Although Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes in surface area, its cool deep waters are home to several species of large sport fish, making it one of the best places for sportfishing in New York and Canada. For avid anglers and sport fisherman, this lake has it all. From coho salmon and chinook or king salmon to lake trout, steelhead and the mighty brown trout, you’ll find it all in Lake Ontario, as well as northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass, carp and walleye.
At High Adventure Sportfishing, we primarily target salmon and trout sportfishing species on our Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Charters.
Salmon Sportfishing Species in Lake Ontario
The lake is known for its salmon fishery, and salmon fishing on Lake Ontario is considered second only to that on the British Columbia coast.
Chinook or King Salmon
Chinook, or king salmon were introduced to Lake Ontario in the 1960s, and they’ve thrived in the lake's ecosystem, creating an excellent sport fishery. Sought for their hard-fighting nature, delicious flavor and size, Lake Ontario Chinook salmon can reach up to 30 pounds, making them a popular target for anglers. New York State stocks approximately 1.7 million king salmon annually in Lake Ontario and its tributaries.
Coho Salmon
Although smaller than Chinook salmon, Coho salmon are feisty fighters, known for their acrobatic leaps when hooked. They are not a native fish species to Lake Ontario, but were introduced in 1969 to support the lake’s salmon fishery. Some natural reproduction does occur in the lake; however, stocking of hatchery-raised fish is done annually. These sough-after sport fish feature a beautiful silver color and average 7-9 pounds.
Trout Sportfishing Species in Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario offers excellent trout fishing, particularly for brown trout, lake trout and steelhead or rainbow trout.
Lake Trout
Lake Ontario is home to a healthy population of both native and stocked lake trout. Known for their size, Lake Ontario lake trout average 15-25 pounds, with some growing up to three feet long and weighing more than 40 pounds. These sport fish are known to be hard fighters, highly-prized as a food fish. In recent years, Lake Ontario has seen a dramatic rise in the number of lake trout born in the wild.
Brown Trout
Now a naturalized species, Brown trout were introduced to Lake Ontario in 1913, and New York State continues to restock the species each year. They are a popular game fish all over the world, and are known for reaching up to 30 pounds and living longer than other species. The Brown trout’s fighting determination and unique football-shaped appearance, which is a result of gorging themselves when they feed, makes them a desirable catch in Lake Ontario.
Steelhead & Rainbow Trout
Steelhead trout are migratory rainbow trout that have adapted to living in Lake Ontario and then return to its tributaries to spawn. Lake Ontario steelhead trout can range in size from 10 to 15 pounds to trophy fish in the 20-pound range. Two strains of migratory rainbow trout from the state of Washington are stocked in Lake Ontario, and New York State also stocks a domestic strain of rainbow trout annually. Ontario steelhead are arguably the hardest fighting fish in Lake Ontario.
Get hooked on the beauty and bounty of Lake Ontario and the Salmon River with High Adventure Sportfishing Charters. We are located on Lake Ontario in Oswego County near the Salmon River in Pulaski, NY, and offer 4-hour, 6-hour and 8-hour fishing trips, as well as custom charters and gift cards. View trip rates and plans, contact us to request a reservation, or give us a call at 315-243-2389.
229 Krebs Road
Pulaski, NY 13142
315-243-2389
troy@highadventurefishing.com
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