The Genesee runs salmon and steelhead into the heart of Rochester, where the fish gather in the lower gorge below the falls. Big urban water with a real run and a gritty, accessible character.
- Mixed
Water temperature for Steelhead
Welfare risk26.6°Cideal 4–13°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Steelhead
When
Salmon Sep–Oct; steelhead Oct–Apr
Where
The Genesee runs salmon and steelhead into the heart of Rochester, where the fish gather in the lower gorge below the falls.
Why this works
Very poor — water clarity is working for you, but water temperature is the limiting factor today.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
See the full sub-surface read with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
ModelledModerate confidence
Modelled from regional ecology — no survey or occurrence data for this water yet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Quill GordonHatch
2
2
Blue QuillHatch
2
3
2
HendricksonHatch
2
2
Eastern March BrownHatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Steelhead fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- New York licence; verify NY DEC rules and gorge access
- Introduced, harvestable sport fishery.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 4
Gallery · 2
The Genesee River carving through the shale gorge of Letchworth State Park, New York. Terrain map
About this water
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
- Aquatic life: Impaired
What this classification means
EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Genesee River, Lower, Main Stem' (NY0401-0001), 2022 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Not Supporting. Listed impairment causes: Metals Other Than Mercury, Pathogens, Polychlorinated Biphenyls PCBs, Pesticides, Dioxins. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.
Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.
EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · NY0401-0001
Why this score · for Steelhead
- Temperature028% weight
- Flow8022% weight
- Clarity9518% weight
- Feeding Time4013% weight
- Pressure757% weight
- Insect activity3012% weight
Directions
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Genesee River
The Genesee runs salmon and steelhead into the heart of Rochester, where the fish gather in the lower gorge below the falls.
Water temperature for Steelhead
Welfare risk26.6°Cideal 4–13°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Steelhead
When
Salmon Sep–Oct; steelhead Oct–Apr
Where
The Genesee runs salmon and steelhead into the heart of Rochester, where the fish gather in the lower gorge below the falls.
Why this works
Very poor — water clarity is working for you, but water temperature is the limiting factor today.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
See the full sub-surface read with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
ModelledModerate confidence
Modelled from regional ecology — no survey or occurrence data for this water yet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Quill GordonHatch
2
2
Blue QuillHatch
2
3
2
HendricksonHatch
2
2
Eastern March BrownHatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Steelhead fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- New York licence; verify NY DEC rules and gorge access
- Introduced, harvestable sport fishery.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 4
Gallery · 2
The Genesee River carving through the shale gorge of Letchworth State Park, New York. Terrain map
About this water
The Genesee runs salmon and steelhead into the heart of Rochester, where the fish gather in the lower gorge below the falls. Big urban water with a real run and a gritty, accessible character.
- Mixed
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
- Aquatic life: Impaired
What this classification means
EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Genesee River, Lower, Main Stem' (NY0401-0001), 2022 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Not Supporting. Listed impairment causes: Metals Other Than Mercury, Pathogens, Polychlorinated Biphenyls PCBs, Pesticides, Dioxins. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.
Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.
EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · NY0401-0001
Why this score · for Steelhead
- Temperature028% weight
- Flow8022% weight
- Clarity9518% weight
- Feeding Time4013% weight
- Pressure757% weight
- Insect activity3012% weight
Directions
Related guides
Booking & contacts