The fishing for salmon has been going very well. The salmon continue to enter the river and have made their way throughout the entire river system. This quality of fishing will only get better as we move on into October. You can expect the run to peak around the week of October 15-20. Till then most of the fishing pressure on the river will be for salmon. There is bedding activity setting up in the usual spawning areas; upper Sportsman to the tail of the Ace, the head of the Refrigerator Hole to the bend below the abandoned trestle and the mouth of Orwell Brook up through the tail of the Wire Hole. These areas are loading steadily and with the low water in the diversions you will likely find these main river spawning areas holding more than the normal numbers of spawning salmon.
The water still is low, 208cfs at Pineville as I post this. There is virtually no drift boat fishing due to these conditions, but a few fella have banged their way down through the upper river. We have been getting some steadier rain of late but not enough to raise the river, even with run-off. The forecast for the first week of October is calling for 3-4 days of rain at 30%-40% chance, not promising. One good thing, with this cooler rain being added to the flows here, the water temps are becoming favorable to the salmon surviving their trip up the river. Let's hope the fall rains start to bump up the flows before too long. Also, due to the low water levels the opening of the lower fly zone at Altmar has been delayed by the state DEC till at least November.
There are a lot of fish holding in the deeper pools wait for their clock to send them on into the spawning mode. These fish are difficlt to catch. Since entering the river they have recieved an education and have seen, as we use to say, 'everything Tony's sells'. Back in the 80's and early 90's Tony's Salmon Country (where the Drift Boat Inn is now) was THE major tackle shop on the Salmon River. Back to the salmon, they are line shy and most fish hooked in the deeper pools are fish that have probably been inadvertantly (or intentionally) lined.
Your best opportunities at active, aggressive salmon are fish that have set up to spawn and will respond aggressively to the fly, mostly the male fish. Weighted buggers and leeches are working good, darker colors in low light and brighter colors as the day goes on. By the second and third weeks of October you will want to use some good egg patterns, these can be tied in larger sizes as you'll still be fishing salmon. Steelhead will be showing upper and these egg patterns will work well. Can't wait for these chrome fish. To date this fall season we have bumped into a couple, that's it, but I don't really expect too many right now.
As for the crowds, well, they are here. Just have to start early and move around the river. That is how I deal with it as a guide. Whether on foot or in the drift boat, this time of year you need to move and explore the river. You will find areas that do not recieve a lot of pressure and some days I know we are the only anglers to fish to some groups of fish that day.
This is the time of year we wait for here, the salmon runs. Take advantage of it, you'll not be disappointed.
Tight lines.
