Salmon River Labor Day weekend report

It's hard to focus these days.  Summer projects around the house seem to annoy me more than normal, the Delaware River guiding schedule seems to have lost some of it's appeal and I suddenly feel the urgent need to tie salmon flies.  The night time temperatures for the last week have been in the upper 40s/ low 50s, there is a noticeable changing of the color on more trees here and these have me distracted most of the time now.  It is the salmon run that occupies a lot of my thinking these days and I know that within the month I will be guiding clients again for salmon.

This weekend will 'unofficially' mark the beginning of the salmon season here for the Salmon River.  The reports from the lake are encouraging and the river will be up to a 750 cfs release this weekend.  I am giving serious thought to putting the drift boat in and making an exploratory run down to the ballpark, with my fly rod of course.  If I don't float I will definitely be wading some areas below Pineville looking for early runners pulled in by the cooler water temps and higher flows.

A vision of things soon to come.

Just a few things to keep in mind that may encourage you to visit this fall.  Fish for free days, there will be 2 this fall in New York.  September 23, 2017 will be a free day.  This is usually an annual date you can depend on as it runs in conjunction with the National Hunting and Fishing Day.  This also usually coincides with an open house at the Salmon River Hatchery in Altmar, NY.  There is always demos, informative lectures and activities for the kids at the hatchery, oh, and there will be salmon in the fish ladders to see by then.

The 2nd fish free day is Veteran's Day, November 11, 2017.

I have some good dates thought the end of September (a few) and October and November have some excellent dates available.  Give me a call or drop me a note, let's fish together this fall.

Tight lines

Fish Creek, Mad River fishing report

Spent the last few evenings in these creeks fishing the last hour or so to dark.  Has been excellent using a parachute Adams size # 16.  Fished the other evening and never changed flies, landed well over a dozen nice fat, robust browns.

Fished the same stretch on Fish Creek 2 nights ago bringing 6 plus browns to the net I about 20 minutes, 2 over 18" using a size # 10 Iso comparadun. 

This has got to be the best time of the year to catch big browns.  They are aggressive and blow-up on the fly.  Saw a few Hex flying up stream the other night so the fishing is going to get better!

Tight lines

Mid-summer report, local streams and Salmon River forecast

Yep, still here.  It's been awhile since last post but things keep moving forward.  Summers is moving faster than most of us prefer, then again, some of us are eagerly looking down the road into fall.  Here is a current update on the trout fishing on local streams.

After a lot of rain through most of this spring and early summer the creeks are down to their summer levels and have been for about the last 3 weeks.  This has translated into some excellent fishing. Fly hatches are great with very good BWO size 18-20, Light Cahill's and Sulphur's size 14-16 and Isos size 12 being the main stay for the late afternoon into evening angler. There are also some good caddis action on the smaller patterns size 18.  I am anxiously waiting for the annual Hex hatch here on a few of the local streams.  This hatch typically starts about now into September and is the hatch I look forward to all year.

Nice Delaware River brown trout.

Been working on the Delaware River quite regularly and the fishing is good.  Similar hatches as to the ones listed above.  The West Branch is fishing well although we did have a little color in the water last weekend due to some rain but streamer (small ones) worked and flies continued to hatch.  The Delaware River fishing should really start to pick up as we move on into September.  The fish seem to know winter is coming and they put the feed bag on.  We will see some excellent Iso fishing picking up through this time frame as well.

As for the Salmon River, you should make plans to be here now for Labor Day weekend.  The last release for the summer season is slated for the Saturday/ Sunday, September 2,3.  This will be a release of 750 cfs. and should pull a few salmon into the river.  As we approach the salmon run

Nice, early run Salmon River King

this year as always we have high hopes.  Last season was not a disappointment as the salmon came in good, steady numbers into the third week of October.  I am getting excited just typing this!

My schedule is booking good but it is still early and I have many good dates open for both salmon and steelhead later into November and December.

Tight lines