Chinook salmon -- a primary target of Empire State Lake Ontario fishermen -- can make or break the summer season. These heavyweight torpedoes peel the line from reels with explosive sprints and are widely regarded as the ultimate sport species in the lake. Maybe that's why they are called "king" salmon.

Chinook fishing has been spectacular for several years, as measured by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation's fishing boat survey. Although catch reports declined a bit from the two previous years, 2008 still ranked as the sixth best year since the surveys started in 1985. The great news from fisheries managers is that conditions are in place for another banner year of kings!

Every year is different, however, and last season, fishermen had to adjust to changing wind patterns from one end of the lake to the other. The chinook and coho fishing got off to a slow start in the western basin, for example, which many fishermen attributed to unusual windy conditions, while wind-driven breakers roiled eastern waters, making it difficult for brown trout anglers.

"While no single species produced fabulous results last year, the season was really pretty good throughout," reported Jana Lantry, a DEC aquatic biologist with the Lake Ontario Unit, who supervises the fishing boat survey.

The message here is that with a 200-mile shoreline, fishing is hot somewhere on Lake Ontario nearly all the time.

Here's a look at some of this month's likely hotspots:

NIAGARA BAR
Salmon fishing starts early off the mouth of the Niagara River due to warmer water arriving from Lake Erie. In the middle of the flood, an immense, crescent-shaped shoal comes up from the depths, built over centuries by the roaring current of the river. This is known by local fishermen as "The Bar," and is probably the best-designed fish magnet in all of the Great Lakes.

Spring fishing is great for all species of salmon and trout as they follow schools of baitfish to The Bar, and it certainly remains a hotspot through June, explained Bill Hilts Jr. of the Niagara County Sport Fishing and Tourism Office.

Situated just off the shoreline, The Bar is about three miles in length and is marked with a green buoy at the top where water depth is 18 feet, but depths vary from 50 to 80 feet. Nearly any trolling rig may be effective here, but downriggers at slow speeds are recommended.

The best access to The Bar is from Fort Niagara State Park north of Youngstown, at the river's mouth, via Route 18F, or the Robert Moses Parkway. Excellent launching facilities and parking are provided.

Fishermen also launch on the river at Lewiston, which is a six-mile run to the lake. The Village Marina is located on North Fourth Street.

WILSON AND OLCOT
Two small harbors along Niagara County's shoreline had been the centers of fishing activity for a century before the salmonid introduction program boosted the action several notches.

"June divides the spring and summer fisheries, and there are a lot of options for trollers as fish start to scatter," explained Capt. Bob Cinelli, a local guide.

During June, the inshore brown trout fishing will start to heat up, with chinooks and cohos scattered from inshore to mid-depths several miles out.

Some anglers prefer to fish the top 50 feet over deep water for chinooks and steelhead, according to Cinelli. Then, there is always the chance to take a mature chinook down deep, under the warmer water.

Wilson and Olcott are along Route 18 north of Lockport. At Wilson, public launch ramps and parking facilities are available at the Wilson-Tuscarora State Park, and the town of Wilson provides a single ramp at Twelvemile Creek, on Riverview Drive.

At Olcott, the town of Newfane Marina, an excellent facility, is at the end of West Main Street.

POINT BREEZE
Fishing off the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek is similar to the mixed-bag opportunities at Wilson and Olcott. The shallow water over the gently sloping bottom holds baitfish and salmonids inshore as the seasonal scattering of fish begins.