Salmon On The Salmon River?

[VTflyfishing]

Has anyone fished the Salmon River in Pulaski NY during Salmon season? I am think about planning a trip out there. But I want to avoid the real large crowds. Do you mainly swing flies?

[Dave]

This past fall I hit one of the first pushes of fresh kings and cohos in early September, and it was extremely pleasant. There is lots of solitude during the first two weeks of September. Anything after Sept. 15 becomes very to extremely crowded, and in some cases, unfishable in a lot of places. The first week of October through Columbus Day weekend is the hayday of the salmon run. I've also experienced pleasant fishing after Oct. 15. Then the steelhead are targeted. With migratory fish, and taking into account conditions of water levels, temp, etc, these time periods shift I'm sure.

I highly recommend an early run if you can. Avoid the third week of Sept. through the second week of Oct. That is, if you want to avoid the crowds.

[Brookie]

As Dr. Rave has noted, be prepared to not enjoy solitude during the peak salmon run. Even in early September it can get a little nutty on the SR.

If you wait it out, usually you can get some sort of semblance of solitude by the later afternoon hours, especially in the DSR - at least that's been my experience.

If you've never done it, by all means go for it and savor the experience. You will see the good, the bad and the ugly. After a couple trips of doing that, my bet is that you'll wait for steelhead season to kick into gear.

Dave

[paul young]

when you hook your first fresh salmon, you'll know you made the right choice-think freight train with fins!

1x tippet and hang on-if you can! i had to break several off last year because i was in spots where i couldn't chase them and was going to be spooled.....-Paul

[Adam]

1X???
Loren convinced me to use 15lb maxima...what a difference..

Regarding solitude and salmon...you can find space if you really reallly really want to look for it. But the fishing for you may be slow. I head up there with a bunch of friends to be a part of the craziness. Solitude and salmon fishing on the salmon river...not really. But it should be done at least once...DSR is well worth it and you will see things you never thought possible. Everyone has a story.

[VTflyfishing]

Ok I am going to shoot for a trip early sept and again for the end of oct.

[AaronJasper]

Do the September trip but I would do the second trip mid to late November.

[VTflyfishing]

Ok so now I will to Sept, Oct, Nov and might as well do one in Dec. I might become a member of a fish and game club in Mexico Ny. A thousand dollar buy in and then 250 per year. Then its 10 dollars a night when you stay at the club.

[paul young]

to each his own...1X Rio is pretty close to 15 lb test.

after fishing with Loren for steelhead, i'm sure he has good reasons for what he does. i just like the Rio products a lot.-Paul

[TexasChris]

edit

wrong species ;D