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.