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

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.

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.