Salmon River Report 2007

[Dave B.]

Crap! All that snow means March blowout.

Cdog

Yep, but it means great April fishing in both the big river and all the smaller tribs!:thumb:

 

[Corndog]

Yep, but it means great April fishing in both the big river and all the smaller tribs!:thumb:

Come on April!!!

Going up March 8&9. Can't wait any longer...blowout or not!

Cdog

 

[flyman23]

CD,
Maybe I'll see you up there. I'm headed up March 6-9. I'll try to save you a few.

 

[AKSkim]

Whitaker's Fly Shop

Monday was another mild day with temperatures reaching the mid 30's along with a mix of sun and clouds. The fishing pressure was light and the majority of anglers we spoke with reported getting into just a few fish. Overall it was a nice day and most anglers agreed it still beats working. The upper end of the river in Altmar continues to get the most attention on a daily basis. If your willing to walk through the deep snow, the mid to lower section of the river is a good bet if your looking for fresh fish and trying to avoid other anglers. The Douglaston Salmon Run reported it's anglers had a better day landing steelhead. The fishable water is from the Joss Hole upstream.



<TABLE class=dataTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><THEAD><TR><TD class=taC style="WIDTH: 20%">Tuesday</TD><TD class=taC style="WIDTH: 20%">Wednesday</TD><TD class=taC style="WIDTH: 20%">Thursday</TD><TD class=taC style="WIDTH: 20%">Friday</TD><TD class=taC style="WIDTH: 20%">Saturday</TD></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class="wHover noBorder"><TD class=taC>

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</TD></TR><TR class="wHover noBorder"><TD class=taC>Snow 100% chance of precipitation

</TD><TD class=taC>Snow 100% chance of precipitation

</TD><TD class=taC>Chance of Snow 50% chance of precipitation

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[Corndog]

CD,
Maybe I'll see you up there. I'm headed up March 6-9. I'll try to save you a few.

Just clear me a path in the snow...I hate being the first to walk through the winter wonderland when it's crotch deep.

Staying at the 1880 house...how about you?

Cdog

 

[AKSkim]

Just clear me a path in the snow... Cdog

PathDog:

You don't wear snow shoes when it gets that high?

AKS

 

[Corndog]

Nope...Usually I fly in using my chopper, then unload the snowmobile and drive it to my favorite secret pool, then unload my lazyboy and sit there and CP. The thing I hate the most is when my caviar gets icy. I hate my eggs icy.

Pathdog

 

[AKSkim]

The thing I hate the most is when my caviar gets icy. I hate my eggs icy. Pathdog

Your skill as a fisherman is legendary, like your half Salmon almost.

Oooo... there is just something about eating your young though.

As always, if it doesn't have hoofs, I ain't eating it.

AK Skim
President, Salmon River Cattle Assoc.

 

[flyman23]

Cd,

We will be stay at Whitakers. Never been there before so we will see how it is. I understand the 1880's house is nice, maybe we will give it a try sometime.

 

[Corndog]

Cd,

We will be stay at Whitakers. Never been there before so we will see how it is. I understand the 1880's house is nice, maybe we will give it a try sometime.

What you get for your money at the 1880House is the best thing going up there. Fortunately, most don't know about it. Breakfast is included and Linda has hardy home made soups and breads available throughout the day. So, you don't have to spend a dime up there on food. She even has 2 DSR passes if you're lucky enough to be the first ones to ask for them.

I've never stayed at Whitakers, but I've heard good things about their rooms.

Talked to some guys who were up there last weekend. They said the steelies are thick as flies up river, but they were just barely nipping the flies. Could feel the take but couldn't hook them. Their getting wary from seeing flies with hooks all winter. Saturday morning, they counted 26 guys in the Sportsmans Pool. The steelies down low were more agressive and they were able to landed a few.

Do you fish up there alot?

Cdog

 

[Corndog]

Have you guys seen this on UTube?

YouTube - Aubertine: A River Runs Through It

Cdog

 

[flyman23]

Cd,

I try to get up there at least 2-3 times for steelhead and at least once for salmon.

I think I'll try the mid-lower river first (try to fish in peace), and if that dosen't poduce I'll join the fray in the upper river. I like fishing nymphs so I try to find some smaller pocket water, although hiking around after all the snow may be a bit of a challenge. If you see a gray F-150 with a trout sticker in the window, look for a big guy with a green hat. It would be nice to say hello.

 

[Dave B.]

....Saturday morning, they counted 26 guys in the Sportsmans Pool. The steelies down low were more agressive and they were able to landed a few. Cdog

That's part of the reason I go up in late April. By then a lot of the early run fish have spawned and are dropping back and at the same time there are still fresh run fish coming in. Helps to spread out the madness a bit. Then too the weather's a bit nicer by then, and the spring runoff has brought fresh fish into the smaller tribs so one's options are expanded.

 

[Corndog]

Cd,

I try to get up there at least 2-3 times for steelhead and at least once for salmon.

I think I'll try the mid-lower river first (try to fish in peace), and if that dosen't poduce I'll join the fray in the upper river. I like fishing nymphs so I try to find some smaller pocket water, although hiking around after all the snow may be a bit of a challenge. If you see a gray F-150 with a trout sticker in the window, look for a big guy with a green hat. It would be nice to say hello.

Smart thinking on your part. If you have snowshoes bring them. The snow may be crotch deep but worth the hike. We'll be in a maroon Surburban.

Cdog

 

[Corndog]

That's part of the reason I go up in late April. By then a lot of the early run fish have spawned and are dropping back and at the same time there are still fresh run fish coming in. Helps to spread out the madness a bit. Then too the weather's a bit nicer by then, and the spring runoff has brought fresh fish into the smaller tribs so one's options are expanded.

Yea, late April is the best if the river isn't blown out. I also like to be up there in Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, and Mar. I have the sickness.

As for the madness...hasn't been to bad this year except for the more popular pools. They've had alot of bad weather and I think that has kept the numbers down. We find quiet water with active fish every trip.

Plus, the river's been high alot this year. I think guys see 1000+cfs and decide to stay home.

Cdog

 

[AKSkim]

They've had alot of bad weather and I think that has kept the numbers down. Cdog

Same as last year as far as the number of fly fisherMAN heading up there, except the snow fall this year hasn't been as bad as last year.

Every planned trip the three-four days before they would get a "Lake Effect Snow Fall". A bloody blizzard is what they should call it.

Hopefully March thru May will be good.

I was just reading BKill's post "No more Chuck & Duck on the Salmon River?" It would be really nice to see that happen, however, I think the entire town of Pulaski would revolt. The town survival depends on people coming in from September - November to survive.

With that said, they did do away with leaded snagging hooks and the fisheries survived. Maybe something as radical as banning C&D in the fly zones, and extend the Lower fly zone to encompass the river down to Ellis Cove is the answer.

The delay in opening the Lower Fly Zone last year due to extremely low water levels and fly to aid some fish to make it up to the hatchery was a giant leap for the state to under take, they did it and it had to have helped a good number of fish to make it there. The numbers as we all know were way down and that is going to effect the return run in a few years.

Something has to be done, it won't be popular with the town, spin caster, and fly fisherman alike, but something has to be done to protect the resources.

BKill also stated that 20 Atlantic Salmon made it to the hatchery, which is a huge thing to this fly fisherMAN.

 

[AKSkim]

Whitaker's Fly Shop Report

We have one more day of cold weather, then the temperature is expected to warm up as we go into the weekend. Wednesday was cold and windy with temperatures in the low to mid teens. The fishing pressure was very light and we only spoke with a few groups of anglers. Most of the groups were unsuccessful, but one group reported landing a nice fish in Altmar. The upper end of the river in Altmar continues to get the most attention on a daily basis. If your willing to walk through the deep snow, the mid to lower section of the river is a good bet if your looking for fresh fish and trying to avoid other anglers. On Wednesday the Douglaston Salmon Run went unfished.

<TABLE class=dataTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><THEAD><TR><TD class=taC style="WIDTH: 20%">Thursday</TD><TD class=taC style="WIDTH: 20%">Friday</TD><TD class=taC style="WIDTH: 20%">Saturday</TD><TD class=taC style="WIDTH: 20%">Sunday</TD><TD class=taC style="WIDTH: 20%">Monday</TD></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class="wHover noBorder"><TD class=taC>

11° F | -1° F
-12° C | -18° C
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43° F | 31° F
6° C | -1° C
</TD></TR><TR class="wHover noBorder"><TD class=taC>Chance of Snow 40% chance of precipitation
</TD><TD class=taC>Chance of Snow 50% chance of precipitation
</TD><TD class=taC>Snow Showers 60% chance of precipitation
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[Dave B.]

Yea, late April is the best if the river isn't blown out. I also like to be up there in Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, and Mar. I have the sickness.

As for the madness...hasn't been to bad this year except for the more popular pools. They've had alot of bad weather and I think that has kept the numbers down. We find quiet water with active fish every trip.

Plus, the river's been high alot this year. I think guys see 1000+cfs and decide to stay home.

Cdog

Re; April blow-out, usually if the big river is that bad then ALL of the smaller tribs right down to the ones that are normally too small for runs end up having fish, and the pressure is nearly non-existent. That was the case last year when I/we went up. We had fish in waters that resembled Dunnfield or VCB with not another soul around! Those really smal waters have their own chalenge though, in that the fish have nowhere to go but up or down so chasing isn't an option, it's mandatory!

I hear ya on the addiction! If it wasn't so far from me here in south Jersey I'd be up there more often! 5 hours each way is tough though. I just take forever to recover from 'suicide runs' any more. Gettin' old sux!

 

[Corndog]

Re: Salmon River Report 2008

River was up over the weekend (around 1200cfs). Saturday it rained most of the day and Sunday we fished in horizontal snow due to the 30+ mph windgusts.

We did manage to find and land a few fish. The pic of the male is the biggest I've ever caught...I think. No tape or scale with us, but I'm pretty sure.

We saw a few paired up on redds, but they wouldn't take anything.

Quite a few anglers on the river Saturday plus many guide boats, but Sunday we had the river pretty much to ourselves.

All in all a great trip.

All fish were returned to the wild,
Cdog

 

[dcabarle]

Yo CD,

Looks like you had a great weekend! How did that brown fight? One of these years I have to make a trip up there.

I like the pics too. Nice looking fish and great report.

Thanks!

 

[Corndog]

DC,

The SR was pretty busy Saturday so we decided to give Orwell Brook a try. Noone there and a fair number of these brownies that wanted to eat glowbugs.

Cdog

 

[theartoflee]

Looks like those fish had a good time also cdog.. what size glo bugs? I always seems like their are two trains of thought when it comes to them. Some like em big others like the small eggs.

 

[Dave B.]

Sweet! Good to see some browns still hanging around, hope a few are still around in about 6 weeks. Also nice to see those couple of fresh chromers!

 

[flyman23]

Great job Cd, I was up this past weekend, had 3 on and that was it for me. Wanted to check out a spot I like to fish and went for a hike in the snow, man was that tough. I would get about 20 steps and then sink in up to my butt, pull myself out and the same thing would happen again. Wished I had some snow shoes. Anyway I got some exercise and enjoyed getting out.

 

[Corndog]

Wylie,

I would say medium bugs for the SR and small for the tribs like Orwell and Trout Brook, and as always, a little chartruse in them makes then a hot ticket.

Dave,

Yea, there are still fresh chromers coming into the river. Ours were caught in town and we ran into a couple guys that did well in the DSR.

Flyman,

Gotta love the waste deep snow, huh? We walked into the Tressel Sunday. What a tough hike! Thought my heart was gonna explode.

Cdog

 

[tkhour]

Anybody been up to the hatchery? Is it loaded? Gonna make my way up for dropbacks in April. Nice pics Corndog. Good job.

 

[Corndog]

Time to get some more steel. Anybody else heading up this weekend?

1150 cfs at the dam and sunny with a high of 32 on Saturday. That means steelhead on the bite!

Cdog

 

[McAwful]

Cdog,

The warmer air temps is causing all kinds of snow melt. The run off is making the river water FREEZING cold. The fish are only getting active for short windows of 20 minutes here 10 minutes there. I was up a few days ago and we got fish but it will be better in a few weeks w/the drop backs and warmer water temps.

If you go good luck,

MCA

 

[Corndog]

Cdog,

The warmer air temps is causing all kinds of snow melt. The run off is making the river water FREEZING cold. The fish are only getting active for short windows of 20 minutes here 10 minutes there. I was up a few days ago and we got fish but it will be better in a few weeks w/the drop backs and warmer water temps.

If you go good luck,

MCA

MCA,

As a fellow steelheader, you know that one fish does a good trip make.

Gotta feed the addiction.
Cdog

 

[Corndog]

Happy Easter Everyone!

Did a suicide to the SR Saturday. It was cold but a gorgeous day. Not a cloud in the sky. Air temps started at 19 and just broke the freezing mark by mid afternoon. But with a light breeze it felt much colder. Water was at 1150 cfs but very clear and fishable.

Not as many guys on the river as we expected. Plenty of room to find some quiet water. We fished 6 pools/runs by 11:00 without any luck. Saw 2 fish landed by others during that time.

So, we had an early lunch and decided to hit the DSR since we had free passes. That was the right decision. My buddy got into his two by 2pm. Me still with a big fat zero. Then I walked into a small run that from my experience is rarely fished and the fun began. 3 fish in an hour including a nice brownie. So we called it a day and headed back to NJ.

All in all a great day in the river.

All fish were caught and released in the DSR.

Cdog