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NY steelhead...
...So this fall I'm hoping to take a trip to NY for some steelhead fishing and although there is plenty of information on the web, firsthand accounts are much better.
I don't want to take a guided trip and will only be wading. From the looks of it, the Salmon river is my best bet. I only have a 5/6 wt rod, so I'm assuming I will be needing something a bit heavier than that. Any recommendations?
If you've taken any trips out there or have fished the area, I would love to hear about it and/or see some pictures.
Thanks,
-Pemi
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The Salmon River (NY) will be a zoo from the end of september through mid-october for the salmon run (transplanted kings). The steelhead will follow spawing fish upstream looking for eggs. I've always thought that steelhead don't spawn until early spring (like rainbows), but I've heard of guys starting to fish for them in late fall (end of mid-november) straight through till spring.
Most of it is very well marked and there are lots of shops in Pulaski that will try to point you in the right direction. In the past, the shops were prone to go overboard in getting fish onto people's lines... at the expense of advocating some questionable techniques... that's changing some but it depends a lot on the shop you are in.
Down close to the lake, the douglaston salmon run is a private stetch of river that has some great water, but they charge a fee to fish for the day (last time I checked is was between $20 and $30). There are also two fly fishing zones way upstream - one below and one above the hatchery. You need to check dates and regulations because these sections close.
Between the lower fly stretch and the DSR is 10-15 miles of well marked river. Local shops will read-the-tea leaves and suggest whether to go up high or down low depending on reports.
FAOL has a nice write up here: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/greatrivers/salmon/:f6b16]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/greatrivers/salmon/[/url:f6b16]
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Consider a 9' or 10' 7/8 wt. I know a lot of guys like spey rods on the SR, as well.
You can catch steelhead there (as well as domestic rainbows) from September through May, though IMHO the fall is the best time to go for several reasons:
1. scenery
2. steelhead
3. coho salmon
4. atlantic salmon
5. BIG BROWN TROUT
6. perhaps a late-run king
Check for water discharges in advance, and Douglaston Salmon Run has a good website with lots of info. There are a few places in WNY that I like a lot more than the SR, so email me for any info.
Marty
MFTG
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Come on up Pemi! There are numerous opportunities along the Lake Ontario and Lake Erie shoreline in NYS. Yes, the Salmon River is one of those options. The interesting thing about the Salmon River is the discharges during the year that will trigger runs of fish. The discharges are a double-edged sword though. Sometimes they are too high and often they are too low.
The other interesting thing about the Salmon River is that you can catch salmon, Steelhead or trout (lake run Browns & Rainbows) 12 months of the year. While certainly some months are much slower than others I can tell you that I have caught them every month except June and that's only because I have not fished it in June. It gets a decent run of Skamania (Summer Run Steelhead) and some Atlantic Salmon in May and June especially but these fish will be found right into August/Sept and this is when the first Salmon and Steelhead start entering the river.
As far as Steelhead goes, you have the above mentioned Skamania, they you have your fall run Steelhead and domestic Rainbows and your winter/spring run Steelhead. The vast majority of Steelhead will not spawn until spring (March/April) but some will spawn in the fall. We do have a run of fall spawning domestic Rainbows there as well.
Many will tell you that the Salmon River is a mad house and too crowded during the height of the salmon season (Labor Day - Oct. 30) BUT this really is not the case. Yes there are LOTS of folks on the river at that time BUT 80% of them are simply too lazy to walk more than 300 yards (if that) from the access point. If you are willing to walk, you can have a good stretch of water pretty much to yourself that will be holding fish. Forget about fishing the popular spots during the salmon rush.
You can also forget about fishing the fly-fishing sections for the most part, especially the lower fly zone. This is simply a place where ?fly-anglers? line and snag fish. It?s truly sick to stand and watch all the idiots in this section. Rarely are more than 10% fishing legitimately. Most are flossing or lining fish with slinky weights, sink tips and weighted flies. They know exactly what they are doing but will deny it to the end. I just with the DEC would shut this lower section down.
The Douglaston Salmon Run (DSR) is a good spot, especially early in the season. You will get shots at fresh fish that have not been pounded on but you will have to pay to get in. There is a lot of attitude there from the holier than thou folks that run it but I do fish it from time to time as this is often the place to be early in the season.
Besides the Salmon River there are many other tribs to choose from along the lake shores. Many are small and I will not mention on public forums but some are huge like the Niagara River. The Niagara offers a world class fishery for the fly rodder from October right through April from the river bank. The Steelhead runs there are mind-boggling. Big baitfish patterns are crushed with reckless abandon here. The numbers of fish can be high enough not to be believed when you tell your buddies who are not familiar with the fishery. Further south you have the famed Cattaraugus River which flows into Lake Erie about 45 minutes south of Buffalo. This is another amazing fishery and these fish come to flies very well much of the time.
Back toward Rochester you have the Genesee River which I fish quite a bit but it can be very tough for the fly rodder. The river is over 200 miles of clay banks so it runs stained on a good day and cloudy most days. The killer sandstone and shale in the river also eats fly lines for lunch BUT when conditions are right you can do very well here and have shots at some very large fish, including 20+ pounders.
I think this will be my 29th year chasing Steelhead and salmon here in Upstate NY. We?ve got a great fishery here and that?s why I haven?t moved away : )
Here's a bit of eye candy from a trip this past spring
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/082981.jpg
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/082979.jpg
This is an early Sept Fish. A chrome bright ROCKET!
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/037002.jpg
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Jeff - AKA Dr. Fish
If it has fins and swims than I must chase it!
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Dr. Fish,
Now that's gettin it done. Sweeeeeeeeeet!!!
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You just can't add much to what Dr. Fish said. Don't forget Lake Erie though:
http://static.flickr.com/15/68272222_60935d8c4a.jpg
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As mikgaes says . . . don't forget Erie! Some of those tribs are virtual Steelhead factories. While the average size fish is smaller than the Lake Ontatio tribs, those Erie fish are rockets and quite a handful and a LOT of fun.
My biggest Steelhead ever came on a fly in a Lake Ontario trip between Rochester and the Niagara River. It taped out (length / girth) at 23 pounds 3 ounces and was released. I'll never forget that fish. It took a Bunny minnow pattern swung through tailout with an overhanding bank. When I set the hook and the fish jumped I think I almost passed out. When my 2 buddies saw the fish jump the second time I think they were as excited and nervous as I was.
Hoping to break that personal best record this fall when I fish the Thompson River in BC.
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Jeff - AKA Dr. Fish
If it has fins and swims than I must chase it!
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ohhhhhhhhh come on steelehead weather .... Some great fish Doc I have fished the salmon river a few times but i really like to fish ... when I get up on the Salmon I spend more time trying to find a place to fish away frome snaggers.I use to noodle alot of the smaller tribs and the salmon years back .IM looking forward to trying out some western tribs this year and if i can talk Allan into going maybe get him hooked on um .Thanks for putting a little chill in to a hot summer day .
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The more time I spend around people the more I like my dog.
Mike
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Well after coming home from fishing this afternoon and reading and seeing all this there's no way I'm missing out on some of the salmon, rainbow and steelhead action, that is in fact just around the corner! Now I need some pointers on how to purchase an entire 8 wt setup (rod/reel and line) without my future wife finding out? We have a wedding in January that we're paying for ourselves and all you guys KNOW the trouble I would be in if I'm buying a new outfit instead of putting money towards the wedding! HAHA! Anybody have a setup they want to sell?!?!
-Pemi
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Seeing as how it's customary to buy each other wedding gifts, that can be her gift to you. My wife got me a St Croix Avid 9' 7wt set-up before we got married last October. That way we gave a little $$$ back to the guys at the local fly shop who give away their secrets for a song sometimes.
With that combo, I caught several dozen bonefish on our honeymoon to belize and this steelhead on the Genesee River while visiting my folks over the Thanksgiving holiday.
http://myspace-693.vo.llnwd.net/0094...40908693_m.jpg
Best of luck and CONGRATS on your pending nuptials!
Marty
[This message has been edited by MrFishingToughGuy (edited 16 July 2006).]