Fishing in the Lake Ontario & Thousand Islands
The Lake Ontario & Thousand Islands area of New York, featuring Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike.
1. Lake Ontario (Eastern) (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike)
Lake Ontario, Jefferson/Oswego/Wayne countiesEastern Lake Ontario offers world-class salmon and trout fishing with major ports at Oswego, Henderson, and Cape Vincent.
2. St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands) (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch)
St. Lawrence River, Jefferson/St. Lawrence countiesThe Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River offers world-class muskellunge and bass fishing among 1,800 islands.
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.
4. Salmon River (Pulaski) (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Atlantic Salmon)
Salmon River, Oswego CountyThe Salmon River at Pulaski is one of the premier salmon and steelhead rivers in the Great Lakes region, drawing anglers worldwide.
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.
6. Sandy Creek (Jefferson Co.) (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Sandy Creek, Jefferson CountySandy Creek is a top Lake Ontario tributary for salmon and steelhead runs near Henderson Harbor.
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 near Lake Ontario.
8. Stony Creek (Jefferson) (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
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 near Lake Ontario.
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.
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.
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.
13. Guilfoyle Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout)
Guilfoyle Creek, Jefferson CountyGuilfoyle Creek is a Lake Ontario tributary offering good salmon fishing.
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.
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.
16. St. Lawrence River (Upstream) (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch)
St. Lawrence River, St. Lawrence CountyThe upper St. Lawrence River near Ogdensburg and Waddington offers excellent bass and pike fishing.
17. Lake Ontario (Mexico Bay) (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Walleye)
Lake Ontario, Oswego CountyMexico Bay off Oswego offers world-class salmon trolling with the Oswego River and Salmon River plumes.
18. 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 near Mexico, NY.
19. 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.
20. Catfish Creek (Lake Ontario) (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Catfish Creek, Oswego CountyCatfish Creek offers good salmon and steelhead fishing in Oswego County.
21. Ontario Ditch (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Ontario Ditch, Oswego CountyOntario Ditch offers good salmon and steelhead fishing near the Lake Ontario shore.
22. 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.
23. Cranberry Creek (Lake Ont.) (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Cranberry Creek, Oswego CountyCranberry Creek offers good salmon and steelhead fishing.
24. Sterling Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Walleye)
Sterling Creek, Cayuga CountySterling Creek offers good salmon fishing in Cayuga County.
25. Salmon River (Wayne Co.) (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Salmon River, Wayne CountyThe Salmon River in Wayne County offers good salmon and steelhead fishing.
26. Pultneyville Creek (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Pultneyville Creek, Wayne CountyPultneyville Creek offers good salmon fishing in Wayne County.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. East Bay (Wayne Co.) (Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch)
East Bay, Wayne CountyEast Bay offers good fishing in a Lake Ontario wetland setting.
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. 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.
33. 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.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. 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.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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.
Fishing Tips for the Lake Ontario & Thousand Islands
- Check local regulations before fishing — each water body may have specific rules on limits, seasons, and bait.
- Spring and fall typically offer the best fishing in New York for most species.
- Consider hiring a local guide for the best experience on unfamiliar waters.
- Always carry a valid New York fishing license — available online through the state wildlife agency.
- Practice catch and release for sensitive species to help maintain healthy fish populations.
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