UTERChinook (king) salmon fishing in Lake Ontario
In Lake Ontario, Chinook (king) salmon peak April–September and are around April–October, spawning in September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Niagara Bar spring kings — nearshore from late April.
Tail of the run.
Chinook (king) salmon in Lake Ontario, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilPeakNiagara Bar spring kings — nearshore from late April.
- MayPeakNiagara Bar kings; browns and coho everywhere shallow. The Bar and the river mouths — spoons and plugs in the warmer brown water.
- JunePeakKings go offshore; smallmouth season opens on the eastern basin. Downriggers on the temperature breaks; tubes on Henderson Harbor's shoals (check DEC's opener).
- JulyPeakOffshore kings on downriggers.
- AugustPeakStaging off the river mouths.
- SeptemberSpawningSalmon River at Pulaski — the run peaks.
- OctoberLeavingTail of the run.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Chinook (king) salmon near Niagara Bar, Olcott, Rochester
The trophy salmon lake: the Niagara Bar's spring kings, open-lake trolling for kings, coho, steelhead and lakers, the Salmon River at Pulaski with the biggest run on the lakes, the Oswego and the Lower Niagara for winter steelhead and browns, and the eastern basin's smallmouth around Henderson Harbor and the St. Lawrence.
Fish Scouter charts 31 lake spots in the Lake Ontario map area — the kinds Chinook (king) salmon hold on.
What to use for Chinook (king) salmon
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 44–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Chinook (king) salmon in Lake Ontario?
Peak season is April–September, with fish spawning in September (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Chinook (king) salmon are in Lake Ontario April–October. April: Niagara Bar spring kings — nearshore from late April.
Where do Chinook (king) salmon hold in Lake Ontario?
Look on fishing pier, river, creek / stream, lake — around Niagara Bar, Olcott, Rochester, Sodus Bay, Oswego, Pulaski.
What is the best bait for Chinook (king) salmon in Lake Ontario?
Live bait: herring, anchovies (pacific), salmon eggs (roe). Herring: Cut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
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All about Chinook (king) salmon · Lake Ontario, the whole year