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Genesee River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

Rochester’s river: the Genesee runs steelhead and salmon to Lake Ontario past three urban waterfalls.

4/5
Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.
Flow
5,050 cfs
Air / High
77 / 77 F
Wind
WNW 7 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 04231600, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

4/5Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Genesee River sits in the sweet spot of the season: active fish and workable weather. The river is running 5,050 cfs, on the rise. Today brings cloud cover, wind WNW around 7 mph, rising pressure near 1013 hPa and a high of 77. Water sits around 66 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Smallmouth bassExcellent

Peak season. Tubes, jerkbaits and swimbaits around gravel points, boulders and current seams.

Brown troutExcellent

Terrestrials tight to the bank; streamers through the deeper runs on cloudy days.

SteelheadFair

First fall runs after rain: fresh chrome in the lower pools on spawn bags and beads.

Tomorrow: Cooler at 71 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from Genesee River at Ford Street Bridge, Rochester.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 04231600.

9312,5544,1765,050 cfs08/0508/1508/2509/04

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp77 F
High / Low77 / 63 F
WindWNW 7-13 mph
Pressure1013.1 hPa, rising
Sky / Rain94% cloud, 6%
Sunrise / Sunset06:38 / 19:40
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~66 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Overcast, 77/63 F, wind 7 mph, rain 6%

Fair or better. Calm and stable: plan around the solunar majors at dawn and dusk.

Species guide

The species that matter on Genesee River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Steelhead illustration

Steelhead

Best: Oct-Apr

Lake-run rainbows that turn tributaries into winter fisheries. First fall runs after rain: fresh chrome in the lower pools on spawn bags and beads.

Smallmouth bass illustration

Smallmouth bass

Best: May-Oct

Current and rock. Finds gravel flats, boulders and drop-offs, and fights far above its weight. Peak season. Tubes, jerkbaits and swimbaits around gravel points, boulders and current seams.

Brown trout illustration

Brown trout

Best: Sep-Nov

Wary, predatory and nocturnal by preference. The big ones eat streamers. Terrestrials tight to the bank; streamers through the deeper runs on cloudy days.

When to come: the Genesee River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Steelhead
Smallmouth bass
Brown trout
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 66 F (estimated, not a reading).

304050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~66 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Genesee River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 81 F, wind to 10 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 82 F, wind to 14 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

5/5 Excellent. Go now. Everything lines up: pressure, wind and light are in your favor. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 79 F, wind to 8 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
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Before you go

License

New York requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

New York license. Great Lakes trout and salmon limits apply below the falls: check current DEC Region 8 regulations.

Access

Genesee River gorge trails, Lower Falls Park, Seth Green Island and the port at Charlotte in Rochester.

About this water

A 157-mile river from Pennsylvania to Lake Ontario at Rochester, Monroe County, New York.

Fishing Genesee River: the full guide

A river through a city

The Genesee River flows 157 miles north from Pennsylvania through Rochester to Lake Ontario, dropping over three waterfalls within the city itself. Below the lower falls, the river hosts Lake Ontario runs: steelhead, chinook and coho salmon, brown trout and, in the deeper water, walleye, smallmouth and panfish. It is one of the most accessible urban salmonid fisheries in the East.

Salmon and steelhead

Chinook and coho arrive in fall and stack below the lower falls, which they cannot pass: the barrier concentrates fish and makes the gorge water below it consistently productive. Steelhead follow and hold through winter and spring, taking egg patterns, jigs and swung flies. Brown trout mix in through the cold months.

The gorge and the port

The lower gorge below the falls offers walk-in access with a genuine wilderness feel inside the city limits. Downstream toward the port and the lake, the river widens and holds walleye, smallmouth and panfish, with pier and boat access at Charlotte. Upstream of the falls, the river runs warmer and holds smallmouth and pike.

Monroe County logistics

Access via the Genesee River gorge trails, Seth Green Island, Lower Falls Park and the port at Charlotte, all within Rochester. Parking and trails are straightforward, though the gorge requires a walk. Flows vary with rain and upstream releases: check the Rochester gauge before planning a wading trip.

Common questions

Why do fish stack below the falls?

The lower falls are impassable: salmon and steelhead concentrate beneath them, making the gorge water consistently productive.

Is it really in the city?

Yes: the gorge runs through Rochester, giving a wilderness-feeling fishery inside the city limits.

When is the run?

Chinook and coho in fall, steelhead from fall through spring, with brown trout mixed in through the cold months.

Is fishing good at Genesee River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Nearby waters

Lake Ontario18 miOak Orchard Creek32 miCanandaigua Lake32 miSeneca Lake47 miKeuka Lake48 miCayuga Lake56 mi
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