Salmon push builds on Lake Ontario as browns and lakers mix in

What's biting

What's next

With a new moon today, light levels are low at night and the early morning bite is worth planning around. Dark moon periods often push fish to feed hard at first and last light, so dawn and dusk are the windows to prioritize.

Expect the productive depth to keep moving. Strike Zone Charters noted that wind direction changes where the temperature sits, so a shift in wind this week could pull fish up or push them deeper. If you are trolling, check the temperature at several depths and adjust Dipsey Diver settings to match. If the surface stays near 63°F, the 100 to 160 foot band described by Strike Zone Charters is the sensible starting range.

Tributary flow is low at 47.9 cfs on the gauge, which means clear, slow water. Anglers working the tributaries should expect spooky fish and favor light leaders, natural presentations and low-light hours. A rain event that lifts flow would be the trigger for fresh fish to move in from the lake, so watch the forecast.

Context

Early to mid October is typically the heart of the fall run on Lake Ontario tributaries, when salmon and trout stage near river mouths and begin moving upstream as water cools and flows rise. Brown trout and lake trout commonly mix into the catch at this stage. Low flow can hold fish in the lake a bit longer, so timing often follows the first good rain. Check state regulations before harvesting.