Friday, January 22, 2016

Salmon River report, January 2016

Winter has been kind to us here in salmon country so far this year.  We have had snow but nothing that has amounted to more than 6"-8" around the river.  Most areas of the river are still accessible by foot, no snow shoes required, and today there was a lot of river to be fished with very few anglers out here right now.
Minimal snow fall has left areas like the
north trestle parking area still accessible.
1 lone angler with the Trestle Pool all to himself.

 The water levels have been stable for about 3 weeks now which is a good thing.  The flow right now is 998 cfs at the Pineville gauge at a 750 cfs release.  The release is going down and will be 350 cfs by midnight Sunday.

The fishing has been good, steady ever day out and there seems to be fresh steelhead showing up regularly.  Most fish this fall and winter have been decent sized 8-12 pound range with a few over that to keep it interesting.

Nice Cattaraugus steelhead from Lake Erie.
December here was wet, we had considerable rainfall which kept the river up till now.  The Lake Erie and Ontario tribs also benefited from this rain with increased flow that drew in good numbers of browns and steelhead.  One of my clients sent this picture with the note that "the Cattaraugus is polluted with steelhead", nothing wrong with that.

Found at the head of the 'Wires' in Altmar.  Take it with you!
Fishing the Salmon River right now is very nice, the water is good, the steelhead are there and cooperating and there are not many anglers to crowd the river.  However, all this can be ruined by the river and banks being polluted, not with fish, but with trash that is left by angler who can be described only as pigs.  This is my rant so bear with me.  There are a good number of, to be PC, eastern Europeans who fish here quite regularly.  I don't have a problem with that, though if you read some forums that report on the Salmon River there are those who do.  My point to be made is 2 fold.  If you are an eastern European who fishes here and wants to improve the impression others have about you, then don't leave your trash along the river.  Take it out when you leave.  This also applies to our neighbors, fellow Americans, (some who are quite vocal about sharing the river with our eastern European visitors),  from NJ and Metro PA, take your crap out with you.  My second point is this, if you don't care and are going to leave your trash, then stay the hell home.  My rant is done.
What's left by our 'friends' at the Lower Fly Zone parking lot
in Altmar

Come up and enjoy the river, there is nothing like it east of the Mississippi.  It is here for you, waiting and always ready.

Tight lines