Great Lake Ontario is the 14th largest freshwater lake in the world and stretches for roughly 200 miles along New York State’s northern border from the Niagara River to the St. Lawrence River. Major Oswego County boat access points include Oswego Harbor, Catfish Creek, Dowie Dale, Mexico Point, Port Ontario and North Sandy Pond.
Find a variety of fish in this lake, including Atlantic salmon, Chinook and coho salmon, walleye, rainbow trout and steelhead, smallmouth bass, catfish and more.
The Salmon River is home to thousands of trophy Chinook and coho salmon, steelhead, rainbow and brown trout. Twelve miles of classic riffs, pools and runs are accessible to those who would test its waters with rod and reel. The Salmon River has long been regarded as one of the premier fly-fishing destinations in the world. There are two sections of the upper river, comprising nearly one mile, that are designated as catch-and-release fly-fishing areas.
Fly-fishing with a traditional fly rod and reel, and artificial flies, is the only form of angling allowed on these stretches of the Salmon River. All fish must be released. The lower fly-fishing section is open Sept. 15 to May 15. This section begins at the Co. Rte. 52 bridge in the village of Altmar and extends a .25-mile to a marked boundary at Beaverdam Brook. The upper fly-fishing section is open April 1 to Nov. 30. This stretch begins just above the Salmon River Fish Hatchery and continues to a marked boundary roughly 0.6-mile upstream.
For Oswego, NY fishing, head to the Oswego River. The city of Oswego offers outstanding public fishing access to the river. A concrete walkway and railing run along both sides of the river, providing safe and convenient access for anglers and walkers. Other amenities include riverside parking, restrooms and a fish cleaning station. Chinook and coho salmon, rainbow, steelhead, brown trout, Northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, panfish, bullhead, carp and more can be caught in the Oswego River.
Anglers can enjoy great fishing on 23 miles of Oneida Lake, known as the “walleye capital of New York State.” Fishermen and women can also head to Sandy Pond, the largest embayment in the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Wetland Area. Lake Neatahwanta offers 715 acres of fishing for largemouth bass, Northern pike, pumpkinseed, blue gill, black crappie, yellow perch, white perch and more. Sandy Pond, Oneida Lake and Lake Neatahwanta are also prime locations for ice fishing.
For more information on public access fishing sites, go to Public Sites. For more information on boat launches in Oswego County, go to Boat Launches.