Fishing for Salmon and Trout in the Shining Waters of Lake Ontario with Capt. Ken Ruszkiewicz

A Little Something About Me

I’m Captain Kenneth Ruszkiewicz of SunMoon Adventures, based here in the great docks of Oswego, New York. My freshwater charter fishing guests call me Captain Ken for short. I’ve been fishing my whole life. As soon as I could hold a fishing pole on my own, I’ve never looked back. Some of my fondest memories growing up was salmon fishing with my father. Now, several decades into my fishing career, not a day goes by that I don’t get excited to go out and fish. I became a charter captain because I wanted to spend every single day of my life fishing. You could say that taking my guests out to fish for chinook salmon in the majestic waters of Lake Ontario is a dream come true for me.

I’ve spent years familiarizing myself with the Lake Ontario area. I don’t just fish on my own — I’ve made it a point to learn from some of the greatest in the area. Aside from my father, these Lake Ontario anglers have taught me much about the local area. I’ve learned the skills, techniques, and knowledge needed to navigate the lake only from the best and most passionate. It is my mission in life to share the same level of expertise and passion with each guest who books my charter boat on freshwater fishing trips every year.

Spots I Like to Frequent

I feel fortunate to call the great Lake Ontario my freshwater charter home base. It will forever be my favorite spot to fish and explore. The Lake of the Shining Waters is true to its name. It’s one of the Great Lakes of North America for a reason. If I can compare it to any of the Great Lakes, I would say it's comparable to Lake Erie in terms of extent. It may not be as great in size as the other Great Lakes, but it holds its own in terms of productivity. Not only is its ‘shining water’ so stunning to behold, but it’s also a fishing hotspot of the highest order at par with Lake Superior, Lake Erie, or some famous salmon rivers elsewhere. Check out SunMoon Adventures’ Facebook page or come here from April to September, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

My Fishing Charter’s Main Targets and Techniques We Use

Lake Ontario is a salmon and trout water, so those are mainly our charter boat’s target species. Trolling is the fishing technique we commonly use, but we also do light tackle fishing if the situation calls for it. Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and Atlantic salmon are the prized salmon species here. You can likewise catch plenty of rainbow trout, lake trout, brown trout, and steelhead trout in the great lake. During the year's peak season in spring, starting in April, hop aboard my charter boat, and I can easily help you land a chinook or king salmon weighing over 30 pounds. If you’re a trout fishing angler, I can also give you notes and techniques for catching these species. 

Lake fishing may not be as high-octane as fishing trips in the Gulf of Mexico or spearfishing in Florida. Still, it offers a different kind of excitement and fulfillment you won’t find anywhere else in North America. If you’re bringing your entire family along, I will go as far as to say freshwater fishing should be your first choice.

Why Book Your Trip With Me

Aboard the SunMoon boat, fun and safety are our top priorities. I am a master guide and a USCG-licensed Captain. I have first aid and CPR certifications, so you can rest assured I’m equipped with the knowledge to guarantee you a safe time on my boat. I welcome new anglers on my boat! I love imparting skills and techniques to newbies to show them how amazing fishing is as a lifelong hobby. Seeing new anglers catch their first lake trout or Atlantic salmon is always a highlight for me as a master angler guide.

I love having kids aboard my charter boat. If you’re bringing your children along, I recommend brown trout fishing, where we will be trolling the lake for these fish. Want to be more hands-on with your fishing? That’s great, too! Let us know how much help you need — we can be in the background, ready to assist as you do most of the fishing. Or we can be there for you every step of the way to provide you with a more active fishing lesson. Either way, my crew and I will make sure you will enjoy your hours casting a line on our boat.

My 28’ Tiara boat has a capacity of four guests. It runs on twin 360 HP inboard engines. I’ve equipped my vessel with everything anglers need for a safe, productive, and speedy trip. We have a GPS, a fish finder, a fighting chair, and a radar. For your comfort and convenience, we have a private toilet and a kitchen with a refrigerator. We also provide medical supplies in case of unforeseen emergencies. Trolling is our primary fishing technique on the SunMoon boat, so we have installed downriggers to ensure a successful and precise fishing experience for everyone. 

SunMoon Adventures offers different fishing trip durations. We have 4-hour trips, ideal for family-friendly fishing trips, especially if you have kids on board. If you want a fuller Lake Ontario experience, go for the 6-, 8- or 10-hour fishing trips. The extra hours will allow you to explore the shining waters and catch more coho and king salmon. Our charter boat provides rods, reels, tackle, and live bait, so all you need to do is bring the proper fishing license, snacks, and sun protection, and we’re good to go. If you prefer using your gear, bring them along as well. 

If you want to know more about my charter fishing business and the trips I host from late April to September, check out my website, Facebook page, and Instagram. Our website contains all the information you need — our fishing trip types, trip schedules, and target fish. We also post updates on the fishing report page so you can use those as your reference when planning your upcoming trip. If you have any questions before booking a trip with us, don’t hesitate to contact us so we can properly address your concerns. 

I’m looking forward to taking you salmon and trout fishing in Lake Ontario. See you soon!