Salmon river steelhead report, late February

After the roller coaster ride we had for a while in early February, the water release had been at 500cfs for the last week and a half.  With the run off from rain and some snow melt the gauge at Pineville is at 734cfs.  This is a good flow for steelheading on this river.  I'd like to see a little more water as we head into the spring as it will give spawning steelhead cover and hopefully result in good recruitment of steelhead fry in the river's spawning areas.  Too often as we head into late April, early May these areas are high and dry and any chance of a successful hatch and recruitment is virtually lost.

The fishing has been sporadic as far as when they are active.  The only consistant action come at first  light and lasts anywhere for an hour or two at best.  From then on we have had to fish hard and cover lots of water to stay in the action.  The average day is still producing 3-4 fish landed with 6-8 hook ups a day.

Fly fishing with indicators is still producing most steelhead.  The flies of choice being glo bugs, black stone flies #8-12 and as of recent have been having some success with the wiggler pattern.  I have been fishing the Spring Wigglers, sometime referred to as Michigan Wigglers, in the traditional tie and have used a few hybrids of this pattern in pink and in a green body with black shell.  Click on this link for a good pattern for the Spring Wigglers  I have had a few spin fisherman and have had consistant success using egg sacks, blue, pink and chartruese all producing.  Beads work too, however, I don't have the confidence in them as some fellas do so I stick mainly with eggs, "If it aint broke, don't fix it" you know.

The ice fishing locally has been a disappointment.  The weather has cycled warm then cold, with the emphasis on warm, so most bodies of water have never produced consistantly good ice.  This past week alone there have been 2 ice rescues on Oneida Lake due to falling through thin ice.  Lakes and bays in the north country, Jefferson- St Lawerence counties, have been more stable in the ice making/staying department so most guys have headed north. 

I am looking forward to the next 2 months for spring steelheading.  There are good numbers of fish in the river and we are already seeing fresh fish entering the river to spawn.  As for spawning activity, still pretty quiet although I did come across a few steelhead spawning in the Trout Brook area of the river.  I hope the rising gas prices don't have too much impact on those who have to drive aways to get here.  Right now if you travel here you can expect to see gas prices in the 3.85 to 3.95 range, not good.

If you're planning to come up this spring and need info feel free to contact me, happy to offer any assistance if I can. 

Tight lines. 

7 months and counting, 1000 hits

Just a short post to thank everyone who visits this blog.  I started this blog 7 months ago and will pass 1000 hits by tomorrow.  That's an average of 143 hits a month.  Thanks again for your visit.