Fishing near Rochester, New York
Monroe County, population 211,328.
- 24 milesto nearest lake
- 8launches nearby
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Angling near Rochester in short
211,328 people were counted in Rochester, a city of Monroe County, in 2020. Conesus Lake is the shortest trip to a lake page, 24 miles to the south. For launching, try Public Launch on Erie Canal near Brighton, 4 miles out. A drive of 5 miles reaches Lake Ontario.
For walleye the nearest of 1 listed lakes is Conesus Lake. The closest trout stream page is Oatka Creek, Monroe County, 16 miles out. Bank anglers can use Genesee River angler parking Ont-117, Genesee River 1, about 1 mile off. 270,588 hatchery fish went into nearby waters in 2025, per DEC.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Rochester; distances are straight lines.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 The lakes Rochester anglers reach first
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conesus Lake | 24 miles south | 3,206 | 3 | ice fishing allowed, stocked | smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, sunfish |
Creek and river pages around Rochester
- Slater Creek6 miles, Public Fishing Rights
- Irondequoit Creek7 miles, Public Fishing Rights (10.8 acres); Lake Ontario tributary
NYS Hydrography lakes, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes species column and DEC trout reaches, retrieved October 2026.
Pins for the water close to Rochester
- Public Launch on Erie Canal near BrightonErie Canal, 4 miles
- Lake Ontario/Irondequoit Bay access, Monroe County (south)Lake Ontario/Irondequoit Bay, 5 miles
- Irondequoit Bay Marine Parkboat launch, 6 miles
- Genesee River/Lake Ontario access, Monroe CountyGenesee River/Lake Ontario, 6 miles
- Henpeck ParkErie Canal, 6 miles
- Lake Ontario/Irondequoit Bay access, Monroe County (north)Lake Ontario/Irondequoit Bay, 6 miles
- Public Launch on Erie Canal near PittsfordErie Canal, 7 miles
- Lake Ontario/Slater Creek access, Monroe CountyLake Ontario/Slater Creek, 7 miles
Fishing access sites around Rochester
- Genesee River angler parking Ont-117, Genesee River 1Genesee River, 1 mile
- Genesee River fishing access parking 2Genesee River, 1 mile
- Genesee River angler parking Ont-117, Genesee River 2Genesee River, 6 miles
- Genesee River fishing access parking 1Genesee River, 6 miles
- Slater Creek fishing access parking 1Slater Creek, 7 miles
- Oatka Creek fishing access parking 1Oatka Creek, 12 miles
DEC launches and fishing sites, DEC marine access layers, retrieved October 2026.
Open water reached from Rochester
- Lake Ontario5 miles to the nearest listed access
Distances to the nearest DEC launch or access point on each water.
Fish stocked near Rochester in 2025
| Water | Species | Fish |
|---|---|---|
| Conesus Lake | Walleye | 230,108 |
| Irondequoit Creek | Steelhead | 18,000 |
| Irondequoit Creek | Brown Trout | 12,980 |
| Conesus Lake | Tiger Muskellunge | 9,500 |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), data.ny.gov, for the lake and stream pages nearest Rochester; retrieved October 2026.
Live river readings around Rochester
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Genesee River At Ford Street Bridge, Rochester Ny | 910 cfs, 12.79 ft gage height | Oct 26 7:30 pm |
| Erie(barge)canal(w Of Genesee R)at Rochester Ny | 187 cfs, 16.44 ft gage height | Oct 26 8:15 pm |
| Round Pond Creek At Straub Road At Greece Ny | 2 cfs, 3.89 ft gage height | Oct 26 8:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 26, 2026 8:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Where Rochester anglers get supplies and licenses
Shops worth a stop en route to Rochester
- Southpoint Marinamarina, Rochester, 5 miles
- S&R Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Monroe, 5 miles
- Dicks Sporting Goods, 305 Miracle Mile Drivesporting goods store, Rochester, 6 miles
- Mayer's Marinamarina, Webster, 6 miles
- Sportsmans Warehouse, 1200 Miracle Mile Drivesporting goods store, Rochester, 6 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 1062 Ridge Roadsporting goods store, Webster, 9 miles
- Braddock Bay Marinamarina, Monroe, 11 miles
License counters around Rochester
- County of MonroeRochester, 1 mile
- Town of IrondequoitRochester, 3 miles
- Town of GatesRochester, 4 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc.Rochester, 5 miles
- Wal-mart Stores Inc. 003697Rochester, 5 miles
Fishing guides who work Rochester
- Jay Peck Guides & Lost Rivers Fishingfishing guide, Spencerport
- Zero Limit Adventuresfishing guide, Webster
OpenStreetMap shops, DEC license issuing agents and the DEC licensed guide list (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 2026.
Derbies and tournaments near Rochester
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2027 | LOC Spring Derby (2027) | Lake Ontario | Lake Ontario Counties (Empire State Lake Ontario Promotions) |
| July 3, 2027 | LOC Summer Derby (2027) | Lake Ontario | Lake Ontario Counties (Empire State Lake Ontario Promotions) |
| Aug. 20, 2027 | LOC Fall Derby (2027) | Lake Ontario | Lake Ontario Counties (Empire State Lake Ontario Promotions) |
| Aug. 21, 2026 | Fall LOC Derby (2026) | Lake Ontario | Lake Ontario Counties |
Organizer schedule and results pages for Monroe County events, checked October 2026.
DEC limits for Rochester anglers
The DEC sells the annual freshwater license at $25.00 to residents and $50.00 to nonresidents; residents 70 or older pay $5.00. A seven-day license ($12.00 resident, $28.00 nonresident) suits a vacation week.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout in inland trout streams (Apr 1 to Oct 15) | 5, no more than 2 longer than 12" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Trout in inland trout streams (Oct 16 to Mar 31) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Oct 16 – Mar 31 |
| Brown and rainbow trout, splake in lakes and ponds | 5, no more than 2 longer than 12" | All year |
| Brook trout in lakes and ponds | 5 | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Lake trout | 3; minimum 21" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30) | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Dec 1 to Jun 14) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum 40" | Jun 1 – Nov 30 |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1; minimum 30" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Northern pike | 5; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Chain pickerel | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Black and white crappie | 25; minimum 10" | All year |
| Yellow perch | 50 | All year |
| Sunfish | 25 | All year |
| American eel | 25; minimum 9" | All year |
DEC 2026 Freshwater Fishing Regulations (web pages), statewide inland table, checked October 25, 2026. Lake pages show special rules.
A few miles from Rochester
Towns handy for Rochester trips
- Irondequoit4 miles
- Gates4 miles
- Brighton4 miles
- North Gates5 miles
- Greece5 miles
Counties along Rochester
- Monroe CountyDEC Region 8
Piscifun picks for fishing Rochester
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Shores, kills and lakes by Rochester, pictured
Photo: Dillan Payne, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0
Using Rochester as home base: the answers
What is the closest lake page to Rochester?
Conesus Lake, 24 miles south.
What launch site do Rochester trailer boaters use first?
Public Launch on Erie Canal near Brighton, roughly 4 miles.
What shore access is nearest Rochester?
Genesee River angler parking Ont-117, Genesee River 1 is 1 mile out.
Where do Rochester anglers buy line and lures?
Southpoint Marina is closest at 5 miles.
Is walleye on the species list of a lake near Rochester?
Conesus Lake, 24 miles away, lists walleye.
Which county guide matches Rochester?
Monroe County, New York.
Is a DEC trout reach within a drive of Rochester?
Oatka Creek, Monroe County, about 16 miles, Wild-Quality 7.5 mi; Stocked-Extended 3 mi; Stocked 0.9 mi; 10,490 trout stocked; Public Fishing Rights (141.2 acres).
What are the stream trout dates near Rochester?
Statewide stream rules: harvest April 1 to October 15, artificial-lure release after.
How much is a nonresident license for a Rochester stay?
The DEC sells nonresidents a $10.00 day pass, a $28.00 week pass and a $50.00 annual license.
Does DEC stock fish near Rochester?
Yes: in 2025 DEC stocked 270,588 fish nearby, the most walleye in Conesus Lake (230,108).