The water flow at Pineville gauge is just under 400cfs, about normal for this time of the year. Don't expect it to increase anytime soon as no major rain fall is in the foreseeable future. Still plenty of water for good fish movement and enough to float a drift boat. Some have asked about floating with 3 clients plus the guide, unfortunately with this water flow 2 clients is the limit. If the flows push above 750cfs 3 clients is no problem in the boat.
As usual I will be fishing the Pineville to 2A bridge section this fall for both salmon and steelhead. Even during the peak of the salmon run the crowds are minimal and there is plenty of both open water and fish. Actually some of the best salmon and steehead water is in this stretch. I have a few excellent dates for salmon open in early October and plenty of good steelhead dates from October 20 to the end of December.
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| Well worn foot path along the Salmon River |
Walking along the river this time of year is very enjoyable. The fall season is taking hold and the leaves are starting to change colors now. The smell of fish is in the air (sometimes not a pleasant smell). The fishing is quiet right now but seeing fishermen standing in the river fishing is like a notice that something is about to happen.
One feature of the Salmon River is the foot paths that run up and down both sides of most of it's length. These are well wore after 40 years of use, some as deep as a foot and if this fishery vanished tomorrow you could still walk these path 50 years from now. I always think of the thousands of anglers who walked these paths and left their own impression in the banks here. Some of these paths look almost cathedral like.
I'll be fishing regularly now and will post as the run progresses. Keep your line tight.
