Depending upon whom you talk with, Lake Ontario fishermen had a good to average year in 2008. Overall, the general consensus is there are plenty of trout and salmon in the big lake, average size is where it should be and trophy fish still make up a good part of the daily catch, all thanks to a smelt population on the comeback and a thriving alewife forage base.

Unfortunately, the lake still has its problems, including potential threats to its long-term health as a world-class fishery, not the least of which is the growing zebra and quagga mussel colonies. What adverse effects these and other invasive species will have on the ecology of Lake Ontario and its trout and salmon populations is not known.

Studies are ongoing to better understand and address the situation. In many ways Lake Ontario and its fisheries are in a period of transition, but except for normal ups and downs and periods of unpredictability due to weather and other factors, anglers should expect good things this season.

BROWN TROUT
The New York Department of Conservation's Bureau of Fisheries stocking policy calls for 455,000 brown trout to be released into Lake Ontario each year. The number actually released typically falls short of that mark, however, somewhere in the neighborhood of 370,000, or about 80 to 85 percent of the policy number.

In recent years, all the brown trout going into the lake have been yearlings averaging 8 to 9 inches long with the vast majority going directly into the lake at places like Henderson in Jefferson County, Oswego and Richland in Oswego County, Sodus and Williamson in Wayne County, Sterling in Cayuga County, at Greece, Hamlin and Webster in Monroe County, Carlton in Orleans County and at Newfane and Wilson in Niagara County.

Most of these locations have been receiving anywhere from 20,000 to 28,000 browns each spring, but the Henderson area and release sites in Wayne and Monroe counties have been getting from 30,000 to just over 40,000 fish! These areas offer some of the best brown trout habitat on the lake and traditionally provide the biggest sport catches of brown trout according to surveys.

The 15-inch minimum length limit on brown trout put in place to protect recently stocked and smaller fish seems to be working and will remain 15 inches this year. Given the growth rate in the lake, brown trout reach that size rather quickly. Judging by recent creel census results, most of the browns caught are between age 2 and 5, with the average length of age 2 fish running just over 17 inches and age 3 fish just over 22 inches.

Overall, the total catch of brown trout in Lake Ontario has declined since the mid-1980s and early 1990s. In 2006, the total catch was just over 26,200 fish, the third lowest catch estimate since 1985, but catch rates were up in 2007.

Despite this up-and-down trend, Lake Ontario's brown trout fishery is in good shape and brown trout remain the second most harvested trout or salmon species in the lake.

With so much water out there and places to wet a line, it might seem difficult to actually find fish, but such is not the case, particularly if anglers keep a few things in mind. Brown trout movement in the lake is seasonal and to a large degree depends upon water temperature and food.

Browns are caught as early as April and a few hearty enthusiasts are after them in March. May is considered prime time, too. In fact, as much as 60 percent of the annual brown trout catch is taken in April and May.