Where to Go????

So you don't know where to go for great Lake Ontario steelhead and salmon action? Well, you've come to the right place. Listed below are most primary run locations in for both New York and Canada in a West to East format. Included with each are directions and comments regarding each spot provided by top steelhead anglers and LOSA members. Be aware that conditions might not be favorable at any one time for one or each of these locations, we recommend to visit some of the various message boards across the world-wide web.

Such as:

FishSalmonRiver.com message board

Lakeontario.org's message board

Steelheadsite.com NY Report

West to East - New York - Southern Lake Ontario Region

Niagara River - Below the falls

Devils hole -

Artpark access -

Eighteenmile Mile/ Burt Dam

Sandy Creek

Located in the town of Hamlin - Sandy Creek is a small tributary that is primarily state owned land. It has a small salmon run, but much better known for its fall brown trout runs and steelies in the fall and spring. There are several access area located at the bridges.

Directions: From Rochester, follow Hamlin Beach Parkway to town of Hamlin, and turn right on Route 19. That crosses the stream and other roads off 19 will take you to various sections of the creek.

Oak Orchard Creek

Website Help: www.attheoak.com .

Directions: Township of Albion NY.

Stream Conditions :

Fall Run - A good run of salmon enter the river in October and spawn in the next month. With the salmon come the steelhead though not typically as abundant as other area streams. Browns will also come in the fall months feeding on the salmon eggs, and will remain through much of the winter.

Spring Run - Late winter and spring brings the better run of steelhead.

Special Notes - Oak Orchard supplies water to the Erie Canal. During the spring months when the canal is filling, Oak water levels can be low and can have an effect to the spring run of steelheads. Visit www.orleansoutdoors.com for the latest in stream conditions.

Johnson Creek

Slater Creek/ Russell Station

Directions: Greece, NY -
Take 390 North to Eastbound Hamlin Beach Parkway. Follow Hamlin Beach Parkway 2-3 miles to Greenleaf Road. Left onto Greenleaf. Follow all the way to the end to the “T” that’s Beach Street. Left onto Beach Street and the parking lot will be 100 yards on the left.

Special Notes:

Russell Station is a warm water discharge that is on average 10-15 degrees warmer than typical seasonal water temps and it flows directly into Lake Ontario. Slater Creek itself is very shallow and 100% mud bottom, not very good spawning habitat though fall run browns do run into the small stream. Because of the warm water, fish are attracted to the discharge, so there is a small run of fall Kings and Cohos along with browns and steelhead. The spring run is also good mainly for browns and steelhead.

*** Be aware that there is very limited fishing area and it is usually very crowded. Besides the pond, there is only about 30 yards of stream-like water.

Genesee River - for Lake Run fish only - below the lower falls...

Directions: Rochester, NY
In downtown Rochester, get on St. Paul Avenue and follow north. At the Avenue E intersection, the (Kodak Plant) take a left over the bridge and the first right is the park for West Side fishing access. For Seth Green, follow St. Paul past Avenue E and about 2 miles down the Road is Seth Green Ave. Hang a left, then another quick left, and that’s the lot.

Access: 2 fishing access locations –

East Side - Seth Green Fishing Access. Long walk into the gorge down a paved road. Walk all the way to the end and you’ll see walking access to the river. A bit of a hike into the gorge with a good bit of fishing area once at the river.

West Side parking, off Avenue E - Very treacherous walk into the gorge and it might be posted property. Please be careful and do not walk it before light and after dark!!! In the parking lot walk down the first set of stairs for the lower gorge path, then over the rail. Follow the path, and make sure you stay on it. If it is muddy or slippery, don’t go. And take your time. Be aware the trek back up the hill is even worse than down.

Stream Conditions:

The Genesee is a larger river that starts in PA and runs North through all of NY State. With the length of the river and majority of the river a mud bottom, it is very susceptible to high, muddy water conditions, especially with a heavy rain or winter runoff and can often take weeks to clear to a fishable state. Lake Ontario run fishing - fishable water is from the Lower Falls in Rochester to about 1 mile downstream.

Special Notes:

The Genesee River has a very good fall run of Kings and Cohos. The steelhead usually start moving into the river, depending on the river temps, October to Early November and will remain throughout the winter months. Spring run steelies will enter about March and remain until mid-May when the water rises above 55 degrees.

Warning!!!! When the siren goes off at the pumphouse - Get away from the water in a HURRY. High and Fast Rising waters are soon to follow.

OTHER NOTES ABOUT THE GENNY -

Fishing the Genesee River can also be accessed at the lake at the Charlotte and Summerville piers. This is a good area for early fall before the salmon enter the river and in spring for browns when the baitfish start to congregate along the jetties.

Irondiquoit Creek

Powder Mill Hatchery - Directions: From the Thruway, take the 490 Rochester/ Victor Exit North to The Bushnell's Basin exit. Off the exit, take a left and about a mile up Rt. 96 look for the Powder Mill Park sign on the right hand side. Follow for about a mile and the road will go over the Irondiquoit Creek. This is a good place to start and work up or down from there.

Lake run fish don't typically make it up this far unless the water remains high for a significant time. This is a popular spring brown trout stocking area so it is worth mentioning.

Linear Park - Directions: From the Thruway, take the 490 Rochester/ Victor Exit North to 441 Penfield exit. Take a right of the exit onto 441 and follow past the Panorama Trail Exit. The next right will be for Linear Park.

This is a popular section for salmon, browns, and especially steelhead through their typical seasons. There are a few decent holes that tend to hold steelhead throughout the winter.

Ellison Park

Maxwell Creek

Bear Creek

Salmon Creek

Oswego River

Salmon River

Websites to Check - www.douglastonsalmonrun.com ; www.whitakers.com ;

The world renown Salmon River is a fishery unlike any other. At times shoulder to shoulder throughout the river, fishing can be nothing less than unbelievable. There are many many accesses throughout the river and all have been highlighted and mapped out at other websites.

Seasons - Starting sometimes as early as early September the King Salmon enter the river for their fall spawn run. These fish are big and full of energy in the currents of the river. The salmon run is followed shortly after by the steelhead, which like most LO tributaries, will remain in the river throughout winter months and well into the spring. Sporadic spring runs of steelhead will also follow in February through April.

The river is broken up into 4 main sections - The estuary which is primarily boat access, then privately owned land of Douglaston which is the 1st 3 miles of actual river, then comes about 10 miles of public access, and finally in Altmar are the 2 fly fishing only sections which are separated by the Altmar Fish Hatchery.

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