Hotline to Oswego County Fishing

Now that the holidays are over and the winter doldrums have set in, anglers in many areas have accepted the long hibernation until spring. Meanwhile, anglers in Oswego County are busy enjoying themselves chasing steelhead in the many tributaries that empty into Lake Ontario. The two major rivers in Oswego County -- the Salmon and Oswego rivers -- are both hydro-release rivers. This means that neither completely freezes over even during the coldest of winters. Steelhead enter the tributaries in Fall, but remain there until Spring, creating an incredible open water Winter fishery. Steelhead can be taken by a variety of methods. Fly fishing, drift fishing and float fishing are the most popular. During the winter the water typically runs low and clear, forcing anglers to lighten leaders and downsize their baits. This makes for some exciting battles with these spectacular fish. When float fishing, suspend your bait under a fixed float, keeping your bait off the bottom and