The route Omer took to Ablom is known. In the Land of Cumorah, east of Rochester is Irondequoit Bay, which extends inland currently 4 miles (.5 miles wide, 70 ft deep) and has a tributary (Irondequoit Creek) extending it eastward to Palmyra. It then merges with Red Creek, then Ganargua Creek (at Lyons), then Clyde River (at Clyde), where it meets Sodus Creek heading northward to Sodus Bay or Ablom.
4 And it came to pass that we did march forth to the land of Cumorah, and we did pitch our tents around about the hill Cumorah; and it was in a land of many waters, rivers, and fountains; and here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites. (Mormon 6)
3 And the Lord warned Omer in a dream that he should depart out of the land; wherefore Omer departed out of the land with his family, and traveled many days, and came over and passed by the hill of Shim, and came over by the place where the Nephites were destroyed, and from thence eastward, and came to a place which was called Ablom, by the seashore, and there he pitched his tent, and also his sons and his daughters, and all his household, save it were Jared and his family. (Ether 9)
The location of First Creek would have been tucked safely back a distance from the bay, on the raised bank with a southerly view to watch for anyone coming from the south and to catch fish (especially during the spawning season) where the creek entered the bay.
“Fishing on the open water for trout and salmon starts in Sodus Bay the first of April. At the beginning of the year, the fish are in very shallow water. Fish will be concentrated in the warmest water they can find. They are just becoming active and chasing the bait that is congregating there. As a rule, we are looking for the warmest water possible. Warm water is found at the mouth of any stream or bay flowing out into the lake.” (https://www.fishsodusbay.com/fishing-seasons-techniques/april-may-fishing/).
October-March Fishing
“Fishing this time of year focused on trout and salmon in the tributaries.” (http://www.fishsodusbay.com/fishing-seasons-techniques/october-march-fishing/)
See also: