Copyright 2009 James Marsh
Fly Fishing the Salmon River New York
The Salmon River is the most popular Salmon and
Steelhead River in the Eastern United States. The river
flows from the lower reservoir through the City of Pulaski
into Lake Ontario near Selkirk State Park in the Finger
Lakes area of New York. It's a tailwater that operates to
produce electrical power and the discharge rates and
water levels can change (the water flows are posted on
the Internet and generally change at 9 PM) within a
short time. Anglers from all over the Eastern United
States visit this stream for one reason. They want to
catch one of the 30 pound salmon or 20 pound
steelhead that move into this river. As if that were not
enough, huge size brown trout move into the river from
Lake Ontario. Atlantic Salmon and Lake Trout are also
occasionally caught.
There's approximately twelve miles of river that's
fishable with well identified holes and pools. Although
some areas are more likely to hold more fish than
others, these are migrating fish and they can be found
anywhere. There are two fly fishing only areas. The first
one is the Lower Fly Zone located between a marked
boundary at Beaverdam Brook downstream to the
County Route 52 Bridge in Altmar. The other Upper Fly
Zone is located just downstream from theLight House Hill
Reservoir tailrace to above the upstream side of the
Salmon River Fish Hatchery. These areas have special
regulations. The Lower Fly zone is open from
September 15 through May 15. The Upper Fly Zone is
open to angling from April 1 to November 30. These
dates are subject to change, so be certain to check the
current regulations.
Although most of the property adjoining the river is
privately owned, access is still very good along the
entire length with well worn paths on both sides of the
stream in most cases. As you may expect, this river can
become crowded at times during Salmon season. As you
can see in some of the images, at times the river can be
practically lined with anglers. Because of that, there are
some specialized techniques used in order for everyone
to be able to fish effectively without bothering the other
anglers. These are discussed in our fishing guide
section.
Seasons:
The seasons depend on the section of the river being
fished and the particular species of fish you are
pursuing. Salmon River has only three small tributaries
leading into to Beaver Creek, Orwell Creek, Trout Brook
all will hold fish during the season. When the Salmon
River is blown out 2,000+ cfs, these streams will provide
some good fishing. If they are blown out, then there are
a number of other rivers in the area that will be fishing
well.
Once the salmon and steelhead are in it is a MONO river
meaning they are spread out throughout the entire river.
The holding and spawning spots are well know and are
pounded on a regular daily basis.
Spring:
After they have spawned, the steelhead fishing becomes
very active again when the water temperatures begin to
rise and the flows increase just before they move back
into the lake from up to the end of late May to early July
and fishing can be excellent.
Summer:
There are some runs of Skamania steelhead in July.
There's also a small run of brown trout. In August, off
and on runs of Coho and Chinook (King Salmon) salmon
start occurring. Atlantic Salmon can be fore on the river
at this time.
Fall:
You will find the best runs of Coho and Chinook salmon
takes place in late August and early September and
continuing on into October. There are also some brown
trout that move into the river at this time. The best time
for fly fishing the Salmon River for steelhead is during
the month of November.
Fly Fishing Guide to the
Steelhead can be caught throughout the winter. Holding
in the deeper pools of the river. (Click Here to Continue).
The Salmon River is the most popular Salmon and
Steelhead River in the Eastern United States. The river
flows from the lower reservoir through the City of Pulaski
into Lake Ontario near Selkirk State Park in the Finger
Lakes area of New York. It's a tailwater that operates to
produce electrical power and the discharge rates and
water levels can change (the water flows are posted on
the Internet and generally change at 9 PM) within a
short time. Anglers from all over the Eastern United
States visit this stream for one reason. They want to
catch one of the 30 pound salmon or 20 pound
steelhead that move into this river. As if that were not
enough, huge size brown trout move into the river from
Lake Ontario. Atlantic Salmon and Lake Trout are also
occasionally caught.
There's approximately twelve miles of river that's
fishable with well identified holes and pools. Although
some areas are more likely to hold more fish than
others, these are migrating fish and they can be found
anywhere. There are two fly fishing only areas. The first
one is the Lower Fly Zone located between a marked
boundary at Beaverdam Brook downstream to the
County Route 52 Bridge in Altmar. The other Upper Fly
Zone is located just downstream from theLight House Hill
Reservoir tailrace to above the upstream side of the
Salmon River Fish Hatchery. These areas have special
regulations. The Lower Fly zone is open from
September 15 through May 15. The Upper Fly Zone is
open to angling from April 1 to November 30. These
dates are subject to change, so be certain to check the
current regulations.
Although most of the property adjoining the river is
privately owned, access is still very good along the
entire length with well worn paths on both sides of the
stream in most cases. As you may expect, this river can
become crowded at times during Salmon season. As you
can see in some of the images, at times the river can be
practically lined with anglers. Because of that, there are
some specialized techniques used in order for everyone
to be able to fish effectively without bothering the other
anglers. These are discussed in our fishing guide
section.
Seasons:
The seasons depend on the section of the river being
fished and the particular species of fish you are
pursuing. Salmon River has only three small tributaries
leading into to Beaver Creek, Orwell Creek, Trout Brook
all will hold fish during the season. When the Salmon
River is blown out 2,000+ cfs, these streams will provide
some good fishing. If they are blown out, then there are
a number of other rivers in the area that will be fishing
well.
Once the salmon and steelhead are in it is a MONO river
meaning they are spread out throughout the entire river.
The holding and spawning spots are well know and are
pounded on a regular daily basis.
Spring:
After they have spawned, the steelhead fishing becomes
very active again when the water temperatures begin to
rise and the flows increase just before they move back
into the lake from up to the end of late May to early July
and fishing can be excellent.
Summer:
There are some runs of Skamania steelhead in July.
There's also a small run of brown trout. In August, off
and on runs of Coho and Chinook (King Salmon) salmon
start occurring. Atlantic Salmon can be fore on the river
at this time.
Fall:
You will find the best runs of Coho and Chinook salmon
takes place in late August and early September and
continuing on into October. There are also some brown
trout that move into the river at this time. The best time
for fly fishing the Salmon River for steelhead is during
the month of November.
Fly Fishing Guide to the
Steelhead can be caught throughout the winter. Holding
in the deeper pools of the river. (Click Here to Continue).
| Type of Stream Tailwater Species Brown Trout Coho Salmon Chinook Salmon (Kng Salmon) Steelhead Atlantic Salmon Skamania Steelhead Size Large Location North Central New York State on Lake Ontario Nearest Towns Pulaski Season Varies - see adjacent article Access: Good Non-Resident License State of New York Weather National Weather Service Link Fly Fishing Guide Suggested Flies Fly Fishing Gear Additional Images: Photo Album - Page One |
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Salmon River
New York
New York
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Photo Courtesy of
Dennis McCarthy
Dennis McCarthy
Photo Courtesy of
Dennis McCarthy
Dennis McCarthy
Special Thanks:
All of the photos and all of the
information was provided by Dennis
McCarthy. Dennis is an avid fly
fisherman from New Jersey who
travels and fishes extensively. He
has a trailer on the Salmon River
and fishes there very often.
All of the photos and all of the
information was provided by Dennis
McCarthy. Dennis is an avid fly
fisherman from New Jersey who
travels and fishes extensively. He
has a trailer on the Salmon River
and fishes there very often.