Here’s a comprehensive summary of trout and salmon fishing techniques of Lake Ontario, including the Port of Sandy Creek in Hamlin, NY and all surrounding ports such as Bald Eagle, Oak Orchard and Rochester. Because this lake is large and deep, successful fishing often depends on species, season, water temperature and depth. 

🎣 Open-Water Lake Techniques (Offshore / From a Boat)

🛥️ 1. Trolling — The Primary Lake Method

Trolling is the most widely used method for trout and salmon on Lake Ontario. It lets you cover lots of water and present multiple baits at different depths while searching for active fish. 

✔ Equipment & Setup

• Downriggers: Most effective for setting baits precisely in the water column. 

• Divers / Dipsy Divers: Used to get lures deep without downriggers. 

• Lead Core / Copper Line: Good alternatives for depth; copper has little stretch and gets lures deep efficiently. 

• Planer Boards: Spread lines out laterally across surface intervals—worked well for brown trout near shore in spring. 

✔ Lure Types

• Spoons – classic choice for trout & salmon, flash in water attracts fish. 

• Flasher + Fly or Cut Bait – high-attraction combo for Chinook/Coho and lake trout deeper in water. 

• Plugs/Crankbaits – especially in early spring or when fish are higher in water. 

✔ Depth & Temperature

• Trout and salmon species have preferred temperature zones; locating these thermal breaks with a fishfinderimproves success. 

• Lake trout stay colder and deeper than coho, which often hold higher. 

🎯 Tips

• Start with multiple rigs at different depths and lures/colors; adjust when you’re marking baitfish or fish. 

• Troll in an S-curve instead of a straight line to make lures rise and fall — often triggers more strikes. 

🐟 Species-Specific Lake Techniques

🎯 Lake Trout

• Prefer cold, deep water; often targeted by trolling with downriggers or very deep divesets. 

• Flashers and larger spoons, or cowbells with a trailing fly/spinner can be especially effective deep. 

🎯 Chinook & Coho Salmon

• Chinook (King): Often found deeper than coho, and powerful fighters. Spoon, flasher/fly, or plug setups at depth work well in summer/fall. 

• Coho: Typically closer to surface/troughs early in season with bright colored baits near the boat. 

🎯 Steelhead (Rainbow Trout)

• Sometimes encountered in lake water or while migrating into tributaries (like North or South Sandy Creek near Sandy Creek). 

🐟 Shore & Tributary Techniques

If you’re fishing near shore or in tributaries like Sandy Creek (North or South) flowing into Lake Ontario:

🌊 2. Shore Fishing (Lake & Creek Mouths)

• Early spring and fall salmon runs bring Chinook/Coho closer to shore and creek mouths. Casting spoons, spinners, or jigging spoons near these mouths can be productive. 

🎣 3. Tributary Fishing for Steelhead/Salmon

For anglers fishing in the smaller streams and creeks (e.g., Sandy Creek branch mouths):

✔ Drift & Bottom Bait Rigs

• Drift egg bags, spawn sacs, or small jigged bait (sponge/roe tied rigs) along the bottom current. 

✔ Spin/Streamer Fishing

• Spinners, streamers and wet flies can trigger aggressive salmon and steelhead strikes in currents or riffles. 

✔ Float Fishing

• Floating rigs with weighted floats and gently drifting bait near river bottom can be very effective for steelhead. 

🧠 General Tips for Success

🧭 Find the Fish — Use a depth finder or thermometer to locate temperature breaks and baitfish schools. 
🎨 Vary Colors & Speeds — Trout and salmon can be picky; having a range of lure colors and trolling speeds helps find their “sweet spot.” 
⌛ Time of Season Matters — Spring and fall often bring fish closer to shore and tributaries; summer fish often move deeper. 
🎣 Safety First on Open Lake — Lake Ontario’s big water needs proper safety gear, boat capable of big water, and good electronics. 

Please contact me if you have any questions about how Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon fishing is done!