Smallmouth Bass
Where: boulder runs, bridge shade, pool tails, creek-mouth rock, and lower-river current breaks on Genesee River.
Move: tubes, Ned rigs, small jerkbaits, poppers, and crayfish-colored streamers.
Species guide →Genesee River
Excellent
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 optimal fishing flow on Genesee River is 7,000–9,500 CFS — flows above this range are typically too high and stained, flows below run low and clear. The river's long-term median flow is approximately 1,105 CFS, computed from the last several years of USGS gauge readings.
Current conditions (live, updated every 15 minutes): flow 1,690 CFS, water 70.2°F, clarity clear. Steelhead Almanac's Guide's Report rates the river EXCELLENT as of this reading.
STORM WATCHING
Expected: 8:00 PM EDT
0.5" rain expected by 8 pm. Gauges still calm.
Flow Rate
1,690
CFS
Gauge Height
12.75
ft
Water Temp
70.2
°F
Air Temp
72.9
°F
Clarity
Clear
Wind
🌬 12 mph
S
Offshore — mouth clean
Last updated: 14 minutes ago (7:30 PM EDT)
Conditions today: Excellent. Trending: rough. Storm watching.
Flow
Pressure
Air temp, scaled
Rain per hour
Storm pulse window
Hourly flow pending
Confidence: 0.27
No big rain in the lookback, but the barometer dropped 0.13 inHg over the last 24 hours. Flow held steady at 1,362 CFS, water temp drifted rose by 0.4°F. Falling pressure has a reputation — sometimes it wakes fish up, sometimes it shuts them down, and we're not going to pretend we know which it'll be today. Light rain on the way (0.10"). Storm lifecycle says WATCHING. 0.5" rain expected by 8 pm. Gauges still calm. This is a pre-storm read; conditions can change fast once rain reaches the gauge.
Lookback window Sep 9, 7 pm to Sep 12, 7 pm 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
Over the last three days, 0.56" of rain landed and the Genesee River answered. Flow climbed from 1,066 to 2,060 CFS over 54.0 hours, then started its drop-back. Water temp shifted dropped by 1.4°F — that's the storm's footprint. Light rain on the way (0.10"). Storm lifecycle says WATCHING. 0.5" rain expected by 8 pm. Gauges still calm. This is a pre-storm read; conditions can change fast once rain reaches the gauge.
Lookback window Sep 5, 7 pm to Sep 12, 7 pm 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) | 1,690 | 12.75 | 70.2°F | 14 minutes ago 7:30 PM EDT |
| Genesee River at Ballantyne Bridge, Mortimer | 1,090 | 11.86 | - | 14 minutes ago 7:30 PM EDT |
| Genesee River at Avon | 846 | - | - | 14 minutes ago 7:30 PM EDT |
| Genesee River near Mount Morris | 625 | 3.19 | - | 14 minutes ago 7:30 PM EDT |
| Honeoye Creek at Honeoye Falls | 33 | 2.57 | - | 14 minutes ago 7:30 PM EDT |
| Oatka Creek at Garbutt | 93 | 2.63 | - | 14 minutes ago 7:30 PM EDT |
| Black Creek at Churchville | 49 | 1.80 | - | 14 minutes ago 7:30 PM EDT |
Guide's Report
Based on current conditions as of Sat, Sep 12 at 7:30 PM EDT (14 minutes ago)
Holding steady at 1,690 CFS, water is clear, 70°F — prime summer feeding temp. Drop everything. Conditions don't get better than this. Stable water means fish are in their comfort zones. Increased activity — falling pressure. Steelhead Alley: Where 45° Is Tropical.
Genesee River
Today's Weather: Fair
82° 64% rain
S 12mph
Coming up: Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunders...
Flow Rate
0
CFS
·
12.75
ft
78th percentile · High
Summer mode - summer fishable
24h trend
—
+3.3%
Summer fishability window
1,081–3,229 CFS
Current-month middle flow band for warm-water fishing
72h movement
sharp rise (+56.3%)
Status
summer fishable · 12.75ft
Low water — projection flat
Clouds
· 73°F
· S 12mph
29.88" →
Guide says:
Holding steady at 1,690 CFS, water is clear, 70°F — prime summer feeding temp. Drop everything. Conditions don't get better than this. Stable water means fish are in their comfort zones. Increased activity — falling pressure. Steelhead Alley: Where 45° Is Tropical.
"This Is Research, Not Fishing"
Flow is stable in the ideal range — fish are settled and holding in predictable lies.
Clear water — ideal for visual hunters like smallmouth. Long leaders, natural colors, and finesse presentations like drop-shots will produce.
Water at 70°F — prime summer pattern. Smallmouth Bass are highly active and aggressive across all techniques.
How to Fish It
Technique
Topwater time. Early morning and late evening topwater action can be explosive. Whopper Ploppers, Spook Jrs, or frog patterns over rocky flats and shorelines.
Fly/Lure Selection
Clear water demands finesse. 6-8lb fluoro, natural colored tubes (watermelon, green pumpkin), 3-inch drop-shot worms, or small swimbaits.
Where to Fish
Focus on current breaks, behind large boulders, and slack water eddies along the banks.
Timing
Dawn and dusk windows are prime. Get out early before the sun is high, or fish the last 90 minutes of light.
Storm Context
STORM WATCHING
0.5" rain expected by 8 pm. Gauges still calm.
Rain is forecast within the next 1 hours. Gauges may look innocent right now, but expect movement around 8:00 PM EDT.
- - Fish before the rain window if you are going.
- - Bring rain gear and keep an eye on radar.
- - Re-check the gauge before committing to a longer drive.
What's Coming
Heavy rain is incoming — fish NOW. Current conditions are fishable but the river will blow out. This is your window.
Rigs to consider right now
Match the current report to a setup
Ned Rig
Catches fish that are willing to eat but not interested in chasing something loud.
Beginner
Neko Rig
Adds a different fall and bottom posture when Ned or wacky presentations are getting ignored.
Intermediate
Texas Rig
Gets a soft plastic through cover without turning every cast into salad.
Beginner
Drop Shot Rig
Keeps the bait in the strike zone without dragging it into every rock on the bottom.
Intermediate
Fall river plan
Genesee River summer fishing targets
Water temperature is in the active warmwater range. Expect bass and panfish to feed around current breaks, rock, and shade.
Walleye
Where: lake mouths, harbor edges, deeper summer basin water, and low-light shoreline structure on Genesee River.
Move: crawler harnesses, crankbaits, jigs, and evening presentations near moving water.
Species guide →Panfish
Where: docks, weed edges, ponds, marina slips, brush, and shaded shoreline structure on Genesee River.
Move: small jigs, waxworms, micro poppers, and slip floats for kids or fast action.
Species guide →Northern Pike
Where: 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 70.2°F. Clarity is clear. Overall rating: Excellent for smallmouth bass. Use the graph below to time falling or stabilizing flows before committing a trip.
Summer FAQ
What can I fish for on Genesee River in summer?
Focus on the warm-water species shown above, then use the live flow, clarity, and temperature read to choose shade, rock, current breaks, creek mouths, lakefront structure, and low-light windows.
Steelhead care
Should I target steelhead on Genesee River in summer?
Usually no. When water is warm, shift to smallmouth, walleye, panfish, pike, or another summer target instead of pressuring stressed trout.
Email me when Genesee River drops into shape
Get a one-line note the day flow + clarity dial in. No spam, just fishable conditions.
Free. One-click unsubscribe in every email.
You're on the list.
We'll email you the moment Genesee River hits fishable flow + clarity. Tight lines.
7-Day Flow & Temperature
Flow distribution
1095-day history · n=2,116 · 84% confidence
Now vs history
5,310 CFS below optimal
Optimal window
7,000–9,500 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Typical range
735–1,565 CFS
25th–75th percentile
Seasonal context:
Current flow is typical for September.
September median on this river: 1,545 CFS
(n=271 hourly samples).
Clarity vs flow ranges
Steelhead Green
likely now
735–1,565 CFS typical
Sweet spot:
Historically the productive zone.
Sample quantiles
|
Theoretical line
Excellent fit (95%)
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.
Log catches, track your season, and help other anglers dial in current conditions. Your public angler profile lives at steelheadalmanac.com/u/you.
- Always free
- All 31 Alley rivers
- 30 seconds to join
No angler reports yet for Genesee River.
Near Genesee River
Local Fly Shops & Guides
Featured
Ontario Fly Outfitters
Rochester, NY · 1 mi
NYS Licensed Guide covering the widest geographic range — Salmon River to Steelhead Alley. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario tributaries.
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.
Colemans Fly Shop
Spencerport, NY · 9 mi
40+ years in business. Full fly shop with guiding, schools, custom fly tying, and stream reports for Oak Orchard and Genesee.
Jay Peck Guides
Spencerport, NY · 10 mi
30+ years as licensed NYS guide. Catch-and-release fly fishing on Oak Orchard, Genesee, and Lake Ontario tribs.
Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge
Albion, NY · 32 mi
Tackle shop and lodge on Oak Orchard Creek. Steelhead, brown trout, and salmon with guided trips.
Explore Genesee River and nearby
Open in Explorer
Plan your trip to Rochester
Booking.com hotels & rental cars — affiliate links support the site at no extra cost.
Finding nearby places...
Sponsored · Booking.com
Hotels & rentals near Rochester
Compare availability and prices on the same inventory you'd see going direct.
Sponsored · Booking.com
Flying in? Compare rental cars
Booking.com aggregates the major brands at nearby airports.
No results found nearby.
Places data powered by Google Maps. Results cached for 7 days.
30-Day Statistics
Min Flow
-475 CFS
Max Flow
6,210 CFS
Avg Flow
1,378 CFS
Min Temp
68.9°F
Max Temp
75.6°F
Avg Temp
71.6°F
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Multiple days of heavy rain ahead — expect significant flow increases and muddy water. Plan trips for windows between rain events or 1-2 days after.
Best day to fish: Sunday — Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
Wednesday is the day before rain moves in — barometric pressure drop often triggers aggressive feeding. Don't miss it.
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 Guide's Report above for a complete picture.
Today — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Moderate rain will push flows up. Water may get stained to muddy — switch to bright flies and heavier weight.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
This Afternoon:
A slight chance of rain showers after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind around 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight:
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 7 to 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Sunday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Sunday:
A chance of rain showers between 3pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday Night:
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Dry conditions — flows should remain stable. Good day to target tailouts and runs.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Monday:
Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind 8 to 12 mph.
Monday Night:
Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. West wind 2 to 6 mph.
Tuesday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Tuesday:
Partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 6 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night:
A chance of rain showers after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Wednesday:
A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night:
A slight chance of rain showers before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Moderate rain will push flows up. Water may get stained to muddy — switch to bright flies and heavier weight.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Thursday:
A chance of rain showers before 2pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night:
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Friday:
A chance of rain showers before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night:
A slight chance of rain showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Forecast via NWS, updated 2 hours ago (5:02 PM EDT). Fishing ratings are estimates based on weather — always check current river conditions.
Recommended Gear
Clear water + warmer temps — finesse tippet and natural patterns first.
RIO Products Fluoroflex Bonefish Tapered Leader - 100% Fluorocarbon Fly Fishing Leader for Saltwater Species - Abrasion Resistant - Available in 8lb, 10lb, 12lb, 16lb, and 20lb
$16.99
RIO Products Fluoroflex Freshwater Tippet - 100% Fluorocarbon, Medium-Stiff Leader for Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, and Bass - Abrasion Resistant - 25 or 30 yd Spool, 0X-20lb Sizes
$13.99
Snowbee XS-Plus Gold Super Fluorocarbon Tippet Line for Fly Fishing, Clear Fluorocarbon Leader Material with High Knot Strength, 50 m Spool
$15.14
Yo-Zuri Topknot Mainline Natural Clear 200 Yards Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
$11.48
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More on Genesee River
Recent Storm Events
- September 5-7 New York (Lake Ontario) & Ohio Storm — Sep 5, 2026
- August 30 - September 1 Alley Storm — Aug 30, 2026
- August 26-29 Alley Storm — Aug 26, 2026
Species Profiles
- Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu
- Brown Trout Salmo trutta
- Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
