Chinook salmon are commonly called kings. They are not a native species to NY waters. Most all king salmon caught in NY are from the waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.The king salmon in Lake Ontario are raised at the Salmon River Hatchery, located in the Village of Altmar in Oswego County. It is here that the DEC will collect the eggs of the migrating Chinook Salmon. The Salmon River Hatchery produces about four million trout and salmon each year.

  The NY state record king salmon weighed an amazing 47 lb. and 13oz. This awesome fish was caught by Kurtis L. Killian on a orange fly from the Salmon River September 07, 1991. Most salmon caught by NY anglers range from 15 to 35 pounds in weight, but there are some real line busters mixed in there as well.

  Chinook salmon spend most of their time in deep open water. They feed on the vast schools of alewives and smelt found in Lake Ontario. A mature salmon will be 3 to 5 years old. Not all fish will mature at the same age. A fish pushing 40 pounds is probably a 4 year old fish. Most fish will return to spawn after 3 years in the big lake. The salmon have a genetic imprint that makes them return to the river in which they were born. This means each year the Salmon river receives a very large run of king salmon from Lake Ontario.

  September heralds the earliest run of fish into the Lake Ontario tributaries. October brings on the main run of fish with spawning becoming completed by early November. Then after spawning is complete the salmon will die off completing their life cycle.

  Fishing for king salmon in Lake Ontario is done by trolling spoons and plugs on downriggers from 50 to 120 feet deep. Dipsey divers can also be used to catch salmon when they are active. Near the end of the summer the fish will respond well to cut bait run behind a flasher.

  Once the fish start to return to the river they may be enticed to hit a variety of baits. Egg sacs or plastic imitation eggs are among the most common used. Sponge in various colors can also be very productive. Artificial flies and streamers will also entice fish to strike. The longer the fish are in the river the more interested in spawning they become. A fresh run fish is more likely to hit your fly or egg sac. Major Lake Ontario tributaries having Chinook salmon runs include the Salmon River, Oswego River, Genesee River, Black River, Niagara River, Oak Orchard Creek and Eighteen Mile Creek.

  If you would like to read more about the Salmon River Click Here.

   The date was August 18, 2004. the place was Lake Ontario at Oak Orchard. Raymond Martin of Elmira, N.Y. was fishing aboard the BUC-A- ROO The two nice salmon in the photo were taken on Spin Doctor Rotating Flashers with no-see-um Fly run behind a Dipsy Diver set out at between 150 and 200 feet. These flashers are amazing! It is unbelievable how hard and fast the salmon will slam the flies pulled behind these attractors. You can't argue with something that works that good. Just make sure you have some in your tackle box for your next outing the results are incredible. Good sized Brown Trout were also hitting the flies as well. What will they think of next!

  The first week of August, 2004 Team Bling Bling from Newfoundland P.A. returns to Lake Ontario. They were fishing out of Oswego using flashers and cut bait. The fishing was red hot just look at these photos. Pictured on he left is Tim Gardse with his first ever King Salmon. He sure did it right that one weighed in at a little over 27 pounds. Greg Komenko is pictured to the right with a nice 25 pound king salmon taken that same afternoon.

   In August 0f 2004 Joseph Pawelko Jr. was fishing with Captain J. Mickey Mc Donald of Irondequoit Bay Charters Rochester, New York. Thats where he caught this 28 pound king. The big salmon hit a Wonderbread Stinger and pretty much wore Joe out. His group had a fantastic charter and caught a boatload of fish. Among the days catch were King Salmon, Browns, and Lakers.

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