All spots

Lake Ontario

Lake fishing  New York · 06:51 - 19:23

Lake Ontario is a lake set in New York. The main target species are Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Lake Trout.

Good 55% The bite right now
Top bet: Brown Trout Peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
76%
72°
Thu
75%
71°
Fri
80%
69°
Sat
83%
64°
Best day
Sun
80%
64°
Mon
76%
64°

The bite over the next days, scored at dusk. Based on the weather forecast, so it is guidance, not guarantees.

Conditions right now

Weather
Overcast
Water temp (est.)
69°F
Air temp
68°F
Wind
13 mph
Pressure
30.18 inHg → stable
Clouds
95.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 06:06–08:06 Day 08:06–18:08 Dusk 18:08–20:08

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Feeding times today

Waxing crescent 14% lit
Major period 15:22–17:22 Major period 03:22–05:22 Minor period 10:59–12:29 Minor period 20:15–21:45

Solunar times are a traditional guide based on the moon's position, separate from the live ranking above. Local time at the spot.

Next hours

15:00
68°
16:00
69°
17:00
69°
18:00
70°
19:00
70°
20:00
71°
21:00
70°
22:00
70°
23:00
70°
00:00
71°
01:00
70°
02:00
70°

Likely catch now (3 species)

Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
55%
Peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
55%
Peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details
Lake Trout
Salvelinus namaycush
46%
Active through the day, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details

About the fishing here

Lake Ontario is the smallest by surface area of the Great Lakes but still enormous, and its New York shoreline is known for a strong cold-water trout and salmon fishery. Lake trout, rainbow trout and brown trout are all taken by trolling open water or working the tributary mouths, especially as fish stage in fall. The lake is deep and open, so a proper offshore-capable boat matters here more than on smaller inland water.

The usual catches here are Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Lake Trout.

Brown Trout fishing is usually best around May-Jun, Sep-Oct. The best windows are usually dawn, day and dusk.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Guides for this water

Tips right now

Technique Start with a spinner for brown trout, the most likely catch right now.
Colour Low light: try gold, orange or firetiger for brown trout.
Depth The water is warm. Fish often sit deeper or in shade, work the cooler spots. Look towards deeper water.
Lure Spinner for rainbow trout: Small spinner.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

About this water

Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south and east by the U.S. state of New York. The Canada–United States border spans the centre of the lake. On the Canadian side, the major cities are Kingston, Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton, and St. Catharines. On the American side, the major cities are Rochester and Watertown.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Lake Ontario?

Anglers here regularly land Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Lake Trout.

Do you need a fishing license at Lake Ontario?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Lake Ontario?

Brown Trout fishing is usually best around May-Jun, Sep-Oct. The best windows are usually dawn, day and dusk.

What is biting at Lake Ontario right now?

Right now Brown Trout is the most likely catch, at about 39%.