Saturday, October 27, 2018

Fish for free day!

Veteran's Day, November 11, 2018 residents can enjoy a day of fresh water fishing in New York without a license.  Fall is a great time to fish and there is no better way to spend a 'free' day of fishing than on the salmon River chasing steelhead.

2019 Chinook salmon stocking plans

In response to intensified concerns regarding Lake Ontario's alewife population, DEC must take additional action to protect the long-term sustainability of the trout and salmon fishery.  Failure to act will serve to extend the severity and duration of adult alewife population instability, with greater potential impacts to the sport fishery. When the adult alewife population is comprised of a broader number of age classes we will consider adjusting stocking back to normal levels.  DEC will further reduce Chinook salmon stocking by an additional 20% in 2019. On average, approximately 50% of Lake Ontario's Chinook salmon originate from natural reproduction ("wild" fish).  

Table 1. Anticipated NYSDEC 2019 stocking targets for Lake Ontario.
Species Life Stage NYSDEC Stocking Policy
2019
Chinook Salmon* Spring Yearlings 1,056,960
Lake Trout Yearling equivalents 400,000
Rainbow Trout Spring Yearlings 615,700
Brown Trout Spring Yearlings 400,000
Atlantic Salmon Spring Yearlings 50,000
Coho Salmon Fall Fingerlings 155,000
Spring Yearlings 90,000
2,767,660

Monday, October 22, 2018

Salmon River mid-October report

The salmon fishing has been excellent up till now.  We had good numbers and the spawning areas were holding what seemed like more than normal numbers.  This is all winding down in the middle river.  I can't say what is happening in the Altmar to Pineville stretch because I avoid it till mid to later November when the crowds and the seasonal guides go away.  Since yesterday the number of salmon in the river from Pineville to 2A has dropped off noticeably, doesn't mean there wont be more entering the river, but seems the 'fat lady has sung'.
Use these,

Yesterday we picked up our first steelhead of the fall, 2 actually. Another 4 to the net today.   All came on 10mm trout beads, egg colors working today as well.  We were drifting them on the bottom, not under floats, and all fish came from behind spawning salmon.  Fish egg sacks or egg fly patterns and you will do well.


these,

The water temp as of yesterday was 51 degrees and the river is running at 476 cfs at Pineville gauge as I type this.
Tis the season, so take advantage of the best fishing on the Salmon River of the year.  November and December are top months for steelhead fishing.  See you out there.

Tight lines.
and these.

Saturday, October 6, 2018

Salmon River report, Columbus Day weekend

Well, the biggest weekend of the year for the Salmon River fishery has arrived, Columbus Day weekend.  Over the years it has been viewed as the height of the salmon season and the grand finale.  Despite these views, the salmon run is just reaching a crescendo that will last another 2 weeks, possible 3, before it all winds down for another year.

To date it has been very good, somedays great.  As of this posting the river is holding salmon throughout its length and the tribs, thanks to some good rainy days, are up and holding good fish.

New wing wall at Altmar boat ramp, 
it's deep out there.
If you plan on fishing the next few days you can expect a lot of salmon in spawning areas and ALOT of fishing pressure, but we expect and accept this, it's tradition at this point.

The fly zones are loaded and if you are fishing the lower fly zone for the first time this year you'll notice a slight change at the Altmar boat ramp, a new wing wall to give drift boat launches a relief from the currents that, in the past, trended to push against the ramp making launching a boat interesting.  I have seen more than 1 boat drifting empty down stream from the ramp with a panicked guide chasing it down the river,

Water is flowing at 488 cfs at Pineville with a release of 335 cfs through Sunday, October 7.

Have fun if you come and talk to the fisherman beside you, he's like you.

Tight lines.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Salmon river report late September 2018

Fishing in the last week has been getting better daily. Fish are entering the river daily in good numbers.  Fished today from Pineville down river and had steady fish movement in all areas of the river.  We should see fish starting to get on the reds within the next week.   Water is very wadable right now with 335 CFS released and 450 CFS average at the gauge in Pineville.

Nice early season King.
Word is out and angling pressure is increasing daily.  By next weekend we should be hitting big numbers of both fish and anglers. Walk away from the parking areas, especially down stream from Pineville and above 2A and you will find some fishing water with less angler pressure.

The river is in great condition and the fish are here.  Plan to share the river and come up and enjoy an event that only happens once a year. Salmon run is on!

Tight lines.

Monday, September 17, 2018

Salmon River fall salmon fishing preview

I fished the Salmon River for the first time this season yesterday morning, was so great to be back on the river.  In view of my recent post regarding the record year of salmon fishing on Lake Ontario, it is expected that this year should be another good year for the salmon run.  Reports began to come in of salmon in the river just before Labor Day this year, kind of reminiscent of last year, which produced a excellent run from early September in to the latter parts of October.

The river yesterday morning was running at 459 cfs with a release of 335 cfs (normal for this time of the year).  I fished with one of my son-in-laws for about an hour from first light to about 7:30.  We had salmon moving through the run we were on and managed to cast to a few, no hook-ups.  There were no big numbers moving but for mid-September the movement was good.

I am always excited to begin fishing the Salmon River in September.  Hope for a great year is always renewed and the adventures that will unfold through the fall will be new in their own way.  This year is special milestone for me.  It was 30 years ago this month that I became a licensed guide and began my career as a fishing guide.  It has truly been an experience of a lifetime.

Tight lines

Catch Rates of Chinook Salmon Double the Five-Year Average During 2018

"Preliminary results from the Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey Indicate that fishing for Chinook salmon has been outstanding along the entire New York shoreline", announced Basil Seggos, Commissioner for NYS DEC.

Ed Shannon shows a 30-plus lb. Niagara Bar King.  
Photo credits: Share the Outdoors
The catch rate of Chinook salmon during April to June 2018 was 227 percent above the previous 5 year average, setting a new record.  Fishing for brown trout and Coho salmon has also been excellent in 2018, with catch rates 38 and 21 percent higher respectively over the previous 5 year averages.  Even Atlantic salmon, which represents a small part of the Lake Ontario fishery, posted a 73 percent increase in catch over the previous 5 years. 

President of the NYSCC (New York State Conservation Council), Chuck Parker, Said "This is the second year in a row that the take of Chinook has been above average at Oswego, as reported by council members."  He attributed the science-based management practices of the DEC's Bureau of Fisheries as an "integral force" in sustaining the world class fishery Lake Ontario offers.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Salmon / Steelhead 2017-18 season in review.

I haven't posted any info on the salmon river since last September, just no time.  Besides having a full schedule fishing and family issues to handle, my mother was dealing with serious health problems that resulted in her passing in early April 2018.  So amidst all that I put the blog on the back burner so to speak.

There were many good things that happened this past season.  The salmon fishing and steelhead fishing were excellent right up in to May.  We had very good water flows through most of the fall and winter and never lost a day on the Salmon River this spring due to high run-off.  This is truly amazing being that most of the watershed had higher than average snowfall this winter.

Another nice happening this spring was my wife and I passed our 39th wedding anniversary in late March.  These past 2 years we have spent our anniversary with our daughters and their husbands, doing some fishing on the Niagara River.
Our captain, John Oravec, with a nice brown trout I landed

We had a great day fishing with a mixed bag of browns, steelhead, walleye, and northern pike, the latter two were not in season.  We did keep a few fish but most were released back in to the river.

It's nice sometime to be 'guided' rather than always be the guide.  We are thinking about another trip this fall with John on the St. Lawrence River for Musky.  Would be for the end of November so we will see how that goes.

My first brown of the day with my son-in-laws.



 I am fishing the Delaware for the next few weeks and then my wife and I are thinking about a trip out west to fish Montana and Idaho,  I have a few projects here at home to do this summer so a trip west will be good incentive to 'git-er-done'.

My last fish of the day, a 30" steelhead caught on an emerald shiner.

Locally here around the Salmon River the trout streams are in good shape and the last few days on home streams as well as the Delaware has seen Isos beginning to show up.  Had a good run on the Hendricksons and March Browns locally so things are progressing normally.  Picking up a few on BWO now also in size #18 and should see Sulphurs soon.




I will be posting again soon with the recent state of the lakes report for 2017.  Was another encouraging report that bodes well for the future of the Salmon River fishery.  I am booking trips for this fall, both salmon and steelhead,  let's book some dates and bend the rods.

Tight lines

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Free Fishing Days for New York State

Free Fishing Days During the following dates, anyone can fish the freshwaters of New York State and no license is required!

• June 23–24, 2018
• September 22, 2018
• November 11, 2018
• February 16–17, 2019

Since no license is required, it’s the perfect time to take a friend or relative fishing.
For a list of DEC-sponsored Fishing Clinics, visit www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27123.html