Also called Rainbow trout · facts last verified October 5, 2026

Steelhead on Lake America

Steelhead (Rainbow trout) on Lake America (Lake Ontario), NY: current NY DEC regulations, stocking and seasonal pattern, each linked to its source.

Live conditions

Overview

• DEC: "Migratory rainbow trout called 'steelhead' are stocked into Lake Ontario. These Washington steelhead (a winter run strain) originally came from the State of Washington." [dec.ny.gov]
• DEC temperature preference for rainbow trout/steelhead in the lake: 55-65°F, optimum 60°F. [dec.ny.gov]
• DEC's list of tributaries with public steelhead fishing access includes the Salmon River, Oswego River, Genesee River, Irondequoit Creek, Oak Orchard Creek, 18 Mile Creek, 12 Mile Creek, Johnson Creek, Sandy Creek, Black River, Stony Creek and the Lower Niagara River. [dec.ny.gov]

Current regulations (quoted from NY DEC)

• DEC seasons and limits for Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River and tributaries: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (including Steelhead), Coho Salmon and Chinook Salmon are open "All year", minimum length 15", "except for Rainbow Trout or Steelhead: 21" in the lake and 25" in tributaries". Daily limit: "3 in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than 1 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and 1 Brown Trout in the tributaries". [dec.ny.gov]
• DEC tributary seasonal regulations: "Seasonal fishing regulations apply September 1 - March 31". "Fishing from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise is prohibited" (the Black River in Jefferson County from Lake Ontario upstream to the Rte. 180 bridge in Dexter is excepted). "Only one hook with a single hook point is permitted". [dec.ny.gov]

Seasonal pattern

• DEC: steelhead enter tributaries "as early as mid-September"; "By mid-October the run has intensified as the water temperatures of the streams drop to the optimum range of 45-58 degrees F"; "Late October thru November, before water temperatures get cooler than 40 degrees F, is typically one of the best times". [dec.ny.gov]
• DEC: spawning "usually begins in Mid-March and continues through late April"; drop-backs continue "into mid-May". [dec.ny.gov]

Stocking

• DEC 2023 annual report: 473,104 rainbow trout stocked against a target of 497,700, short "due to poor fish health in summer 2022 at Salmon River hatchery". [dec.ny.gov]
• 2022-2026 stocking strategy annual steelhead target: 505,200 (Salmon River 157,450; Niagara River 65,375; Oak Orchard, Genesee River, Oswego and Sackets Harbor 35,000 each). [extapps.dec.ny.gov]

Charters targeting steelhead

No listed captains target steelhead yet. See the charter directory →

Sources

Every statement on this page comes from one of these primary sources. Last verified October 5, 2026. Regulations change: confirm on the linked DEC page before you fish.

• https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/places-to-fish/great-lakes-niagara-river-st-lawrence-river/steelhead-fishing-lake-ontario-tributaries (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/places-to-fish/great-lakes-niagara-river-st-lawrence-river/trolling-lake-ontario-trout-salmon (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/regulations/great-lakes-tributaries (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-02/lakeontarioannualreport.pdf (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/lostockingstrategy.pdf (verified 2026-10-05)

From the blog

• Lake Ontario Fishing Regulations & Limits by Species October 29, 2026 — Lake Ontario fishing regulations by species: NYS DEC limits, sizes and seasons for trout, salmon, bass and more, plus Salmon River fall rules.

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