Salmon River estuary for Pike

 Rowed the drift boat around the estuary just over a week ago.  I was fishing with a good friend, Carlton Schumaker.  I met him years ago when I was Pro-staffing for G Loomis, Carlton was one of the sales reps I worked regularly with.  He is now the Eastern Regional rep for Korker boots .  We were fishing with one of Carltons salesmen and Karl and Rick of Pineville Sports Shop.  

The day started out overcast and gradually broke into full sun and blue skies.  Carlton was throwing a huge pike streamer and the other boat was working spinner baits.  Everybody did well!

NICE Chain Pickeral.

First fish for Carlton was the nice Northern Pike

Carlton landed this nice Pickeral pictured above.  He said it was the biggest he's caught, told him to get out of New Hampshire more.  It is not uncommon to catch Pickeral like this in the eastern Lake Ontario areas.  I have caught several Pickeral in this size fishing here and in the St Lawrence River.  Aggressive fish for sure.

The lake fishery here gets most of the publicity and rightly so, it is a tremendous fishery.  But don't overlook the Salmon River itself during the summer as there are excellent opportunities for fish like this.

Tight lines

Salmon River water forecast

Straight on view of the falls.

 I had an opportunity to take a ride with my wife over to Pulaski about 2 weeks ago, while there we visited the Salmon River falls and was nicely surprised to see it running some good water.  We had been getting fairly heavy rain fronts moving through the area on a weekly basis giving the upper river a good flow.

 

From the lookout abreast of the falls.

We headed on up to the reservoir at Redfield and was surprised at the amount of water, well above full pool.  This is nice to see.  If they stay with minimal flow through the summer, with a few high-water weekends worked in we should have good water for the fall runs.  Currently the flow at Pineville is 281cfs with a 185cfs release.  

Water in the trees around the reservoir

Bass season is in, and the Salmon River reservoir is home to some very nice large and small mouth bass populations.  Most of my fishing for both species is with a wacky rigged senko in black with blue flakes or a Texas rigged trick worm in black.  Early mornings will see a spinner bait or jerk bait working well.  As the weeds grow towards the surface of the water, I use top water plugs, a lot.

Nice 'Largie' on a slow crawled trick worm along a weed edge.

Hope you all enjoy the summer.  The summer and fall fishing prospects look good here on the Salmon River, try to get here and take advantage of it.

Tight lines