Irondequoit Bay Bass Fishing Guide
Trophy Largemouth Bass in Rochester's Front-Yard Fishery
Book an Irondequoit Bay TripWhy Irondequoit Bay Is a Hidden Largemouth Powerhouse
Irondequoit Bay is one of the most underrated bass fisheries in western New York. Connected to Lake Ontario through a narrow outlet at the north end, this sheltered bay sits right in the heart of the Rochester metropolitan area — yet it fishes like a secluded backwater lake loaded with oversized largemouth. The bay stretches roughly two miles long and a half-mile wide, with depths reaching over 70 feet in the main basin. But the magic happens in the shallows, where sunken debris, docks, fallen trees, and man-made structure create an absolute paradise for flipping.
What makes Irondequoit Bay special is its diversity of cover. Over the decades, all kinds of objects have found their way to the bottom — old cars, appliances, concrete slabs, and dock remnants that create hard structure largemouth absolutely love. Combine that with healthy weed growth in the warmer months and a steady forage base fueled by the Lake Ontario connection, and you have a fishery that consistently produces bass over five pounds with legitimate shots at fish pushing eight or more.
My Experience on Irondequoit Bay
I call Irondequoit Bay my front-yard fishery. Living in Pittsford, it's the closest quality bass water to my house, and with over 415 days logged on this bay, I know it as well as anyone alive. Every sunken log, every piece of submerged structure, every seasonal transition — I have it all mapped out from 40 years of meticulous notes.
One of my most memorable catches anywhere came right here on the bay. I was flipping heavy cover along a stretch of shoreline that most guys blow past, and my jig stopped on something solid. When that 8.05-pound largemouth came up off a sunken car, I couldn't believe the size of that fish. She had been sitting in the shade of that wreck, ambushing bluegill that swam too close. That's Irondequoit Bay — the structure others overlook is where the giants live, and knowing exactly where those spots are is what separates a guide trip with me from a day of blind casting.
Flipping is king on Irondequoit Bay, and it's a technique I've refined over decades of tournament competition. As a licensed USCG Captain with three career wins, 24 top-10 finishes, and over $575,000 in career earnings on the FLW and MLF circuits, I've built my career on putting jigs and soft plastics in tight spots. When you fish the bay with me, you're getting a masterclass in precision presentations around heavy cover.
What Makes My Irondequoit Bay Trips Different
- 415+ days of personal experience on this specific body of water
- Tournament-rigged Bass Cat Puma with Lowrance & Garmin LiveScope electronics
- Detailed knowledge of sunken structure, debris fields, and seasonal holding areas
- All rods, tackle, and lures provided — just bring your fishing license
- Flipping and pitching instruction from a professional tournament angler
- Minutes from Rochester — no long drives to the launch
Irondequoit Bay Seasonal Guide
Spring (April – June)
Largemouth push into the shallows early on Irondequoit Bay. The protected nature of the bay means water temps rise faster than Lake Ontario, drawing bass into spawning flats, docks, and shoreline cover. Pre-spawn fish stage on deeper structure before moving up, and this is when the biggest females of the year are most accessible. Jigs, tubes, and creature baits fished tight to cover are the go-to presentations.
Summer (July – September)
Summer is prime time on the bay. Weed growth fills in, providing ambush cover throughout the shallows and mid-depths. Largemouth set up on the edges of weed lines, around docks, and on sunken structure. Flipping heavy mats, punching through vegetation, and working Texas-rigged soft plastics through the cover produces the most consistent action. Early morning topwater bites along weed edges can be outstanding. This is the best season to target Irondequoit Bay bass.
Fall (October – November)
As water temperatures drop, bass begin feeding aggressively to bulk up for winter. Baitfish push into the back of creeks and coves, and largemouth follow them in. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and swimbaits worked along transitional structure produce quality fish. The weed growth begins dying back, concentrating bass on remaining green vegetation and hard cover. Fall trips can produce outstanding numbers and quality.
Irondequoit Bay Trip Rates
All trips include rods, tackle, and lures — just bring your fishing license
Half Day
- Morning or afternoon
- All tackle provided
- Great for beginners
Full Day
- Dawn to dusk
- All tackle provided
- Cover more water & patterns
Rates are for 1-2 anglers. Contact me for group pricing. Gratuity not included.