Updated November 20, 2023
Have A Happy & Safe Thanksgiving!
Lake Ontario
Nothing at this time.
Streams
With an inch of rainfall a few days ago, Maxwell is open to the lake. It’s not a roaring flow, however some anglers hooked two browns and lost a steelhead this morning.
Try the south side of Lake Road in the deeper pools or walk to the mouth through Beechwood Park on the north side of the road.
You can also park in the Maxwell Bay area and walk the trail to the lake. There are a few steep areas, however the trail is clear.
With more rainfall expected tomorrow the streams in the county should be flowing better.
Furnace Creek from West Port Bay Road has some trout and Salmon Creek in Pultneyville should be fishable this Thanksgiving week.
Lake Ontario tributary regulations:
Three fish in combination and not to include more than one Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and One Brown Trout.
Bays
The perch coming from Sodus and Port Bays have been hitting 2- inch shad colored bait tipped with perch eyes.
At Sodus the perch have been near the breach at the north end and over by the old trestle area.
Pike have been netted near LeRoy Island. Fish on both sides of the island bridge.
The Port Bay perch have been on the northeast side of the bay. Fish where there is structure next to the points. The points are off Tompkins Point Road, Loon Point, and Graves Point Road.
Pike season will continue until March 15th and when we get safe ice you should concentrate near LeRoy Island.
Bait for fishing is available on the south end of Sodus at Davenports and Bay Bridge Sport Shop.
On Port Bay Jarvis Bait shop is open on Brown Road. The signs are on East Port Bay Road at the junction of Brown Road.
Toadz Bait is near the end of West Port Bay Road.
Erie Canal
The bass are on the south side of Widewaters, and the crappies have been caught from the north side trail or from a boat. You can launch at the county park.
Crappies are usually suspended and will take small bright jigs tipped with spikes. Fish with a bobber if you are on the shore.
Bass season closes November 30th; however, you can catch and release from December 1st until June 14th.
Anyone underway in a boat less than 21 feet in length anytime between November 1 and May 1 must wear a securely fastened life jacket.
2024 LOC Derby
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Fishing in Wayne County
Blind Sodus Bay – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
East Bay – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Port Bay – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Sodus Bay – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Boat Launch Sites in Wayne County
Boat Launch Sites for Wayne County – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Scam Alert for Fishing Licenses Online
It has come to our attention that fraudulent websites claiming to sell NYS Freshwater Fishing Licenses are scamming users into providing personal information. While we work to resolve this issue, please be advised that the ONLY legitimate method to purchase your NYS fishing license online is through the official DECALS website .
You can purchase them locally in Wayne County at our town offices, Bay Bridge Sport Shop, Davenport & Son Marina, & Walmart.
Notable Freshwater Fishing Regulation Changes
The following list offers a brief summary of the most notable fishing regulation changes resulting from the adopted rulemakings described above.
- New statewide regulation for rainbow trout, brown trout, and splake in lakes and ponds. The season will now be open year-round, with a five-fish daily limit, any size, with a “no more than two longer than 12 inches” harvest rule.
- Statewide Atlantic salmon regulations will now allow for a year-round open season.
- Ice fishing is permitted on all waters in New York unless specifically prohibited with the exception of Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties where previous rules remain.
- New specific dates replaced floating dates for statewide season openers to include:
- May 1 – Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel, and Tiger Muskellunge. June 1 – Muskellunge. (Note that in 2022, DEC will allow for the fishing of muskellunge beginning the last Saturday in May to accommodate previously planned fishing trips); and
- June 15 – Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
- May 1 – Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel, and Tiger Muskellunge. June 1 – Muskellunge. (Note that in 2022, DEC will allow for the fishing of muskellunge beginning the last Saturday in May to accommodate previously planned fishing trips); and
- A five-fish daily walleye limit in Oneida Lake.
- A new regulation to limit the growth of the walleye population in Skaneateles Lake. No daily possession limit; 12-inch minimum size limit, open year-round.
- The statewide sunfish daily harvest limit has been reduced from 50 to 25 fish.
- The statewide minimum size limit for crappie has been increased from nine inches to ten inches.
