The Great Lakes remain one of North America’s greatest freshwater resources, and few places showcase their potential better than Lake Ontario. This spring, Great Lakes Fishing Podcast host Chris Larsen joined Captain Vince Pierleoni of Thrillseeker Sportfishing for a day on the water. What followed was a mix of fast coho action and an in-depth conversation about how Lake Ontario’s fishery continues to evolve.

Pierleoni, who has been chartering on Lake Ontario for more than four decades, shared his insights on baitfish cycles, salmon reproduction, ongoing research projects, and the future of fishing in the Great Lakes. Here’s what we learned from the day on the water.

A Hot Coho Bite on the Niagara Bar

When Larsen stepped aboard Pierleoni’s boat out of Olcott, New York, the bite was already heating up. Coho salmon were stacked near the Niagara Bar, one of Lake Ontario’s most productive spring fishing grounds.

“Those fish are congregating down there on the bar,” Pierleoni explained. “There are pockets of fish, and they’ve been getting active again. We had a really good bite today.”

Most of the action came in the top 50 feet of the water column. Both coho and king salmon were chasing large alewives, the primary baitfish in Lake Ontario. Pierleoni and his crew focused on running spoons and flies in the upper zones, taking advantage of aggressive fish feeding heavily before the spawn.

Interestingly, larger spoons were the ticket, designed to “match the hatch” against the unusually big alewives in the system this year.

Why Coho Are Thriving

Anglers across Lake Ontario have noticed a strong run of coho salmon in recent years. Pierleoni credits a successful natural hatch a couple of years ago, combined with the abundance of forage.

“I think the coho bite is so good because two years ago we had a really good natural hatch,” he said. “We’ve got a few rivers here that pump out fish pretty well. Add in the fact that the alewives are really big this year, and cohos are more receptive to our flies. It’s a perfect storm.”

The result? Coho limits are coming quickly for charter clients and recreational anglers alike.  While the king bite was slow on this day in May, Captain Pierleoni enjoyed another banner year of king salmon during the summer months.

Big Browns, Steelhead, and Trophy Lakers

Kings and cohos may dominate headlines, but Pierleoni is quick to point out the diversity of Lake Ontario’s fishery. He highlighted strong populations of brown trout and steelhead, along with occasional trophy lake trout.

Just days before the famous Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Derby, one of his clients landed a 28-pound laker stretching over 40 inches. Steelhead, too, have made a strong comeback in recent years, giving anglers even more opportunities for action.

Supporting Science: The Scale and DNA Study

One of the most fascinating parts of the day involved Pierleoni’s participation in a long-term scientific study. Working with New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Pierleoni and other captains collect tissue, scales, and fin samples from salmon to help researchers understand age classes and the balance between wild and stocked fish.

“They’ve banked DNA from nine years of females at the hatchery,” Pierleoni said. “By comparing that with the samples we provide, they can track natural reproduction and age structures in the fishery.”

Each captain is tasked with collecting 10 samples from three size categories: under 22 inches, 22–34 inches, and over 34 inches. The goal is to get a clearer picture of how much natural reproduction contributes to the salmon population.

There are concerns that if the study shows a high percentage of wild fish, stocking programs could be reduced. But Pierleoni believes stocking will remain essential because many western tributaries are blocked by dams, preventing salmon from accessing prime spawning habitat.

The Evolution of Lake Ontario’s Waters

With more than 40 years of experience, Pierleoni has witnessed dramatic changes in Lake Ontario. When he first started, the water was murkier, and catching fish was often easier. The arrival of zebra mussels in the late 1980s and 1990s changed everything, clearing the water and forcing anglers to adapt.

Today, the lake has found a balance. Natural color has returned to the water, fueled in part by nutrient flow from Lake Erie. This “color” provides cover for baitfish and helps predators like salmon and trout feed more effectively.

“The biggest change has been the naturalization of Chinook and even coho salmon,” Pierleoni said. “Certain streams are producing wild fish every year, and that’s helped stabilize the fishery as more anglers with better equipment put pressure on it.”

Why Olcott Is Home

While Pierleoni started his chartering career out of Oak Orchard, he eventually made Olcott his permanent home port in 1999. Its location provides easy access to both the Niagara River and offshore waters, making it one of the most versatile ports on Lake Ontario.

“We’re close enough to the Niagara to benefit from the current, but far enough away to avoid problems when it gets too warm or mossy,” he explained. “That Niagara current is like the Gulf Stream—it always has bait, and where there’s bait, there are predators.”

Protecting a Great Lakes Success Story

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Pierleoni’s perspective is gratitude. He’s seen Lake Ontario transform from what he calls a “wasteland” in his youth to a world-class fishery.

“Never take for granted what these Great Lakes have become,” he urged. “It’s so much better than when I was a kid. Now we’ve got kids growing up thinking it’s always been like this. It hasn’t. This is one of the greatest success stories in fisheries management.”

Pierleoni also stressed the importance of youth involvement in fishing. Introducing young people to the sport ensures both conservation and stewardship for the next generation.

Final Thoughts

A day on Lake Ontario with Captain Vince Pierleoni is more than just catching cohos and kings—it’s a glimpse into the health of a world-class fishery, the science supporting its future, and the wisdom of an angler who’s seen it all.

From adapting to changing water clarity to supporting DNA studies, Pierleoni embodies the spirit of Great Lakes fishing: resilient, knowledgeable, and passionate about protecting the resource.

Whether you’re trolling spoons for cohos in the spring, chasing summer kings, or targeting trophy trout, Lake Ontario continues to deliver. And with experienced captains like Pierleoni leading the way, the future looks brighter than ever.