Oswego County is widely known as one of New York’s premier fishing destinations for Great Lakes salmon and steelhead. Each September, the first salmon begin their annual migration into the rivers and streams along Lake Ontario’s shores, followed by an influx of anglers. Most anglers focus their efforts on the Salmon River in Pulaski, NY, which each year draws more than 200,000 anglers and more than a million angling hours. While this river gets an abundance of migratory fish, it’s not the only option for those looking for salmon or steelhead.
Smaller tributaries throughout Oswego County have their own runs of salmon, steelhead, and brown trout, along with fewer crowds. Learning when and how to fish these tributaries can result in some incredible days on the water, but requires a different approach to larger rivers. In this guide to Great Lake tributaries, we’ll break down when, where, and how to effectively fish these small water systems.
Target Species
Lake Ontario and the Oswego tributaries are home to a number of sought-after species. The most popular are the lake’s various salmonids. These include chinook salmon, coho salmon, Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and steelhead. All these can be caught throughout Oswego County’s tributaries beginning in September and running through the fall and winter. In the spring, these same tributaries also see respectable runs of warmwater fish such as smallmouth, pike, and carp.
Finding the Right Tribs
The first step to catching fish in tributaries is to narrow down which waterbodies are worth fishing. For starters, there are two main types of tributaries found in Oswego: those that flow directly into Lake Ontario and those that flow into the Salmon River. The tributaries that flow into Ontario receive their own runs of fish, while Salmon River tributaries benefit from the Salmon’s existing run. A quick glimpse at a map of Oswego County will reveal a number of accessible tributaries, but not all are created equal. Tributaries with a decent flow rate will always have more fish than those with long sections of frog water (stagnant, slow-moving water).
Another good indicator of which tributaries are worth fishing is Oswego County’s stocking reports. The stocking reports, such as the spring trout 2026 table, show how many trout and what size are stocked in the various tributaries of Lake Ontario. Tribs, or waterbodies with a large number of fingerlings that later return as lake-run fish, such as Lake Ontario near the town of Mexico (48,650 brown trout fingerlings), will see the highest number of returning fish in the fall.
When to Fish the Tribs
Once you find a tributary you plan to fish, the next step is figuring out the best time to fish it. This is often easier to do if you live nearby; however, with a bit of research and planning, anyone can find success. The annual Great Lakes migration begins in September with the first chinook salmon running the rivers, followed by coho salmon. Steelhead and brown trout begin their runs in October and continue pushing through tributaries throughout the fall and into winter. Line up the time of year with what you want to catch before you make a trip to maximize your success.
The next biggest factor we look for is flow rate, which can be monitored through the USGS Gauges. A bump in flows, typically from periods of heavy rain, pushes more water out into Lake Ontario, often signaling fish to make the run. In smaller tributaries, this is often the biggest factor in determining how many fish will be in the system. If you don’t live locally, monitor the weather regularly and look for extended periods of rain. Typically, a day or two of heavy rains is more than enough to bump flows and push fresh fish into the system. The off-colored water from rain can also trigger these fish to feed aggressively.
How to Fish the Tributaries
You’ve found a tributary to fish and waited for the right window to fish it; now it’s time to learn how to catch these fish. Since most tributaries are significantly smaller than the Oswego and Salmon River, the first step is downsizing your gear. Trade the two-handed switch and Spey rods in for a single-handed 7 or 8-weight rod paired with a matching reel and a floating fly line. This gives you improved maneuverability in these tight creeks, and ample power to tire out these powerful fish.
On the water, look for likely holding areas like pools and bends with softer water. Since these fish are migratory, they often congregate in these areas to rest and recover before pushing to the next pool. With your sights set on a likely pool, approach carefully so you don’t spook any fish. Trout and salmon can be a lot more wary in smaller tributaries, especially if the flows are down and the water is clear. Approach from downstream and begin to carefully make casts from the bottom of the pool to the top, picking apart likely holding areas.
The most common rig for this style of fishing is a single fly fished under an indicator, as you would fish in most trout rivers. However, anglers are limited to a single fly with a single point in Lake Ontario tributaries. This means no double fly rigs, and no double-hook articulated streamers. The most common fly patterns are egg flies, sucker spawns, and nymphs like a stonefly. A good rule of thumb is to start with eggs in the early season as salmon are spawning, before switching to more natural presentations like stoneflies later in the year.
Final Word on Tributary Fishing
Despite being known for the Salmon and Oswego River, Oswego County has many other tributaries for anglers looking to find solitude and get away from the crowds. We’ve used the tips and tricks above for years when exploring likely areas for a hidden gem. Try them this fall to maximize your chances of hitting the Lake Ontario tributaries just right.
