Late Spring fishing in the Tug Hills

It's been hard to fine the time to post here.  I've had good intentions but no time.  Tonight is just a short post. 

Here around home the trout streams are prime and the typical hatches are finally on schedule.  The cooler than normal spring had the bugs appearing late for awhile.  Things are fine now.  The latest may flies to show up are the Green Drakes.  This evening we had a tremendous Coffin Fly spinner fall, I haven't seen one this heavy since one evening a few years back fishing the Genessee River in Shongo near the Pennsylvania line.  What was nice about this evenings bug storm was that it was in my back yard (literally) here on the Mad River.  It's nice to walk out the back door with the fly gear and then walk back home at dusk.

I plan on heading to the Salmon River in the next day or two and see what the smallmouth bass are up to.  They are always fun to play with.

I'll post again soon (try to).  Enjoy the beautiful weather.

Tight lines.

Salmon River report - late April 2014

The past 2 weeks have seen the river at flood stage with the annual snow melt and run-off from the Tug Hills.  A little over a week ago the river was pushing almost 9000cfs and has fluxuated between releases of 2250cfs back up to over 3000cfs.  As of this posting the river is on the drop with the gauge at Pineville reading 3050cfs and the release is scheduled to be at 1800cfs by midnight Friday.  This is the lowest release in over 2 weeks, alot of us are looking forward to being on the river again.

The steelhead are actively spawning and are probably past peak.  This means that the river is holding good numbers of drop-backs and these are active fish.  With the water levels dropping the river should begin to warm up and this can translate into very good fishing.

The inside of the bend can hold good numbers
of fish readily accessible from shore.

The river will probably stay in the 1800cfs range for a fews days and for the bank angler this can limit some of the access to your favorite spots.  There are, however, many areas that will be holding fish and be easily fished from shore.  One area is pictured here, the inside of a river bend.  In heavier currents fish will use the inside of a river bend to gain relief from strong currents, especially fish that are tired and weakened from the rigors of spawning.  Fish the seam created by the faster currents as they butt against the slower current.

Soft water behind this downed tree will hold fish.

Another place to fish that is accessable to the river bank is where trees are undercut by the current and end up laying in the river.  The tree slows the water down below it and this give an area for steelhead to rest.  Areas like this were made for the indi rig.

Diversions are another option when dealing with high water flows.

When the river is up so are the diversions like the one pictured to the right.  These become more like the trout streams most of us are accustomed to fishing and wading.  Diversions off the Salmon River are prime spawning areas.  These areas will have good numbers of steelhead in them.  If you do fish diversions try to avoid the actively spawning pairs, instead, look for the non-dominant males and offer them your fly, they will usually be happy to play.  There is alot of debate over the ethics of fishing in spawning areas, you'll have to make your own decisions as to fish them or not.  I try to avoid the actively spawning pair and focus on the lesser, more agressive males.

Locally the trout streams are in good shape, but a tad on the cold side.  Bug activity is minimal at best and even pounding the water with streamers has been slow.  I did notice today though that there was some activity by the state stocking some of the local streams.  With the snow melt done and if we get a decent string of warm days we should begin to see some Blue Quill and Dark Hendrickson popping.

For you turkey hunters, me being one also, Thursday, May 1 is the long awaited opening of spring turkey season.  The turkeys are very active locally and I have seen more hit by cars this spring than I can remember.

Hope you steelhead season has been good and what ever other outdoor activity you persue this spring will be enjoyable and successful.

Tight lines.

Salmon River fishing report - early spring

Spring is trying hard to come here on the Salmon River but winter is not giving up, not yet.  The roller coaster ride of 2-3 days of warming and back down to 2-3 days of sub-freezing temperatures has been the norm here for the last couple weeks.  It look as though, however, that winter is loosing it's grip, finally.  Warm temperatures are forecast from here on out with some daytime temps nudging 50-60 degrees.  Once the night time temps start to stay above freezing we will see thing really start to change.  Right now the release is 350cfs with the gauge at Pineville reading 518cfs as I write this.  As temperatures begin to warm up during the day the flows will begin to spike in daytime and drop at night.  I do expect to see the release begin to climb with in the next week as steadier warmth is forecast.  As for the annual run-off, when it happens your guess is as good as mine but I'll predict the third week of April this year.  When it does come, it will probably be major as there is alot of snow in the Tug Hill from this past winter. 

Traditional streamer tied to imitate
Alevin work well swinging.

Spawning activity is in full swing and there are even a few drop backs being hooked.  This will be the case from now to the end of April.  Swinging flies is beginning to produce both with actively spawning fish as well as  drop backs.  One fly that I rely on heavily this time of the year is the alevin pattern.  The river is full of salmon alevin and the steelhead will target these readily.  There are many patterns that can be found on the internet, some very sophisticated and some simple ties, I prefer the simple patterns.  I use basically 2 patterns for both swinging and indicator fishing.  A traditional steamer pattern such as Black Nose Dace, Black Ghost tied with a red collar or the Pearl Rabbit Streamer, all tied in #10 or 12 work well swinging.



Doesn't get much simpler or deadlier.

For indicator fishing I like a simple Mylar and globug yarn pattern pictured below.  Easy to tie and in a size10 or 12 is very deadly for both drop backs and actively spawning fish.  I found this pattern on  the internet a few years ago, don't remember where, but to the guys who posted it, thanks.

The area streams are for the most part locked in ice.  There are a few that show signs of melting do to run off but it could be a week or so before they are open and fishable.

The end of the spring fishing on the river will be wrapping up before you know it.  I did, however, see the full moon last week and according to my time keeping we will be up to our proverbial neck in salmon in just six short months.

Tight lines.

Salmon River report mid-February 2014

The weather here for the past 2 weeks has been down right cold.  With a 285cfs release this has lead to quite a bit of the river locked up in ice.  Today, however, the temperatures hit 41 degrees and we are looking at possible 50s by Friday.  This should open up the river to more normal dimensions and add to this the rain in the forecast for Thursday and Friday and we should see the release increased as well as run-off.  The water temperature is 34-35 degrees right now and with some snow melt it will probably inch closer to 32-33 degrees, so if you're fishing this week end and the bite seems a little off, that's probably the reason. 

I have notice the beginnings of some spawning activity but nothing to get excited about.  We still have 2 to 3 weeks till they get going seriously at procreating their species.   At present the fishing has been sporadic, typical of this time of year, however, when the bite is on it is good.  Fly fishing smallish nymphs (#14-18) under indies, black stones, flash backs, Copper Johns and other bead heads have been working well.  Also, from now till the steelies drop out of the river, fishing small alvine patterns work very well.  If you are swinging flies the alvine type patterns are working to some degree now.  As the water warms and the stealhead become more active swinging these type of patterns really gets good.

Next month is the State of Lake Ontario meeting, Tuesday March 18, 2014 in the Salmon River area.  It will be held at the DEC Training Academy (the old Portly Angler) on County Route 2A, just outside of Pulaski.  If you are fishing in the area this should be an interesting  meeting.  If you want to attend it starts at 7pm, I'll see you there.

Things are about to heat up, both tempeture wise and fishing wise.  See you on the river.

Tight lines

Salmon River, NY - mid-January report

Two words say it all

Fishing right now is a sport for the hardiest of souls.  The mercury dipped to minus 25 this morning and as I write this it has clawed it's way up to 3 above, the bright sunshine is telling big lies today.  I took a ride to the river this morning and it looked beautiful.  That being said, however, the temps are dangerous if you are ill prepared.  The only anglers were in the Altmar area and they began showing up about noon.  Prior to this, in these temps the river is covered in skim ice, hard to fish through that stuff.  By 11:30 this morning the river was clear in the Altmar area except for a fog lifting off the river, which got thicker and colder everytime the wind picked up.


Looks nice but is bitterly cold, bundle up!

The water flow is 1200cfs being released and 1640 cfs at the gauge in Pineville.  The heavier flow does help to clear the skim ice but doesn't eliminate it.  Most anglers will be in Altmar on days like this as the water will clear by late morning.  From Pineville down, however, the ice never gets a chance to clear.  Until the temps push back up into the high teens/ low 20s the river from Pineville down to the lake get little to no fishing pressure.  This coming Saturday is forcast for mid 20s so could open up some nice steelheading opportunities.  I took the water temp at Pineville and it is hovering just above freezing, 33-34 degrees.



Skim ice, a pain in the ... drift.

Most anglers today, I saw all of three and these showed up in Altmar about 12 noon, showed common sense and stayed home.  Not to say these few anglers were lacking good judgement they looked well prepared to stay warm, but most guys like myself will wait for warmer weather.  Fishing in these conditions is a mental game as well.  First you have to REALY love steelheading. Second, you need to be fully aware of what you will be dealing with, the sunny day can throw your preception of the true conditions and that can be discouraging and dangerous once you're out there.  Third, you need to compartmentalize the cold when after an hour or so you DO begin to get cold.  You may be able to hang out another hour or more but need to change the body and minds focus from the cold to something else.  I have found that hooking into a steelhead about this time help change the focus.



A hardy soul with the fly zone in Altmar all to himself.

Winter steelheading can be challenging but for the persistant angler it can also be enjoyable and rewarding.  It's not gonna stay this cold all winter (let's hope the Polar Vortex stays where it belongs).  Mid February normally begins to see temperatures moderate to the mid 30s for daytime and the steelhead also begin to start setting up to spawn.  If you 'pay your dues' winter steelheading, you will be rewarded.

Tight lines


Tis the season - for Steelhead

Been a while since my last post.  Business is good and so is the fishing, the two probably go hand-in- hand.  The river is in excellent shape as are the fish.  The river has gone from flows as low as 335cfs to flows over 2000cfs.  The past week we enjoyed flows in the 700cfs range and as I type this the release is 1200cfs and the gauge at Pineville is reading 1480cfs.  This will continue to drop and I'd expect to see it settle back into the 700cfs range by the weekend.

The salmon run was excellent with plenty of fish and happy anglers. In the wake of last years historic run the river was VERY crowded.  Thankfully the boat can alleviate alot of this.  All-in-all it was a great season on the salmon and I look forward to next year. 

A nice King. Look at that bicep, heavy Krista?

I picked up a couple of new Redington 9wts, their Pursuit package (rod, reel, line and leader) to use with customers this year.  As a review, I was disappointed.  The reel seat will not stay locked up and needed to be checked (and  tightened) regularly.  Also the reel was the biggest disappointment.  The drag was weak to say the least, for a big game reel I expected more.  Granted, it's a 'package' reel but I expected more.  Also, the reel is cast, not milled, and on the third day using these, one of the handles snapped off while my client was fighting a salmon.  She was palming the spool and the handle caught her rain jacket, snapped off, cutting the back of her thumb pretty good in the process.  My feeling is that these outfits are NOT up to the task for big fish, both in design and in performance.

Dr. Ciccarelli with a nice chrome fish.

Steelhead fishing has been getting better over the last 2 weeks, alot of chrome right now.  We are indi-fishing for the most part and egg patterns are the fly to go to.  Glo-bugs in chartreuse with a pink or red dot, Oregon Cheese with Steelhead Orange dot and pink or chartreuse estaz is a good choice.  Have also pick a few on some stone flies, tan or yellow #10 and small flash-back Hare's ear, #12. 

Egg fishing is always good right now if your spinning or pinning.  Have also talked to a few guides who are doing well on beads.  Try Glo-roe and the various shades of chartreuse beads, these seem the be favored right now, 8mm and 10mm.

This says it all for late fall steelheading.  Nice job Brian.

The weather is typical for this area and this time of year.  Plan on cool to cold mornings and always plan on some form of 'lake enhanced' precipitation.  

Now is the time to fish steelhead in this guides opinion, nothing like this time of year for steelhead.  Hope you get the chance to come up and enjoy it.

Tight lines.

Salmon River fishing report - October 1-7, 2013

The water levels have been consistant with a 335cfs release and average 412cfs at Pineville gauge.  It spiked yesterday to 609cfs due to the all day rains we had here yesterday, it is however on the drop right now as run-off eases back.



Large numbers of fish equal large numbers of happy anglers.

The salmon are in full spawning mode in all the traditional spawning areas.  There are a lot of fish, and a lot of anglers.  Most fisherman are doing well on the 'catching', some are doing well on the 'snatching' too.  There are still very good numbers of salmon entering the river and making their way upstream.  This has kept the action steady and productive.

The weather has been beautiful and the forcast is for continued fair weather.  The temps are staying cool at night helping the fish survive the low water.

Hope you get an opportunity to get up here in the next 2 weeks as the fishing should continue to be very good.  Here are a few highlight from the last week.

Howard show us a nice fresh King.

A BEAUTIFUL Salmon River COHO.

Carlos and his father, Carlos Sr. hoist 2 nice
Kings caught on flies.
 

Tight lines.