Walleye
PeakWhere: lake mouths, harbor edges, deeper basin water, and low-light shoreline structure on Genesee River.
Move: crawler harnesses, crankbaits, jigs, and evening presentations near moving water.
Species guide →Genesee River
Fair
About Genesee River
The Genesee River drains 2,480 square miles of Western New York from the PA line at Wellsville to Lake Ontario at Rochester, the largest and most regulated of the NY Lake Ontario steelhead rivers. Mt. Morris Dam controls flows through the lower river; the Lower Falls in downtown Rochester is the iconic steelhead destination, with both Letchworth-State-Park-upstream wadable water and bigger-water boat access below.
September through April with peaks at the fall (October-December) and spring (March-May). Mt. Morris managed releases sustain 7,000-9,500 cfs through steelhead season. Lower Falls + Rochester reaches fish year-round. The steelhead model reference on Genesee River is 7,000–9,500 CFS. Basis: Per-river researched optimal range This is not a flood-stage or wading limit. The historical median flow is approximately 852 CFS, based on the available gauge history.
Current conditions (gauge observation Nov 4, 2026 11:30 PM EST): flow 839 CFS, water 54.7°F, clarity estimated from flow: clear. The Almanac Briefing rates the river FAIR as of this reading.
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Almanac Briefing
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Forecast
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Compare seasonal temperatures →
See Genesee River's available-year curve alongside the 2016–2025 historical average and range.
Flow Rate
839.0
CFS
Gauge Height
12.77
ft
Water Temp
54.7
°F
Air Temp
67
°F
Estimated clarity
Clear
Estimated from flow — visibility unverified
Wind
🌬 6 mph
S
Offshore wind — mouth clarity unverified
How deep is the Genesee River?
Depth varies by location and conditions. The gauge height shown here measures water level relative to the station's reference point, not depth from the riverbed. It does not measure depth at your fishing spot.
How USGS measures gauge heightMeasured turbidity
8
FNU
Read by the USGS sensor at Genesee River at Ford St Bridge, Rochester, . Clearer than the daily average on 8 days in 10, over the 275 days on record.
Lower is clearer. This is a sensor reading; the Clarity above is estimated from flow, and the two can differ.
Water temperature source: USGS 04231600 (primary sensor), observed Nov 4, 2026 11:30 PM EST.
Gauge observation: 50 minutes ago (Nov 4, 2026 11:30 PM EST)
Conditions today: Fair. Trending: rough.
Flow
Pressure
Air temp, scaled
Rain per hour
Storm pulse window
Hourly flow pending
Confidence: 0.3
No storm pulse was detected in the lookback, but the barometer dropped 0.29 inHg over the last 24 hours. Flow ranged from 366 to 1,338 CFS (mean 906 CFS) across the selected lookback. Available water-temperature readings averaged 53°F. Pressure alone does not confirm fish activity. Light rain on the way (0.20").
Lookback window Nov 2, 12 am to Nov 5, 12 am ET.
Data refresh every 15 min. This is a pattern read, not proof of causation; fish reserve the right to embarrass the spreadsheet.
Flow
Pressure
Air temp, scaled
Rain per hour
Storm pulse window
Hourly flow pending
No storm pulse was detected in the lookback, but the barometer dropped 0.29 inHg over the last 24 hours. Flow ranged from 366 to 1,338 CFS (mean 917 CFS) across the selected lookback. Available water-temperature readings averaged 53°F. Pressure alone does not confirm fish activity. Light rain on the way (0.20").
Lookback window Oct 29, 1 am to Nov 5, 12 am ET.
Data refresh every 15 min. This is a pattern read, not proof of causation; fish reserve the right to embarrass the spreadsheet.
| Gauge | Flow (CFS) | Height (ft) | Water Temp | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genesee River at Ford St Bridge, Rochester (primary) | 839 | 12.77 | 54.7°F | 50 minutes ago Nov 4, 2026 11:30 PM EST |
| Genesee River at Ballantyne Bridge, Mortimer | 659 | 11.76 | - | 1 hour ago Nov 4, 2026 11:15 PM EST |
| Genesee River at Avon | 583 | 15.62 | - | 1 hour ago Nov 4, 2026 11:15 PM EST |
| Genesee River near Mount Morris | 506 | 2.96 | - | 1 hour ago Nov 4, 2026 11:15 PM EST |
| Honeoye Creek at Honeoye Falls | 4 | 7.29 | - | 50 minutes ago Nov 4, 2026 11:30 PM EST |
| Oatka Creek at Garbutt | 42 | 2.35 | - | 20 minutes ago Nov 5, 2026 12:00 AM EST |
| Black Creek at Churchville | 26 | 1.61 | - | 20 minutes ago Nov 5, 2026 12:00 AM EST |
Almanac Briefing
Guide-level river, weather and fishing intelligence
Based on gauge observation from Wed, Nov 4 at 11:30 PM EST (50 minutes ago)
Evidence at a glance
- Last reported flow
- 839.0 CFS Configured USGS gauge for Genesee River.
- Flow observation time
- 50 minutes ago · Within the current observation window
- Water temperature · separate sensor evidence
- 54.7°F USGS 04231600 · primary sensor Observed (50 minutes ago).
- Assessment basis
- Clarity is estimated from flow. Ratings are model assessments.
- Issued forecast · separate from observations
- 664.9 CFS projected for Thu Nov 5, 12:00 PM EST.Issued Nov 4, 6:00 PM EST. This is a forecast, not an observed reading.
Conditions do not establish fish presence or safe wading. Before a trip, verify current gauge readings, official weather alerts, access and regulations. Sources and methodology
Flow falling at 839 CFS. Estimated clarity is clear. Water temperature 54.7°F. Water assessment: fair.
Season & Run Context
Lake Ontario · Fall run season · modeled
The lake-temperature model has this basin in run season. Now it’s about picking your water: follow the flow, the recovery after rain and the latest local reports.
Model snapshot 2026-11-04 · lake surface temperature 55.4°F
Fishing Evidence
Quiet on the report front: no shared angler reports for these rivers in the last seven days.
Review regional steelhead signals in Pulse →Flow History & Response
Last 24 hours of stored flow history: 663.0–1,320.0 CFS across 101 readings. First-to-last change: -98.0 CFS.
Inspect the flow history →Prior Storms · Last 14 Days
Oct 30: October 30 New York (Lake Ontario) Storm; ended Oct 30, 7:15 AM EDT; archived rainfall forecast 0.000 in; archived basin rainfall maximum 0.000 in.
Oct 29: October 29-30 New York (Lake Erie) & New York (Lake Ontario) & Ohio Storm; ended Oct 29, 9:00 PM EDT; archived rainfall forecast 0.000 in; archived basin rainfall maximum 0.320 in.
Issued River Flow Outlook
Genesee River · 664.9 CFS projected for Thu Nov 5, 12:00 PM EST (issued Nov 4, 6:00 PM EST)
Genesee River · 579.3 CFS projected for Fri Nov 6, 12:00 PM EST (issued Nov 4, 6:00 PM EST)
Genesee River · 556.5 CFS projected for Sat Nov 7, 12:00 PM EST (issued Nov 4, 6:00 PM EST)
Regional outlook: next available target per river. Individual briefings: up to three targets.
Forecast vs. Actual · Verification
Saved system-wide verification as of 2026-11-04T23:00:34+00:00: 12648 locked forecast cases, 8907 evaluated against later own-gauge readings. Pending, missing and excluded cases and errors by model, river and lead time are documented in the methodology. River results for model c5c4a91f: 60 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 200.4 CFS. Paired comparison (60 cases): model error 200.4 CFS versus 160.2 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model 395a5868: 60 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 517.2 CFS. Paired comparison (60 cases): model error 517.2 CFS versus 295.1 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model c2a5feaf: 6 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 752.5 CFS. Paired comparison (6 cases): model error 752.5 CFS versus 448.8 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model 467e92d7: 12 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 658.9 CFS. Paired comparison (12 cases): model error 658.9 CFS versus 348.7 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model ae671bd0: 90 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 357.2 CFS. Paired comparison (90 cases): model error 357.2 CFS versus 161.8 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model 48521c91: 92 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 245.8 CFS. Paired comparison (92 cases): model error 245.8 CFS versus 200.2 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model b3f961a9: 20 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 238.4 CFS. Paired comparison (20 cases): model error 238.4 CFS versus 210.5 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. This verifies flow forecasts, not catches, clarity or the entire Alley Index.
Review forecast verification →Sources & Methodology
Water ratings summarize flow, temperature and weather. Run context comes from the lake-temperature model; fishing totals come from shared angler reports. Clarity is estimated from flow, and temperature may come from a secondary gauge. Gauge timestamps and coverage describe the available history. Forecast verification measures river-flow error.
Read the methodology →Genesee River
Today's Weather: Good
79% rain
S 9mph
Coming up: Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
Flow Rate
839.0
CFS
·
12.77
ft
Historical percentile 48 · Typical
24h trend
↘
-35.3%
Steelhead window
7,000–9,500 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Distance
6,161 CFS below optimal · 12.77ft
Low water — projection flat
Weather: Rain
· 67°F
· S 6mph
29.77" →
Guide says:
Flow falling at 839 CFS. Estimated clarity is clear. Water temperature 54.7°F. Water assessment: fair.
Gauge observation: Nov 4, 2026 11:30 PM EST
"Tell Them I'm in a Meeting With a Fish"
Flow is below the river-specific reference range (7,000–9,500 CFS).
Flow phase: dropping.
Estimated clarity: clear.
Stored water temperature: 54.7°F.
Scoring reference: 7000–9500 CFS (manual). This is a model reference, not a flood-stage or wading assessment.
Operational Outlook
Assessment
Fair water conditions.
Window
Watch for falling flows to reach the reference range before the next rain pulse. That’s the window to keep on your radar.
Weather Forecast & River Response
Weather forecast retrieved Nov 4, 10:01 PM EST.
Tonight: Rain Showers, 60°F, wind S 9 mph, precipitation chance 79%.
Thursday: Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy, 69°F, wind SW 8 to 14 mph, precipitation chance 45%.
Thursday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 50°F, wind SW 5 to 10 mph, precipitation chance 11%.
Friday: Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers, 62°F, wind W 5 mph, precipitation chance 53%.
Friday Night: Rain Showers, 43°F, wind W 3 to 7 mph, precipitation chance 78%.
This is the drop worth watching. Follow the flow toward the reference range and keep an eye on more basin rain—it can reset the clock.
Conditions
Stored air temperature: 67°F.
Stored weather: Rain.
Stored wind: 5.8 mph S.
Rigs to consider right now
Match the current report to a setup
Centerpin Sucker Spawn Rig
Presents small egg patterns naturally through clear, pressured water where drift quality matters.
Advanced
Indicator Nymphing Rig
Suspends nymphs at a repeatable depth while giving you a visible take signal.
Intermediate
River Float Rig
Keeps a natural offering drifting at the same pace as the current instead of dragging behind your line.
Beginner
Spey & Swing Rig
Covers water efficiently when fish are willing to move for a broadside fly.
Intermediate
Fall river plan
Genesee River other seasonal fishing targets
The river is in a transition window. Warm afternoons can turn on smallmouth and panfish while cooler pockets still matter.
Northern Pike
PeakWhere: cooler weed edges, connected backwaters, tributary mouths, and ambush lanes on Genesee River.
Move: spinnerbaits, spoons, jerkbaits, and quick releases when water warms.
Species guide →Current read
Water temp 54.7°F. Flow-estimated clarity is clear; visibility is unverified. Overall rating: Fair for steelhead. Use the graph below to time falling or stabilizing flows before committing a trip.
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7-Day Flow & Temperature
Flow distribution
1095-day history · n=2,205 · 85% confidence
Now vs history
6,161 CFS below optimal
Optimal window
7,000–9,500 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Typical range
661–1,071 CFS
25th–75th percentile
Seasonal context:
Current flow is typical for November.
November median on this river: 955 CFS
(n=81 hourly samples).
Historical flow-based clarity estimates
Clear
flow estimate
654–1,062 CFS typical
Below average:
Between the historical 25th and 50th percentiles.
Sample quantiles
|
Theoretical line
Good fit (88%)
Points on the dashed line mean the river's flow distribution is log-normal. Bows at the tails suggest multiple flow regimes (snowmelt vs rain events) or sensor artifacts. The math for this river uses log-space statistics, so a poor fit here is a reason to squint at the optimal zone.
Recent Angler Reports
Join to PostBeen on the Genesee River? Share your report.
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Near Genesee River
Local Fly Shops & Guides
Featured
Ontario Fly Outfitters
Webster, NY · 1 mi
Scott Feltrinelli’s Ontario Fly Outfitters offers walk-and-wade fly fishing in Western New York’s Great Lakes region, from the Salmon River to Steelhead Alley. The service targets steelhead, salmon, brown trout and smallmouth bass. Inland trout trips and casting lessons are also available, with an emphasis on streamer fishing and conservation.
Genesee Waterways Center
Rochester, NY · 1 mi
Walk-up kayak and canoe rentals May-October on the Genesee River in Rochester.
High Falls & Genesee Brew House
Rochester, NY · 1 mi
96-ft urban waterfall in downtown Rochester. Rooftop pint at one of America's oldest breweries.
Reel Action Fly Fishing
Rochester, NY · 3 mi
Reel Action Fly Fishing guides catch-and-release trips on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario tributaries in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The service describes moving across the region as fishing opportunities change, welcoming beginners as well as experienced anglers. Its Great Lakes trips include casting instruction and fly-fishing equipment.
Hollins Fishing Co.
Rochester, NY · 3 mi
Hollins Fishing Co. offers guided fly fishing, fly-fishing lessons and fly-tying instruction around Rochester, New York. Brandon Hollins specializes in the area’s tributaries, with brown trout, steelhead and salmon among the species described on his website. Instruction includes casting, line management, knots, fly selection and reading water.
guide
Jay Peck Guides & Lost Rivers Fishing offers year-round, catch-and-release fly fishing on Lake Ontario tributaries, Western New York trout streams and lakes. Trips span salmon, trout, steelhead, pike and smallmouth bass, with an emphasis on conversation, shared experience and time on the water.
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30-Day Statistics
Min Flow
21 CFS
Max Flow
1,710 CFS
Avg Flow
820 CFS
Min Temp
50°F
Max Temp
60.6°F
Avg Temp
52.3°F
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Quantitative precipitation coverage is incomplete. Rain chances do not establish rainfall amounts or future river flows.
Highest weather-only score: Saturday. Check current water conditions separately; this is not a best-river or fishing-success forecast.
Daily Fishing Forecast
Weather-based daily ratings — independent of current river flow. A "good" forecast day can still mean a blown-out river. Cross-reference with the Almanac Briefing above for a complete picture.
Today — Angler's Report
good fishing- A smaller rain amount is forecast. Check current flow and local visibility; weather alone does not confirm fish activity.
NWS Forecast Detail
Tonight:
Rain showers after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday — Angler's Report
good fishing- A smaller rain amount is forecast. Check current flow and local visibility; weather alone does not confirm fish activity.
- Warmer air is forecast. Check an actual local water temperature before choosing a fishing window.
NWS Forecast Detail
Thursday:
A chance of rain showers before 11am. Mostly cloudy. High near 69, with temperatures falling to around 62 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday Night:
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday — Angler's Report
good fishing- A smaller rain amount is forecast. Check current flow and local visibility; weather alone does not confirm fish activity.
- Warmer air is forecast. Check an actual local water temperature before choosing a fishing window.
NWS Forecast Detail
Friday:
A chance of rain showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday Night:
Rain showers. Cloudy, with a low around 43. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday — Angler's Report
good fishing- A smaller rain amount is forecast. Check current flow and local visibility; weather alone does not confirm fish activity.
NWS Forecast Detail
Saturday:
Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. West wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday Night:
Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Rainfall amount is unavailable or precipitation phase is mixed/frozen. Precipitation chance alone does not establish a river rise.
- Breezy conditions (15 mph W) — adjust casting angles and expect some difficulty with line control.
NWS Forecast Detail
Sunday:
A slight chance of rain showers before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. West wind 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday Night:
A chance of rain showers after 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Monday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Rainfall amount is unavailable or precipitation phase is mixed/frozen. Precipitation chance alone does not establish a river rise.
- Breezy conditions (16 mph W) — adjust casting angles and expect some difficulty with line control.
NWS Forecast Detail
Monday:
A chance of rain showers before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Monday Night:
Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Tuesday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Rainfall amount is unavailable or precipitation phase is mixed/frozen. Precipitation chance alone does not establish a river rise.
- Warmer air is forecast. Check an actual local water temperature before choosing a fishing window.
- Breezy conditions (16 mph W) — adjust casting angles and expect some difficulty with line control.
NWS Forecast Detail
Tuesday:
Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Tuesday Night:
Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Veterans Day — Angler's Report
good fishing- Rainfall amount is unavailable or precipitation phase is mixed/frozen. Precipitation chance alone does not establish a river rise.
NWS Forecast Detail
Veterans Day:
Partly sunny, with a high near 52.
Forecast via NWS, updated 2 hours ago (Nov 4, 2026 10:01 PM EST). Fishing ratings are estimates based on weather — always check current river conditions.
Recommended Gear
Clear water + dropping flow + warmer temps — finesse tippet and natural patterns first.
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More on Genesee River
Recent Storm Events
- October 30 New York (Lake Ontario) Storm — Oct 30, 2026
- October 29-30 New York (Lake Erie) & New York (Lake Ontario) & Ohio Storm — Oct 29, 2026
- October 11-12 Alley Storm — Oct 11, 2026
Species Profiles
- Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu
- Brown Trout Salmo trutta
- Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
