Smallmouth Bass
PeakWhere: 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
Good
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 1,701 CFS, computed from the last several years of USGS gauge readings.
Current conditions (live, updated every 15 minutes): flow 661 CFS, water 71.1°F, clarity clear. Steelhead Addiction's Guide's Report rates the river GOOD as of this reading.
STORM ACTIVE
moderate
Flow up 1060% in 6h.
Flow Rate
661
CFS
Gauge Height
12.87
ft
Water Temp
71.1
°F
Air Temp
65.6
°F
Clarity
Clear
Wind
🌬 7 mph
SW
Offshore — mouth clean
Last updated: 7 minutes ago (7:45 AM EDT)
Conditions today: Good. Trending: rough. Storm active.
Flow
Pressure
Air temp, scaled
Rain per hour
Storm pulse window
Hourly flow pending
Confidence: 0.21
No big rain in the lookback, but the barometer dropped 0.18 inHg over the last 24 hours. Flow held steady at 905 CFS, water temp drifted rose by 0.5°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. Quiet sky on the way. Conditions should hold. Storm lifecycle says ACTIVE. Flow up 1060% in 6h. Treat the analysis above as a moving target until the pulse clears.
Lookback window Jul 23, 7 am to Jul 26, 7 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
Over the last three days, 0.31" of rain landed and the Genesee River answered. Flow climbed from 1,773 to 2,160 CFS over 8.0 hours, then started its drop-back. Water temp shifted dropped by 4.0°F — that's the storm's footprint. Quiet sky on the way. Conditions should hold. Storm lifecycle says ACTIVE. Flow up 1060% in 6h. Treat the analysis above as a moving target until the pulse clears.
Lookback window Jul 19, 7 am to Jul 26, 7 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) | 661 | 12.87 | 71.1°F | 7 minutes ago 7:45 AM EDT |
| Genesee River at Ballantyne Bridge, Mortimer | 338 | 11.87 | - | 7 minutes ago 7:45 AM EDT |
| Genesee River at Avon | 291 | - | - | 7 minutes ago 7:45 AM EDT |
| Genesee River near Mount Morris | 237 | 2.31 | - | 7 minutes ago 7:45 AM EDT |
| Honeoye Creek at Honeoye Falls | 5 | 2.21 | - | 7 minutes ago 7:45 AM EDT |
| Oatka Creek at Garbutt | 66 | 2.50 | - | 7 minutes ago 7:45 AM EDT |
| Black Creek at Churchville | 110 | 2.09 | - | 7 minutes ago 7:45 AM EDT |
Guide's Report
Based on current conditions as of Sun, Jul 26 at 7:45 AM EDT (7 minutes ago)
Report generated 7:52:26 AM EDT
Dropping nicely at 661 CFS, water is clear, 71°F — prime summer feeding temp. Worth the gas money. Pick your water carefully. The river is clearing up. Timing is everything. Chrome Conditions for Metalheads.
Genesee River
Today's Weather: Fair
3% rain
SW 5mph
Coming up: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flow Rate
0
CFS
·
12.87
ft
10th percentile · Low
Summer mode - skinny but moving
24h trend
↘
-39.4%
Summer fishability window
711–1,551 CFS
Current-month middle flow band for warm-water fishing
72h movement
sharp fall (-51.4%)
Distance
skinny but moving · 12.87ft
Low water — projection flat
Clouds
· 66°F
· SW 7mph
29.91" ↗
Guide says:
Dropping nicely at 661 CFS, water is clear, 71°F — prime summer feeding temp. Worth the gas money. Pick your water carefully. The river is clearing up. Timing is everything. Chrome Conditions for Metalheads.
"Chrome Conditions for Metalheads"
Clear water — ideal for visual hunters like smallmouth. Long leaders, natural colors, and finesse presentations like drop-shots will produce.
Water at 71°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
Work the transition zones where fast water meets slow eddies. Smallmouth hold on the edges of currents to intercept forage.
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 1060% 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
The river is just getting good on the drop, but more heavy rain is forecast. Fish this drop hard — it may be brief before the next rise.
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
Summer 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
PeakWhere: 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
PeakWhere: 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 71.1°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 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.
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7-Day Flow & Temperature
Flow distribution
1095-day history · n=2,168 · 85% confidence
Now vs history
6,339 CFS below optimal
Optimal window
7,000–9,500 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Typical range
1,107–5,726 CFS
25th–75th percentile
Seasonal context:
Current flow is below typical for July.
July median on this river: 884 CFS
(n=608 hourly samples).
Clarity vs flow ranges
Steelhead Green
likely now
909–1,820 CFS typical
Stained
6,000–7,309 CFS typical
Muddy
8,498–9,860 CFS typical
Low:
Below typical — fish may be hugging deeper runs.
Sample quantiles
|
Theoretical line
Good fit (81%)
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
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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.
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30-Day Statistics
Min Flow
-365 CFS
Max Flow
4,820 CFS
Avg Flow
1,197 CFS
Min Temp
67.3°F
Max Temp
82.4°F
Avg Temp
75.2°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 — Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
Sunday 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.
Overnight — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Dry conditions — flows should remain stable. Good day to target tailouts and runs.
NWS Forecast Detail
Overnight:
Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Sunday:
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday Night:
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday — Angler's Report
poor fishing- Heavy rain expected — river will likely blow out. Fish early before it rises or wait 24-48 hours after for the drop.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Monday:
A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 8am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night:
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tuesday — Angler's Report
poor fishing- Heavy rain expected — river will likely blow out. Fish early before it rises or wait 24-48 hours after for the drop.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Tuesday:
Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Tuesday Night:
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. North wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday — 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
Wednesday:
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. North wind 9 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night:
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Thursday:
A slight chance of rain showers before 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Thursday Night:
Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Friday — 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
Friday:
Sunny, with a high near 81.
Friday Night:
Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
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 slight chance of rain showers between 8am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Forecast via NWS, updated 2 hours ago (5:03 AM EDT). 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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