Steelhead Fishing Rochester NY: 5 Good Options

Steelhead fishing the Rochester, NY area is genuinely great when you consider the number of large and small steelhead streams within a short drive. Some anglers call it a steelhead Mecca, and the steelhead are often mixed in with big lake-run brown trout and huge salmon that return in enormous numbers.

I have fished the Rochester area for over 20 years, and in this guide I will walk you through the best rivers and creeks, when to go, the methods and baits that produce, and the New York rules that apply to these Lake Ontario tributaries.

Genesee River

The Genesee River is the best place for steelhead fishing in Rochester. It flows right through the heart of the city and gives anglers about 6 miles of fishing, with the best water between the mouth and the Rochester Lower Falls. New York’s DEC stocks it with more than 22,000 steelhead fingerlings a year, which is why it has such reliable runs.

Spring is the prime time – the fish spawn in the river, and the pre-spawn and post-spawn fish feed aggressively. Rising water temperatures after Rochester’s hard winters trigger the bite, and you can start as early as late February, with late March and April the peak. Some runs continue into May, and 10-pound fish are common that late. Warmer, drier springs push earlier, faster runs; colder springs run later and hold fish into mid-May, which is the norm on all New York steelhead rivers.

You can also fish the Genesee in the fall. Small runs of steelhead come up with the salmon in September, but the bigger pushes start at the end of October into November. Near the mouth, the DEC stocks Lake Ontario heavily – more than 155,000 Chinook, 22,100 steelhead, and 22,000 coho a year – so the river fills with salmon from September and the action is fast. The steelhead hold at the backs of pools or behind the salmon, picking off stray eggs, so small spawn sacs, single eggs, and beads are deadly. December can also be fantastic, with some of the biggest fish of the year.

Access the river through the City of Rochester trailer launch, and note there are specific rules for the lower gorge fishery plus the seasonal tributary rules covered further down.

Sandy Creek (West)

Sandy Creek is about an 18-minute drive from Rochester in Orleans and Monroe Counties, a picturesque stream that flows into Lake Ontario. Do not mix it up with South Sandy Creek and North Sandy Creek, which are east of Rochester and are also good steelhead streams.

The fishing is excellent in the fall when runs of coho, Chinook, and brown trout push in and the steelhead follow, and late fall and early spring bring big steelhead runs. The DEC stocks Sandy Creek heavily for its size – over 100,000 Chinook, 26,000 coho, and 14,650 steelhead a year – which makes for great fishing a short drive from the city. Lake Ontario tributary regulations apply here.

Public Fishing Rights easements are in place on Sandy Creek – a 33-foot strip on one or both banks where anglers may fish and walk, for fishing only. Treat the land with respect so that access continues. The DEC’s PFR location maps help you find the public segments.

Irondequoit Creek

Just east of Rochester is Irondequoit Creek. It is smaller than the other area streams, and anglers can fish from shore or by boat in Irondequoit Bay where it enters Lake Ontario. Though less popular, it has a well-deserved reputation as one of the better steelhead streams in New York.

Public Fishing Rights along the creek are limited, but there is still good access thanks to the various city, town, and county parks along it – see the DEC fishing access map. The DEC stocks 27,500 steelhead and 7,600 brown trout a year here, including over 1,500 two-year-old fish, and Monroe County stocks brown trout in the Powder Mill Park section. Upstream of Powder Mill Park you will find wild brown trout. One important note: Irondequoit Bay itself is exempt from the seasonal tributary rules – Lake Ontario seasons and limits apply in the bay, which is different from the creek sections.

Slater Creek

Slater Creek is only about 4.5 miles from Irondequoit in Monroe County. It is a small stream that holds migratory steelhead, coho, Chinook, and brown trout. Baitcasting, spinning, and fly fishing all work. When there is good flow out of Slater Creek in spring and fall, casting spoons like Little Cleos and crankbaits at the mouth or out into Lake Ontario can be good for browns, steelhead, and salmon.

Oak Orchard And Other Creeks Near Rochester

West of Rochester, Oak Orchard Creek is one of the premier Lake Ontario tributaries in the region, with heavy stocking, a tailwater section below the dam that fishes all winter, and strong steelhead and brown trout runs – well worth the drive and covered in its own guide.

Beyond that, almost every creek in the area gets some run of steelhead in spring when the creeks are up and flowing at their highest. They may not get huge numbers, but stragglers are common, and several also have decent trout fishing:

• Bald Eagle Creek
• West Creek / Salmon Creek
• Four Mile Creek
• Oatka Creek – brown trout only, but worth fishing
• Spring Creek – brown trout with some rainbows, a tributary to Oatka Creek

Rochester Steelhead Run Timing

Based on the NYSDEC Lake Ontario steelhead information and my own years fishing the area, here is how the run generally plays out. Small numbers can enter by mid-September, the run builds through mid-October, late October into November is often the best, winter fish move on warmups, spawning runs mid-March into late April, and drop-backs can fish well into mid-May.

Time	What happens	Rating
Mid-September	First scattered steelhead enter the tributaries; usually not prime yet	2/5
Mid-October	Run intensifies as tributaries cool into the ideal 45-58F range	4/5
Late October to November	One of the best windows – fresh, aggressive fish and good movement	5/5
December	Good when flows are fishable; colder water slows fish but quality remains	4/5
January to February	Winter fishery, best after brief warmups or flow bumps	3/5
Mid-March to April	Spawning period – strong spring fishing before and after the spawn	5/5
Late April to mid-May	Drop-back fish feed heavily heading back to the lake	4/5
Late May to summer	Most steelhead are back in the lake; not a tributary window	1/5

The Best Steelhead Methods For The Rochester Area

Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is one of the most effective ways to catch steelhead on these streams – the fish treat a well-presented fly as an easy meal. The most common method is nymphing with an indicator, but in faster, shallower water under about four feet my most productive approach is Euro nymphing. Use a bobber stop for the best drift.

Spin Fishing

For the deeper parts of the Genesee, spin fishing with lures, floats, drift fishing, or plunking all work. Spin fishing is the most popular method in the area and a great way for beginners to start.

Float Fishing

Suspending a bait under a float and making a long, controlled drift is a great way to catch steelhead on any Rochester-area stream that is three feet deep or deeper. Small spawn sacs, single eggs, and beads are all excellent under a float here.

Rochester-Area Rules And Regulations

These streams fall under the NYSDEC Lake Ontario and tributary rules, and they differ from the Lake Erie tributaries. This is a summary only – always verify the current regulations with the NYSDEC before you fish, because they change and vary by section.

• Open season: for Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and tributaries, brown trout, rainbow trout / steelhead, coho, and Chinook are open all year.
• Size limits (steelhead / rainbow): 21 inches minimum in the lake, 25 inches minimum in the tributaries.
• Daily limit: 3 trout and salmon combined, but no more than 2 rainbow/steelhead in the lake, and in the tributaries no more than 1 rainbow/steelhead and 1 brown trout.
• Genesee River boundary: the Lake Ontario tributary seasonal rules apply from the State Route 104 bridge upstream to the Lower Falls. On other tributaries they generally apply from the bridge closest to the mouth up to the first impassable barrier, unless exempted.
• Seasonal rules (Sept. 1 to Mar. 31): no fishing from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise, plus special terminal-tackle rules – generally one hook with a single point, hook gap no wider than 1/2 inch, any added weight within 4 feet of the hook/lure/fly, and the weight cannot hang lower than the hook when held vertically.
• Irondequoit Bay: the bay is exempt from the seasonal tributary rules – Lake Ontario seasons and limits apply there, not the creek rules.

Rochester Steelhead Fishing FAQ

What is the best steelhead river in Rochester?

The Genesee River is the best option – it runs through the heart of the city with about 6 miles of fishing between the mouth and the Lower Falls, and it is heavily stocked. Sandy Creek, Irondequoit Creek, Slater Creek, and Oak Orchard to the west round out the area.

When is the best time to fish steelhead near Rochester?

Late October through November is often the best fall window, and mid-March into April is prime in spring. Fish start entering in mid-September, December can be excellent, and drop-back fish feed well into mid-May.

What are the steelhead regulations for Rochester tributaries?

Lake Ontario tributaries have a 25-inch minimum for steelhead (21 inches in the lake) and a limit of 3 trout/salmon combined, with no more than 1 rainbow/steelhead and 1 brown trout in tributaries. From September 1 to March 31 there are seasonal hours and special hook, leader, and weight rules. Always confirm current rules with NYSDEC.

Can you fish for steelhead in the Genesee River in the city?

Yes – the Genesee flows right through downtown Rochester, and the best steelhead water is between the mouth and the Lower Falls. The Lake Ontario tributary seasonal rules apply from the State Route 104 bridge upstream to the Lower Falls.

The Final Word On Steelhead Fishing Rochester, NY

The Genesee River offers the best steelhead fishing in the Rochester area, but Sandy Creek, Irondequoit, Slater, and Oak Orchard all produce, and the smaller creeks are worth a look in spring. Fly fishing, float fishing, and spin fishing all catch fish here – match the method to the water and the conditions and you will do well.

Tight Lines,

Graham