Best Times & Seasons to Fish Lake Ontario (Full Guide)
Lake Ontario offers some of the best fishing for cool-water species like salmon, trout, and steelhead in the world. Understanding the best times and seasons to fish in this massive lake can help you catch more and bigger fish.
The best time to fish Lake Ontario is best from May through September for salmon, brown trout, steelhead, lake trout, and smallmouth bass. Fishing in the early morning and late evenings until dusk offer the best success rates.
In this article, we will look into the best times and seasons to fish for salmon, steelhead, brown trout, lake trout, and largemouth bass. We will also discuss how fish respond and how to target them based on the season and even month.
Seasonal Fishing Guide: Lake Ontario
Winter
Air temperatures in New York range from 4°F (-15 °C) to 23°F (-5 °C) during the winter months. Water temperatures of Lake Ontario in winter range from 33°F (0°C) to 45°F (7°C).
Lake Ontario allows anglers to enjoy ice fishing in winter. During the ice fishing season, many fishermen prefer to target perch as well as pike.
Tip down is a technique that works very well during the ice fishing season. Also, it’s possible to fish for trout and salmon in the to Lake Ontario’s tributary rivers and streams.
Fishing on Lake Ontario is the most productive from dawn to sunrise. Anglers should search for fish in the shallow waters (between 10-25 feet) of Lake Ontario in winter.
The Bay of Quinte area is one of the best places to enjoy ice fishing on Lake Ontario. Don’t go ice fishing alone in the Great Lakes as they are notorious for uneven ice thickness and varying weak spots.
Spring
Air temperatures in New York range from 35°F (2°C) to 70°F (21°C) during the winter months. Water temperatures of Lake Ontario in spring range from 32°F (0°C) to 51°F (10°C).
Salmon feeds actively in the lake in spring. Those anglers, who give a preference to shore fishing, get good results during the spring months. Spring is a great time for pier fishing.
Also, it makes sense to fish river mouths. Trolling is a technique that works very well for fishing Lake Ontario at this time of the year.
Fishermen get a lot of bites at dusk and dawn. The rainy/storm season in New York usually begins in the middle spring. Anglers should go fishing either before or after storms.
Salmon can be found in offshore waters in spring. A lot of fish can be found within 1 mile of the shore. Among the spoons that work well in spring are nasty boys, northern kings, evil eyes, and Williams spoons.
Summer
Air temperatures in New York range from 60°F (15°C) to 85°F (29°C) during the winter months. Water temperatures of Lake Ontario in summer range from 50°F (10°C) to 77°F (25°C).
Warm waters create fantastic opportunities for anglers. It’s possible to fish for the so-called warm-water species in Lake Ontario during the summer months.
Summer is a great time to enjoy carp fishing on the lake. Anglers have a good chance to catch a giant carp in June, July, and August.
In summer, anglers get the best results when fishing the lake between the first light and afternoon. July is the rainiest month of the year in New York. And of course, fishing during heavy rains and storms should be avoided.
Salmon goes to deep waters of the lake and baitfish is schooling in summer. Anglers should aim to find the best local fishing spots on Lake Ontario to get the best results. Book a charter to fish the lake with an experienced guide.
Fall
Air temperatures in New York range from 40°F (4°C) to 75°F (24°C) during the winter months. Water temperatures of Lake Ontario in fall range from 53°F (12°C) to 76°F (24°C).
The spawning season for salmon begins on the lake in the fall. Salmon species go to the rivers around Lake Ontario to spawn at this time of the year.
Traditionally, there are many boats and shore anglers on the lake during the fall months. Shore anglers choose to fish from piers near the river mouths.
Lake Ontario fall fishing is very productive from 2 hours after sunrise until the late afternoon. Salmon and trout go to inshore waters in the fall.
A lot of salmon can be found in river mouths as well. It’s a good idea to use a trolling technique in the fall. Trolling with spoons and plugs work well on the lake.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Canada (both freshwater and saltwater), check out this guide.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Lake Ontario
These Lake Ontario-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Fishlander Charters | Sodus Point, NY |
| Boston Angler | Wolcott, NY |
| Reel Silver Charters | Pulaski, NY |
| SunMoon Adventures LLC | Mexico, NY |
| Stalker Charters – Lake Ontario | Burt, NY |
| Screwy Louie’s Fishing Charters | Sterling, NY |
| Reel Adventures Sport Fishing | Burt, NY |
| Second Nature Sport Fishing Charters | Oswego, NY |
| Niagara Falls Fishing (NRGS) | Niagara Falls, NY |
| Reel Crazy Charters | Webster, NY |
| Taymo Fishing Charters | Oakville, Ontario (Canada) |
| Tails Up Sportfishing | Oakville, Ontario (Canada) |
| Fishin’ Clinician Charters | St. Catharines, Ontario (Canada) |
Monthly Breakdown: Lake Ontario
January: January is a good time to visit Lake Ontario if you are a big fan of ice fishing. Fishermen target trout and walleye during the ice fishing season.
Anglers can enjoy fishing on the lake from sunrise until afternoon. Fish can be found in the shallow waters of Lake Ontario.
February: Ice fishing on the lake continues in February. Fishermen can target pike and walleye. Enjoy fishing from sunrise until sunset.
Fish usually go to the tributaries in the late winter. You can fish for trout this month as well. Trout can be found in streams around the lake.
March: Water in Lake Ontario is getting warmer and fish become more active in March. Fishing is better this month. Now, it’s a great time to target steelhead, pike, and other species.
Fishing is the most productive between the middle of the day and until the sunset. It makes sense for anglers to fish the rivers in the lake’s surrounding areas.
April: April is a great time to catch brown trout on Lake Ontario. Also, anglers can fish for king salmon and silver salmon this month. Anglers can fish the lake from sunrise until sunset in April. A lot of fish can be found in the lake’s western basin.
May: Fishing is getting even better in Lake Ontario in May. Fishermen can catch king salmon, silver salmon as well as lake trout, and brown trout.
Lake Ontario fishing in May is very productive during morning, afternoon, and evening hours. In the late spring, fish can still be found in nearshore waters. Also, it makes sense to fish the lake’s western basin.
June: Fishing on Lake Ontario is excellent in June. Among fish species that you can target this month are brown trout, lake trout, steelhead, and walleye.
Anglers get the best results in the early morning. In the early summer, fish go deeper offshore waters. These waters are colder, so fish feel comfortable.
July: It’s getting warmer and the summer heat has an impact on fishing. However, anglers can get good results if they fish Lake Ontario in the right place and at the right time.
Early morning is the best time of day to fish Lake Ontario in July. Salmon can be found in colder deeper water. However, it’s necessary to target brown trout in nearshore waters.
August: Salmon is preparing for moving to the Salmon River in August. So, anglers can expect the pre-spawn catches at this time of the year. It’s also possible to fish for lake trout this month.
Fishing is best in the early morning before sunrise or in the late evening after the sunset in August. In the late summer, a lot of fish can be found in the southeast part of the lake.
September: Salmon fishing on Lake Ontario is excellent in the early fall. Fish go to the tributaries during this time of the year. The early morning – afternoon is the best time of the day to fish Lake Ontario in September.
It’s a good idea to target salmon in the southeast part of the lake. Also, many anglers prefer to fish the Salmon River as well as the Oswego River.
October: It’s a peak of a salmon spawning season on Lake Ontario in October. Anglers can get good results when salmon runs to spawn. Many anglers fish for salmon this month.
That’s why it would be better to go fishing early in the morning. Salmon goes to tributaries during the spawning season.
November: Salmon spawning season is coming to an end in the late fall. However, anglers can still catch steelhead. Steelhead bite well after sunrise or before the sunset. Inshore waters and river mouths are great places for fishing in November.
December: December is a good time to fish for steelhead. Also, anglers can catch walleye. It’s best to go fishing early in the morning. Tributaries are full with steelhead in December.
Lake Ontario Species Breakdown
King Salmon
King salmon (also known as chinook salmon) is famous for its aggressive bites. A lot of salmon can be found in the western part of the lake in spring. Salmon moves to deep waters during hot summer months, so anglers can use trolling to catch it.
Fish migrates into the rivers around Lake Ontario to spawn in the fall. Anglers use such techniques as trolling, fly fishing, and spinning to catch salmon in the lake’s tributaries.
The season to catch king salmon begins in May and lasts until September. King salmon bites well in the early morning.
Silver Salmon
Silver salmon (coho salmon) can be also found in the lake’s waters. Coho salmon fishing is good between May and November. It’s recommended to fish for silver salmon in the early morning or in the late evening.
Brown Trout
Brown trout fishing in Lake Ontario is incredible. Brown trout actively feeds during the spring months. Anglers prefer to fish for brown trout in the lake’s shoreline warm waters and tributary mouths. Brown trout bites well between the first light and afternoon.
Lake Trout
Lake trout is easy to catch. Fish gives a preference to colder waters of the lake. When fishing in Lake Ontario, anglers often catch trophy fish.
Lake trout fishing is good in the early spring and during the summer months. Go fishing for lake trout in the late evening.
Largemouth Bass
Summer is the perfect time to catch largemouth bass on Lake Ontario. A lot of largemouth bass can be found in Lake Ontario’s eastern basin.
Largemouth bass actively feed between the late spring and the early fall. Anglers, who target largemouth bass, usually get the best results in the early morning and the late evening.
Charters & Fishing Guides: Lake Ontario
– Best season to book
Fishing on the lake is the most productive between the late spring and the early fall. Fishing spots can be crowded during these months.
It’s possible to fish Lake Ontario year-round. A lot of anglers prefer to visit the lake in July and August. The demand for fishing is high and prices on charters go up during this time of the year.
Fall and winter are less crowded than summer. It would be great to plan fishing adventures for weekdays. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends.
– Time of day to book trip
Morning (benefits & drawbacks)
Fishing in the morning is excellent during hot summer months. Water cools down and the activity of fish increases. Many fish species bite well during the morning hours. Fishing spots on Lake Ontario are often crowded during a peak season.
This is another reason why anglers choose to go fishing early in the morning. On the other hand, it’s necessary to wake up early. Also, fish may not bite well during cold months.
Midday (benefits & drawbacks)
Midday fishing is good during cold months. The water heats up and this has a positive impact on fish activity. Also, you don’t need to wake up early.
However, you’ll not manage to avoid summer heat if you choose to go fishing in the midday during the hot summer months.
Afternoon (benefits & drawbacks)
Go fishing in the afternoon if you don’t want to wake up early in the morning and would like to avoid the midday summer heat. Many fish species feed actively during the evening hours. However, your fishing time will be limited.
Full-day (benefits & drawbacks)
Full-day trips are a good option for those anglers, who want to get the most out of fishing on Lake Ontario. Such a trip allows anglers to spend a whole day on the water.
Anglers have a chance to catch a trophy fish. The disadvantage of full-day trips is that they are more expensive compared to half-day ones.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Erie, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Michigan, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Huron, please check out this helpful article.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Superior, please check out this helpful guide. To learn how good the fishing on Lake Erie is, check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the quality of fishing in Lake Michigan, check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish on the Niagara River, check out this helpful guide. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Toronto.
