Lake Ontario

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  "id": "b82a0a9e-8bf2-4eae-b03c-6dab1d4d3350",
  "name": "Lake Ontario",
  "slug": "lake-ontario-ny",
  "type": "lake",
  "status": "minimum",
  "tier": "t2",
  "centroid": {
    "crs": {
      "type": "name",
      "properties": {
        "name": "EPSG:4326"
      }
    },
    "type": "Point",
    "coordinates": [
      -77.462747241,
      43.541172372
    ]
  },
  "parentId": "73e766fc-fbb7-4cf5-bac9-04a4651c5c0e",
  "country": "United States",
  "countryCode": "US",
  "stateProvince": "NY",
  "county": "Cayuga",
  "timezone": "America/New_York",
  "descriptionShort": "New York's Lake Ontario shoreline and tributaries are a spring and fall salmon and steelhead factory, with the Salmon River and Oswego River offering some of the Northeast's most consistent big-fish opportunity.",
  "descriptionLong": "Lake Ontario's New York section is defined by its role as a holding and staging ground for Pacific salmon and steelhead migrating into eastern tributaries. The lake itself—the smallest of the Great Lakes but still vast—remains cold enough year-round to support these species, which enter from the Atlantic via the St. Lawrence River and spend months in the lake before pushing into spawning streams. The Salmon River near Pulaski and the Oswego River near Oswego are the primary draws, both flowing north into the lake and creating predictable migration corridors that concentrate fish in autumn and spring. Fall runs of Chinook and coho salmon typically peak September through November, while steelhead follow in March and April. The Salmon River in particular has become synonymous with shoulder-season salmon fishing—anglers wade and drift the lower miles, targeting fish in the 20–40-pound range using spawn sacs, plugs, and streamers. Water levels fluctuate with Lake Ontario's seasonal cycle, and the Salmon River gauge near Altmar (typically 800–1,200 cfs in fall) signals when conditions favor wading. Spring steelhead fishing on both rivers draws a dedicated crowd; the fish are fresh from the lake and aggressive. Guides operate from several access points, including the Salmon River's public fishing area near the Pulaski dam and the Oswego River's lower sections near the city. The lake's shoreline also holds resident brown trout and lake trout, though tributary fishing dominates the charter and guide scene. Weather can be severe—Lake Ontario generates its own weather systems—so trips are weather-dependent, particularly in spring and fall. The region's infrastructure is modest but functional, with small towns like Pulaski and Oswego serving as bases. This is not a destination for finesse or solitude; it's a high-volume, high-reward fishery where timing, water conditions, and knowing which river is running hot matter most.",
  "imageUrl": null,
  "verticals": [
    "conventional_spin",
    "charter_offshore"
  ],
  "waterCharacteristics": [],
  "searchAliases": [
    "Western Lake Ontario",
    "Lake Ontario NY",
    "Lake Ontario New York"
  ],
  "tags": null,
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        "stateProvince": "NY"
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        "name": "Lake Ontario New York",
        "slug": "lake-ontario-new-york",
        "type": "lake",
        "stateProvince": "NY"
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      "issues": [],
      "confidence": "high",
      "searchQuery": "Lake Ontario New York NY United States fishing"
    },
    "geminiReasoning": "One of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario offers world-class fishing for salmon, trout, bass, and other species.",
    "nhd_state_slice": {
      "huc8_count": 0,
      "gauge_count": 0,
      "segment_count": 0
    },
    "geminiConfidence": "high",
    "gnisFeatureClass": "Lake",
    "lifted_to_parent": 406865
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  "gnisId": null,
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  "nhdPlusId": null,
  "streamOrder": null,
  "nhdFcode": 39010,
  "nhdFtype": 390,
  "drainageAreaSqKm": null,
  "slopePercent": null,
  "elevationMin": null,
  "elevationMax": null,
  "lengthKm": 917.702085476442,
  "areaSqKm": 8947.5390460125,
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  "noaaTideStationIds": null,
  "noaaCurrentStationIds": null,
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  "censusLsadc": null,
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  "seoKeyword": "lake ontario new york fishing",
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  "source": "seed",
  "pipelineId": 180872,
  "createdAt": "2026-06-15T17:08:39.390Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-15T20:01:15.638Z",
  "destinationSpecies": [],
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      "slug": "north-america",
      "name": "North America",
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}