Trailer ramp · Lake Ontario · New York

Henderson municipal launch

A public trailer ramp on Lake Ontario (Henderson Harbor) in Henderson, Jefferson County, New York. Managed by Municipal.

Directions All Ontario launches

The launch

What the agency lists

Launch type: Trailer ramp — hard surface launch
Water: Lake Ontario (Henderson Harbor)
Parking: 80 cars and trailers
Fee: Not published in the source — ask the manager
Managed by: Municipal
Location: Henderson, Jefferson County, New York
Coordinates: 43.8476° N, 76.2068° W

Before you launch

Lake Ontario is big water

Creek-mouth launches depend on lake level and sand. Some shoal in low water, and the DEC notes where that is a known problem. Out front, the lake is deep and cold close to shore, and a north or west wind stacks waves at the harbor entrances.

Lake-effect snow squalls off the east end. Oswego and Tug Hill can get several feet in a day, and a squall can arrive on a boat ramp with almost no warning in November.
Deep water very close to shore on the south side, which means fish are far offshore in summer — 8 to 15 mile runs are normal and the weather can change during them.
Strong current and standing water at the Niagara Bar. The river outflow meets lake water and creates real hydraulics; small boats get into trouble there in wind against current.

Read how to read a Great Lakes marine forecast and trailering and launching on big water. Pack the big-water safety kit.

From this launch

What to fish on Lake Ontario

Our Ontario fishing guides name spots at or near Henderson Harbor and Henderson:

Chinook Salmon · Mid-June through mid-September, peaking with the staging fish off Oswego and Mexico Bay in late August

Chinook Salmon Fishing on Lake Ontario

Henderson Harbor and Stony Point: The far eastern end fishes shallower and later. Stony Point and the water off Galloo Island produce through September when the western ports have gone quiet.

Lake Trout · May and June shallow, July through September deep, with a fall concentration on the eastern shoals

Lake Trout Fishing on Lake Ontario

Henderson Harbor and the Duck Islands: Rock, current and depth close together. Fish the drops around the islands in 60 to 140 feet through summer.

Northern Pike · May through June, September until ice-up, and December through mid-March through the ice

Lake Ontario Northern Pike: Chaumont Bay, Henderson Harbor & the South-Shore Bays

Henderson Harbor: Famous for smallmouth, but NYSDEC describes the protected harbor as commonly holding pike up to 12 pounds, with fast fishing in spring, fall and winter. Launch at Henderson.

Smallmouth Bass · Late June through October, with September and October the best size window

Smallmouth Bass Fishing on Lake Ontario

Henderson Harbor and Henderson Bay: The center of the eastern basin fishery. Protected water with rock and grass in 10–25 ft, and a short run to the deeper offshore shoals.

Walleye · Mid-May through June, and again from late September into November

Walleye Fishing on Lake Ontario

Henderson Harbor and Henderson Bay: Protected water with a mix of shoals and weed flats. Best known for smallmouth, but the walleye fishing after dark in June is genuinely good and effectively unpressured.

Yellow Perch · September through November open water; January through February on bay ice

Yellow Perch Fishing on Lake Ontario

Black River Bay and Henderson Harbor: Eastern basin, out of Dexter and Henderson. Mixed perch and smallmouth water over 10–20 ft of rock and grass.

Brown Trout Coho Salmon Muskellunge Steelhead

Ontario by season

SpringBrown trout on the Bar and along the beach SummerKings offshore, deep and heavy FallThe Salmon River, and the biggest event on the chain WinterTributaries stay open, the lake mostly does

Next ramp over

Nearest Ontario launches

Henderson state park launch1.9 mi · trailer ramp · NY
Westcott Beach State Park5.5 mi · trailer ramp · NY
Market Square Park8.1 mi · trailer ramp · NY
Hounsfield DEC launch (Black River Bay at Lloyds Landing)11 mi · unimproved trailer launch · NY
Hounsfield DEC launch (Black River Bay at Muskellunge Creek)12 mi · unimproved trailer launch · NY
Lyme DEC launch (Isthmus at Point Peninsula)12 mi · trailer ramp · NY

Straight-line distance, not a boating route.

Landmarks from the water

Lighthouses nearby

Stony Point Light4.6 mi · deactivated
Horse Island Light7.3 mi · deactivated

For the crew ashore

Beaches nearby

Henderson Harbor Yacht Club Beach0.4 mi

Camp or picnic

State parks nearby

Robert G. Wehle State Park3.6 mi

On shore nearby

Worth the stop

Sackets Harbor8.0 mi · town

Source

Launch facts are from the NYSDEC, Boat Launch Sites for Jefferson County, retrieved 2026-10-05. Ramps close for repairs, fees change and water levels move; confirm with Municipal before you tow. Fishing rules are set by theNYSDEC.

Chart shoreline generalized from Natural Earth (public domain). Not for navigation. Something wrong or missing? Write to contact@greatamericanlakes.com.

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