Smallmouth Bass
Where: boulder runs, bridge shade, pool tails, creek-mouth rock, and lower-river current breaks on Irondequoit Creek.
Move: tubes, Ned rigs, small jerkbaits, poppers, and crayfish-colored streamers.
Species guide →Irondequoit Creek
Good
About Irondequoit Creek
Irondequoit Creek drains 151 square miles of Rochester suburbs into Irondequoit Bay and Lake Ontario, less famous than the Genesee or Salmon River but a steady producer for anglers willing to fish it. The Powder Mills Park reach is the iconic access; the lower reach through the Penfield reaches and the Irondequoit Bay mouth holds fish in fall and spring. Limestone-influenced; fishes with consistency.
October through April. Peak runs late October through December and again March through April. Limestone influence keeps it clearer than other regional creeks. The optimal fishing flow on Irondequoit Creek is 180–400 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 89 CFS, computed from the last several years of USGS gauge readings.
Current conditions (live, updated every 15 minutes): flow 140 CFS, water 67.6°F, clarity clear. Steelhead Almanac's Guide's Report rates the river GOOD as of this reading.
STORM ACTIVE
moderate
Flow up 65% in 6h.
Flow Rate
140
CFS
Gauge Height
3.66
ft
Water Temp
67.6
°F
Air Temp
67.6
°F
Clarity
Clear
Wind
🌬 7 mph
W
Side
Last updated: 7 minutes ago (9:00 PM EDT)
Conditions today: Good. Trending: improving. Storm active.
Flow
Pressure
Air temp, scaled
Rain per hour
Storm pulse window
Hourly flow pending
Confidence: 0.21
Three days of nothing. 94 CFS held within 49%, water sat at 65°F, barometer barely moved. These are the days where the lake just shrugs at us. If the bite is on, no obvious reason. If it's off, also no obvious reason. Quiet sky on the way. Conditions should hold. Storm lifecycle says ACTIVE. Flow up 65% in 6h. Treat the analysis above as a moving target until the pulse clears.
Lookback window Sep 10, 9 pm to Sep 13, 9 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, 0.43" of rain landed and the Irondequoit Creek answered. Flow climbed from 80 to 275 CFS over 5.0 hours, then started its drop-back. Water temp shifted dropped by 0.6°F — that's the storm's footprint. Quiet sky on the way. Conditions should hold. Storm lifecycle says ACTIVE. Flow up 65% in 6h. Treat the analysis above as a moving target until the pulse clears.
Lookback window Sep 6, 9 pm to Sep 13, 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irondequoit Creek above Blossom Rd, Rochester (primary) | 140 | 3.66 | 67.6°F | 7 minutes ago 9:00 PM EDT |
| Irondequoit Creek at Railroad Mills, Fishers | 25 | 4.23 | - | 7 minutes ago 9:00 PM EDT |
Guide's Report
Based on current conditions as of Sun, Sep 13 at 9:00 PM EDT (7 minutes ago)
Holding steady at 140 CFS, water is clear, 68°F — active warmwater feeding. A good day if you read the water right. Stable water means fish are in their comfort zones. That Head Shake Changes Everything.
Irondequoit Creek
Today's Weather: Fair
30% rain
NW 8mph
Coming up: Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
Flow Rate
0
CFS
·
3.66
ft
71th percentile · Typical
Summer mode - falling and clearing
24h trend
↗
+30.1%
Summer fishability window
90–202 CFS
Current-month middle flow band for warm-water fishing
72h movement
falling (-10.9%)
Status
falling and clearing · 3.66ft
Low water — projection flat
Clouds
· 68°F
· W 7mph
29.91" ↗
Guide says:
Holding steady at 140 CFS, water is clear, 68°F — active warmwater feeding. A good day if you read the water right. Stable water means fish are in their comfort zones. That Head Shake Changes Everything.
"Wader-Deep in Bad Decisions"
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 68°F — post-spawn and early summer active zone. Bass are feeding aggressively in the shallows.
How to Fish It
Technique
This is tube and drop-shot weather. Drag tubes or drop-shots over rocky structures, reefs, and current seams. Active retrieve will trigger strikes.
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 ACTIVE
moderate
Flow up 65% in 6h.
Storm is rolling through right now. Radar is loud; gauges will catch up over the next several hours. Conditions will shift fast, and we are not weather scientists.
- - Treat any decent current rating as temporary.
- - Check gauges again after the storm has moved through.
- - Expect clarity, flow, and access to change quickly.
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
Irondequoit Creek 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 Irondequoit Creek.
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 Irondequoit Creek.
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 Irondequoit Creek.
Move: spinnerbaits, spoons, jerkbaits, and quick releases when water warms.
Species guide →Current read
Water temp 67.6°F. Clarity is clear. Overall rating: Good 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 Irondequoit Creek 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 Irondequoit Creek 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 Irondequoit Creek 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 Irondequoit Creek hits fishable flow + clarity. Tight lines.
7-Day Flow & Temperature
Flow distribution
1095-day history · n=1,972 · 84% confidence
Now vs history
40 CFS below optimal
Optimal window
180–400 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Typical range
68–130 CFS
25th–75th percentile
Seasonal context:
Current flow is typical for September.
September median on this river: 117 CFS
(n=295 hourly samples).
Clarity vs flow ranges
Steelhead Green
likely now
68–123 CFS typical
Stained
465–643 CFS typical
Sweet spot:
Historically the productive zone.
Sample quantiles
|
Theoretical line
Fair fit — tails diverge (70%)
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 Irondequoit Creek? 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 Irondequoit Creek.
Near Irondequoit Creek
Local Fly Shops & Guides
Featured
Ontario Fly Outfitters
Rochester, NY · 5 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 · 5 mi
Walk-up kayak and canoe rentals May-October on the Genesee River in Rochester.
High Falls & Genesee Brew House
Rochester, NY · 5 mi
96-ft urban waterfall in downtown Rochester. Rooftop pint at one of America's oldest breweries.
Colemans Fly Shop
Spencerport, NY · 14 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 · 15 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 · 36 mi
Tackle shop and lodge on Oak Orchard Creek. Steelhead, brown trout, and salmon with guided trips.
Explore Irondequoit Creek 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
58 CFS
Max Flow
1,060 CFS
Avg Flow
125 CFS
Min Temp
61.7°F
Max Temp
71.2°F
Avg Temp
66.2°F
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Substantial precipitation in the forecast. Rivers will rise — fish the front end before conditions deteriorate.
Best day to fish: Today — 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- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Slight Risk on this day — large hail, damaging wind, or tornado risk. Monitor radar and bail if storms develop.
NWS Forecast Detail
Tonight:
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday — 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
Monday:
A chance of rain showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Northwest wind 8 to 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday Night:
Mostly clear, with a low around 48. West wind 1 to 7 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:
Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 3 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night:
A slight chance of rain showers between 8pm and 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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 before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night:
A slight chance of rain showers between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. North wind around 2 mph. 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:
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. North wind 1 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night:
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Friday:
A slight chance of rain showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Friday Night:
A slight chance of rain showers after 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Saturday — 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
Saturday:
A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday Night:
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday — Angler's Report
fair 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.
- Slight Risk on this day — large hail, damaging wind, or tornado risk. Monitor radar and bail if storms develop.
NWS Forecast Detail
Sunday:
A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Forecast via NWS, updated 1 hour ago (8:01 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 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
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 Strong Tippet, 100% Fluorocarbon Fly Fishing Tippet for Trout, Abrasion Resistant, Strong, & Knot Friendly, 100yd Guide Spool
$44.99
Rio Products Fly Fishing Tippet, Fluoroflex Strong Leader, 100% Fluorocarbon for Trout, 30YD Spool
$17.99
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More on Irondequoit Creek
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
- Brown Trout Salmo trutta
