Physical Features:
Elevation : 247 feet
Area: 3,357 acres
Max Depth: 48 feet
Mean Depth: 18 feet
County and Town: Wayne County, Towns of Sodus and Huron
Aquatic Plant Life:
The bay shoreline is shallow with extensive beds of submersed, floating, and emergent aquatic vegetation that covers 37 percent of the bay's surface area. The nuisance invasive submergents eurasian watermilfoil, curly leaf pondweed, and water chestnut have been found in the bay. Several mechanical harvesters are operated annually by the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District to control the vegetation.
Access:
A State-owned concrete ramp with parking for 20 cars/trailers is operated by the Village of Sodus Point on NY RT 14 and Margaretta Road. From Labor Day to Memorial Day, anglers can launch at a concrete ramp at the US Coast Guard Auxiliary facility at the end of Wickham Boulevard in Sodus Point.
For more information on these launches including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Wayne County page.
Fish Species:
Longnose Gar, Bowfin, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, White Perch, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Yellow Perch.
Fishing:
From 1989 to 1993, Sodus Bay was annually stocked with fingerling walleyes raised from fry by cooperating angler associations, and from 1996 to 2000, it was annually stocked with fingerling walleyes. Since 2003, the stocking policy calls for biannual plantings of fingerling Walleyes. Assessment surveys have shown that these stocked fingerlings survive and grow to produce a good adult walleye population and potentially reproduce. Good northern pike and yellow perch fishing through the ice exists when safe ice develops. In most years, the early spring fishing for yellow perch, brown bullhead, and white perch can be outstanding. Northern pike, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, and yellow perch can be caught during the open water season. A spinnerbait or stickbait, like a rapala, works well in shallow weedy water for the gamefish. For the panfish try worms fished under a bobber or small plastic tube baits or twister tails.
Ice Fishing:
Ice fishing is permitted on Sodus Bay.
