Steve Piatt

You can do your own guesswork as to why the Genesee River is one of the most popular waters in DEC’s Region 9 of western New York.

Is it because it’s heavily stocked by the state, with more than 24,000 yearling trout planted every year, including over 2,700 hefty two-year-old fish? Is it because the river offers plenty of fishing access in the form of nearly 18 miles of Public Fishing Rights along its winding route from the Pennsylvania border northward?

Yes, Irondequoit Bay is part of Lake Ontario and is managed as such under Lake Ontario-specific angling regulations.
But keep in mind, too, that at 1,660 acres, the big bay is a fishing water all its own, and should be approached with that in mind when you’re making a visit to the Monroe County hot spot.