Sandy Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Little Sandy Creek, Jefferson CountyLittle Sandy Creek offers good salmon and steelhead fishing in Jefferson County.
Boat Launch: North Pond Sandy Creek Waterway Access →
16. Little Salmon River (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Little Salmon River, Oswego CountyThe Little Salmon River offers good salmon and steelhead fishing.
Boat Launch: Grey's Creek Marina →
17. Grindstone Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Grindstone Creek, Oswego CountyGrindstone Creek offers good salmon and steelhead fishing in Oswego County.
18. Catfish Creek (Lake Ontario)
Catfish Creek, Oswego CountyCatfish Creek offers good salmon and steelhead fishing in Oswego County.
19. Ontario Ditch (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Ontario Ditch, Oswego CountyOntario Ditch offers good salmon and steelhead fishing.
Boat Launch: Ontario State Park Boat Ramp →
20. Rice Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Rice Creek, Oswego CountyRice Creek offers good salmon fishing in the Lake Ontario watershed.
21. Cranberry Creek (Lake Ont.)
Cranberry Creek, Oswego CountyCranberry Creek offers good salmon and steelhead fishing.
Boat Launch: Northampton Boatlaunch →
22. Sterling Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Walleye)
Sterling Creek, Cayuga CountySterling Creek offers good salmon fishing in Cayuga County.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
23. Pultneyville Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Pultneyville Creek, Wayne CountyPultneyville Creek offers good salmon fishing in Wayne County.
Boat Launch: Pultneyville Creek →
24. Sodus Bay (Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Crappie)
Sodus Bay, Wayne CountySodus Bay on Lake Ontario offers excellent warmwater fishing with a protected bay.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
25. Port Bay (Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Crappie)
Port Bay, Wayne CountyPort Bay is a 1,200-acre Lake Ontario embayment offering excellent fishing.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
26. East Bay (Wayne Co.)
East Bay, Wayne CountyEast Bay offers good fishing in a Lake Ontario wetland setting.
27. Little Sodus Bay (Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Yellow Perch)
Little Sodus Bay, Cayuga CountyLittle Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario offers good warmwater fishing.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
28. Fair Haven Beach (Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Walleye)
Fair Haven Beach, Cayuga CountyFair Haven Beach State Park offers good Lake Ontario and bay fishing.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
29. Oswego Harbor (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass)
Oswego Harbor, Oswego CountyOswego Harbor is a major Lake Ontario fishing port with charter services and a public pier.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
Boat Launch: Coast Guard Basin →
30. Selkirk Shores (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Walleye)
Selkirk Shores, Oswego CountySelkirk Shores State Park offers good Lake Ontario fishing with a campground.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
31. Southwick Beach (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Northern Pike)
Southwick Beach, Jefferson CountySouthwick Beach State Park offers good Lake Ontario fishing and beach access.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
32. Westcott Beach (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch)
Westcott Beach, Jefferson CountyWestcott Beach State Park offers good fishing in Chaumont Bay.
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
33. Cedar Point State Park (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch)
Cedar Point State Park, Jefferson CountyCedar Point State Park on Chaumont Bay offers good fishing with campground.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
34. Grass Island (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch)
Grass Island, Jefferson CountyGrass Island in the Thousand Islands offers excellent smallmouth bass fishing.
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
35. Wellesley Island (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Walleye)
Wellesley Island, Jefferson CountyWellesley Island in the St. Lawrence offers good fishing with a state park.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Muskellunge & tiger muskie · Limit: 1 · Min 30-54 in by water
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
36. Alexandria Bay (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Walleye, Yellow Perch)
Alexandria Bay, Jefferson CountyAlexandria Bay in the Thousand Islands is a premier fishing destination with charter services.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Muskellunge & tiger muskie · Limit: 1 · Min 30-54 in by water
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
Boat Launch: U.S. Coast Guard - Station Alexandria Bay →
37. Cape Vincent (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Walleye, Chinook Salmon)
Cape Vincent, Jefferson CountyCape Vincent offers excellent fishing where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Limit: 5 combined · Min 12 in (some waters different)
- Muskellunge & tiger muskie · Limit: 1 · Min 30-54 in by water
- Walleye · Limit: 5 · Min 15 in (some waters 18 in)
38. Perch Lake (Eastern, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill)
Perch Lake, New YorkPopular fishing lake in the Lake Ontario & Thousand Islands region of New York.
- Northern pike · Limit: 5 · Min 18 in
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
- Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish) · Limit: 50 combined
Fishing Tips for the Lake Ontario & Thousand Islands
- Get a licence — All anglers need a valid state fishing licence — check your state's wildlife agency site.
- Check the weather & water conditions — always check forecasts and wind before heading out, especially on big water.
- Know the regulations — size and catch limits vary by water body in New York; check the local regulations first.
- Best times — early morning and late evening are prime. Many Lake Ontario & Thousand Islands waters fish best in spring and fall.
- Use the right gear — match your rod, line, and tackle to the species you're chasing and the water you're fishing.
More Regions in New York
- Adirondacks & St. Lawrence
- Catskills & Hudson Valley
- Finger Lakes & Central
- Long Island & NYC
- Western NY & Lake Erie
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