Wayne County · updated
Sodus Bay fishing report
A large protected bay with fast access to the 200-foot line — plus a warmwater fishery inside the bay that most of the lake does not have.
Rochester
via Central Lake America
West Lake America
Central Lake Americalast good
Oswego Nearshore
Fishing Sodus Bay through the year
Nearshore browns outside; bass and panfish waking up inside the bay.
Kings, steelhead and lakers offshore. The bay fishes well early and late in the day.
Staging salmon outside the pierheads.
The bay is a hard-water destination in a cold year. Conditions vary enormously — check locally, never assume.
Getting on the water
Sodus Point, with public and marina ramps inside a big, sheltered natural harbour. The bay itself is calm when the lake is not, which makes this a good base when the forecast is uncertain.
The water itself
Out of the pierheads the bottom drops usefully quickly, putting summer trout and salmon depths within a reasonable run. Inside, Sodus Bay is a genuine warmwater fishery in its own right — largemouth, smallmouth, panfish and pike — which is unusual on this shoreline and useful when the lake is unfishable.
Tributaries that matter here
Genesee River
All tributary flows and what they mean →
Sodus Bay questions
Can I fish Sodus Bay when the lake is too rough?
Often, yes — that is the main practical argument for this port. The bay is large and protected and holds bass, pike and panfish, so a blown-out lake day does not have to be a wasted trip.
How far is the run to king water from Sodus Point?
Moderate by south-shore standards — shorter than the far western ports, longer than Rochester. The bottom outside the pierheads drops off well enough to reach summer depths without an all-day run.
Water temperature above is measured at the nearest NOAA station (Rochester), so treat it as a reference for the general area rather than a reading from the exact spot you plan to fish. Charter captains fishing out of Sodus Bay →
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