Lake Ontario - East

[mgooshaw]

Hey all! Looking to see who ventures on to Lake Ontario as I believe it will be our go to boating destination. We are on the eastern end near Henderson, Sackets Harbor etc. We've only launched out of Wescott's so far but will undoubtedly find other launches and will venture over to the St. Lawrence via Alex Bay (Keewaydin) for Pirate Days. We look forward to finding others who may give newcomers like us some info on the area. Thanks!

 

[eastont]

Re: Lake Ontario - East

Is there anything particular you are interested in ?

One thing is very important.....get some charts or only go where you see other boats, the bottom can go from 100's of feet to 1 in no time.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Lake Ontario - East

Hey all! Looking to see who ventures on to Lake Ontario as I believe it will be our go to boating destination. We are on the eastern end near Henderson, Sackets Harbor etc. We've only launched out of Wescott's so far but will undoubtedly find other launches and will venture over to the St. Lawrence via Alex Bay (Keewaydin) for Pirate Days. We look forward to finding others who may give newcomers like us some info on the area. Thanks!

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,... I always used the 2nd launch in downtown Sackets Harbor, the 1 passed the gazebo,...
Much better water, 'n access than the sandpit at Wescott's,...
Free launch, Free parkin', 'n no gate fees either,....
'n it's most usually Wide open, as Everybody uses the 1st launch,....

Just don't back off the end of the concrete when the water goes down later in the season,...

 

[mgooshaw]

Re: Lake Ontario - East

Good to know. We avoided Sackets because we thought it would be too crowded. Figured that we would start at wescott's since it's less busy and being my first time, I didn't want to end up in a youtube video of Launch Fails :laugh: We'll check out that second launch possibly this weekend. I downloaded charts on to our Cell Phones as well as purchased some waterproof maps. Just put a SE 300 hydrofoil on so we are planning on trying that out saturday. Still need to fix my speedometer though. Hoping it's just the pitot tube assembly. Cheapest fix. Curious to any idiot proof fishing advice for the lake as well. Any "go to" bait or lures? I would catch and release so not worried about specificity.

 

[Rusty S]

Re: Lake Ontario - East

All depends where you want to go.
We have a campsite at Bedford Creek. There is a sand bar in front of the creek that presents problems with sterndrives on boats larger than 23' so we now are at Wescott on a seasonal basis. The docks are awesome (although a little short for 28' boat) and time to the water much less than BC. There is sand, and it does get a little shallow coming out/in of Wescotts but it is sand. Hold your outdrive up a little and idle through and you won't have any problem.
We have launched in Sackets as well in the past; very nice ramp and access. There is a launch over at Chaumont as well right Bond-o? I know some people who launch there.
Lots of fishing around Henderson. If you don't have a GPS I highly suggest acquiring one. There are some shoals out in the harbor off Gull, Horse, and Bass islands you should take note of. As well Campbells out to the right of Wescott. Price of a combo GPS/Fishfinder will pay for itself after you hit one.
Good fishing as well down Chaumont, Guffin, Black River bays.
Nice area to keep exploring; if the wind isn't too bad jumping around to all the area is easily achieved in a day.
If you are launching at Wescott and you see us around stop in and say hello.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Lake Ontario - East

Make sure you stay in US waters unless you have: Proof you're an American, Canadian license, know how to report in to customs, and all that extra Canadian boat stuff. Haven't heard any bad stories this year yet, but quite a few incidents last year & year before. i.e. legitimate fishermen getting $1,000 fines, boats confiscated, being excessively detained etc.

Good luck, beautiful territory up there.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Lake Ontario - East

Make sure you stay in US waters unless you have: Proof you're an American, Canadian license, know how to report in to customs, and all that extra Canadian boat stuff. Haven't heard any bad stories this year yet, but quite a few incidents last year & year before. i.e. legitimate fishermen getting $1,000 fines, boats confiscated, being excessively detained etc.

Good luck, beautiful territory up there.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

Ayuh,... Agreed,... I buy the Ontario license when I fish the river, 'n usually stay where the maps work on my gps,...

Don't have the Canuck software, so it's blank screen,.....

Bass season opens soon,... Draggin' a worm on a hook, 'bout Anywhere, will catch fish,...

I hear the Wally's are hittin' worms hung on Dixie spinners, in Black river bay, 'n Chaumont bay,...

Hope to float My boat this weekend,...

'n, Ya, Rusty, a State launch, 'bout a 1000 yards down stream across from my place,....

 

[mgooshaw]

Re: Lake Ontario - East

Awesome We are going out with friends this Sunday. My friend has a Utopia 185 jet boat and has been itching to get it out on the water this year. I've been tinkering and fiddling with my boat while this weather has been cancelling my plans lol. I'm running out of stuff to fix. I have to mess with the tach still at it sits at almost 2000rpm when it is off lol. I need to take some updated pictures soon. Thanks for all the advice btw. Will post pictures of the next venture out if I can