Salmon River, Oswego County, NY, 8/21/26

[jifigz]

One day, when you get older, you may even start to realize that it isn't always about the fish . . .

Not for you, but for other people, the adventure might always stay about the fish.

 

[SBecker]

One day, when you get older, you may even start to realize that it isn't always about the fish . . .

Great Janis Joplin Quote

 

[Tigereye]

Ok, alot of posts here on DSR and Salmon River itself. I am currently sitting in the car outside of Byrne Dairy in Pulaski.
Salmon fishing wasnt in the cards this year as my September and October were booked with 3 out of state weddings, my 40th anniversary, a hunting trip to Nebraska and earlier in the year spending a small fortune for new electrical service in my house.

Anyway a friend of mine had to back out of his trip and gave me 2 DSR passes for 2 days. So my son and I took him up on the offer.

We spent the past 2 days at the upper DSR ( little black hole) to ourselves with only 3 or 4 other fisherman in sight up or down stream. Check DSR fishing reports to see angle density. If you are not afraid to put some miles on your korkers to get away from the crowds you will be fine.
We checked the DSR report and talked to some of the river walkers all saying the estuary and lower river had alot of fish and even more guys, few to noone in upper section. Great. Im going up stream.

Fishing was sporadic but good in spurts. We each hooked and released about a dozen kings each over 2 days. Missed or lost at least that many. We even had a few cohos mixed in. Sending 6 of those buggers to freezer camp.

The Salmon River is what you make of it. Stay away from weekends and the well known holes. DSR cost also keeps people away and the river walkers keep most of the (!) 's in line. Its a big river and there are lots of little pockets that only hold a fish or two in unlikely areas. Find them and you will have good fishing with little pressure.

 

[wildtrout2]

Ok, alot of posts here on DSR and Salmon River itself. I am currently sitting in the car outside of Byrne Dairy in Pulaski.
Salmon fishing wasnt in the cards this year as my September and October were booked with 3 out of state weddings, my 40th anniversary, a hunting trip to Nebraska and earlier in the year spending a small fortune for new electrical service in my house.

Anyway a friend of mine had to back out of his trip and gave me 2 DSR passes for 2 days. So my son and I took him up on the offer.

We spent the past 2 days at the upper DSR ( little black hole) to ourselves with only 3 or 4 other fisherman in sight up or down stream. Check DSR fishing reports to see angle density. If you are not afraid to put some miles on your korkers to get away from the crowds you will be fine.
We checked the DSR report and talked to some of the river walkers all saying the estuary and lower river had alot of fish and even more guys, few to noone in upper section. Great. Im going up stream.

Fishing was sporadic but good in spurts. We each hooked and released about a dozen kings each over 2 days. Missed or lost at least that many. We even had a few cohos mixed in. Sending 6 of those buggers to freezer camp.

The Salmon River is what you make of it. Stay away from weekends and the well known holes. DSR cost also keeps people away and the river walkers keep most of the (!) 's in line. Its a big river and there are lots of little pockets that only hold a fish or two in unlikely areas. Find them and you will have good fishing with little pressure.

Happy 40th anniversary! Much to be said for that.

 

[Skook]

If you take the Salmon River for what it is and show up with the right attitude and expectations, it can be a fun time and a good way to deal with cabin fever during the late fall/winter months. Travel with a couple friends, eat some very average pub food, challenge yourself or your friend to finish the Chicken Parm at the Altmar Hotel, enjoy a few upstate NY craft beers (or Labatt's Blue), sleep in some raunchy rooms, freeze your azz off, squeeze every bit of your money's worth out of all your fancy base layers and expensive Gore-Tex jackets, and check out Malinda's Fly Shop when the fish aren't biting.

And, if you're fortunate, hook into a hot, 10+ pound steelhead that will take you into your backing in seconds and bust your frozen knuckles on your reel handle. Yell "FISH ON!", and watch your old, out-of-shape friends running for the first time all year, struggling to catch up with the fish to get it into the oversized boat net you've been carrying up and down the river bank all day.

It's not everybody's cup of tea, but for those of us who lead mostly boring lives otherwise, a trip to the SR can really spice things up for a few days in the middle of winter.

If you look closely at the pic below, you can see the homemade tippet gripper I mentioned in the unusual fishing gadget thread clipped to my jacket pocket.

I fought a much bigger fish well into my backing before landing the one in the first photo. After catching the fish above on a size 12 Whitlock's Red Fox Squirrel Nymph using a 10' 7wt fly rod, I gave a copy of the fly to my friend, and he caught this fish using the nymph under a float with his center pin:

P.S. Do yourself a favor, and stop at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que restaurant in Syracuse on your way home. It's a relatively easy on/off from I81, and it's been a local favorite for decades. The Saranac Draft Root Beer goes great with the food for those who may be driving home. Oh, and the rest area at the PA Welcome Center is conveniently located less than two hours down the road from the restaurant.😏

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear Skook,

+1 on the Dinosaur! If you like Reuben sandwiches check out Danzer's on Ainsley Drive. They make a Reuben that makes the world famous Reuben from Katz's Deli look like a White Castle burger. 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[SBecker]

Dino is complete trash compared to Limp Lizard up there. I used to fish comps up in Syracuse quite a few times a year, and the locals made it known, Limp is where it’s at. I agree and won’t step foot in Dino. Now, if you want some of the best Italian food and pizza you will ever have, go across the street and grab Apizza. My steelhead trips go something like this… steelhead fishing in the morning, drive down to Syracuse for Limp Lizard at lunch, shoot over to 9 mile creek for some trout fishing, then hit Apizza for dinner. Take 2 pies back to the hotel to heat back up in the pizza oven on the boat the next day.

 

[Skook]

Maybe I'll give Limp Lizard a try next time I'm in the area. For the record, Dinosaur is rated 4.5 stars on Tripadvisor with over 2,800 reviews. Limp Lizard rates 4.1 stars with only 96 reviews. Granted, these reviews are likely from non-locals posting on Tripadvisor.

I'm not saying Internet reviews are the be-all, end-all when it comes to restaurant quality, but perhaps "complete trash" is an overstatement, lol.

Now, you really got my attention with this quote:

Take 2 pies back to the hotel to heat back up in the pizza oven on the boat the next day.

I'll take "things you'll never hear said by blue line brook trout fishermen" for a thousand $, Alex, lol.

 

[wildtrout2]

I'll take "things you'll never hear said by blue line brook trout fishermen" for a thousand $, Alex, lol.

Now that's funny! Creative too.

 

[SBecker]

Maybe I'll give Limp Lizard a try next time I'm in the area. For the record, Dinosaur is rated 4.5 stars on Tripadvisor with over 2,800 reviews. Limp Lizard rates 4.1 stars with only 96 reviews. Granted, these reviews are likely from non-locals posting on Tripadvisor.

I'm not saying Internet reviews are the be-all, end-all when it comes to restaurant quality, but perhaps "complete trash" is an overstatement, lol.

Now, you really got my attention with this quote:

Take 2 pies back to the hotel to heat back up in the pizza oven on the boat the next day.

I'll take "things you'll never hear said by blue line brook trout fishermen" for a thousand $, Alex, lol.

The metal drift boats with the propane heaters and a pizza oven on the front of the boats are the best. Luckily, my buddy has one.

I have ate at Dino a few too many times and always walk away disappointed. It's way too hyped and the reason for it's online scores. Tourist trap for sure. Limp's smoked wings are some of the best I have had. Also, great beer selection.

 

[C3Addict]

I must admit after spending many trips in crappy rooms up there, when much younger, I now stay for comfort. After a day of beating myself up on the river it’s nice to walk into a warm lodge with everything on site.

I’m sure many of you remember the school on the river in Altmar, hence the schoolhouse pool, well that school disappeared to The Tailwater Lodge, I stayed there last October and this past April and I must say it’s like fisherman heaven.

The owner encouraged us to wear our waders, korkers and all into the lodge, there is a wader cleaning station there, clean waders, boot, ect. Walk to your room in full gear. Get dressed in the morning in your room full gear and walk out ….sweet.

They also have a full fly fishing shop with everything you could need or want and prices aren’t bad. Great bar and restaurant with good food, a couple pool tables and dart boards in a loft up and behind bar, you have to climb steps so do this before the Woodford reserve…😳😂

 

[Drifly]

My first trip here was in 1989 so I’ve seen so many changes over years. I was never happy with what the Tailwater did by running a fence down to the river on both edges of their property. At the time the lodge wasn’t even open for business and yet they had a guy posted at both fences each day, all day long informing people it was private property. I’ve never gotten over it and never stayed there but friends of mine tell me it’s pretty posh.

 

[wgmiller]

I had to dig back in my records, but the one and only time I was on the SR was back in 2010. I believe it was with TimRobinson, RickinPA, JayL, Trowpa, and I don't remember who else. IIRC, Rick caught ONE fish (a steelhead) and the rest of us took a skunk. The water was moving and wading was tough. The few people who were catching fish were guides who knew the game - they had the right equipment and techniques (spey rods, swinging flies, etc.). I really felt outgunned with my 9' 8WT on that river. Regardless, it was neat to see everything about it - the craziness of the lower water, the tackle "birds nest" in in the fishing shop, and just the overall environment.

I concluded after that trip that it just wasn't for me. From where I live in PA it was just too much of a drive and the overall style of fishing just didn't interest me. To each their own. I think every PA angler needs to experience Erie and/or the SR just once. If for nothing else, to provide perspective on what style of fishing you get the most enjoyment out of. It has really made me appreciate fishing local waters and not being elbow-to-elbow with other anglers. I suppose the DSR experience is one thing could change my mind about fishing the SR, but at this point in my life it's not likely gonna happen.

The "troops" headed to fish on a cold November morning.

 

[Tigereye]

Its not for everyone and the game has changed significantly since 2010. Like everything else, you need to put your time in and take your lumps.

The strategy is a bit different than trout fishing. The fish are moving upstream and will mostly travel the main channel. Within that channel there are spots ( not specifically "holes") where the the fish will stop to rest. Think depth, overhead cover, current breaks after or within a series of rapids or along side a bend in channel wall ( think canyon) . The rock structure of the river is predominantly sandstone with the characteristic flat and square edges.

The guides know these areas and it offers their clients multiple casts at resting fish before the fish move on. If you are fishing what I call transition zones, where the fish are moving through, its like pass shooting ducks. You get maybe one shot at them.

You are not outgunned with a 9' 8 wt. I would venture to say that the majority of folks using fly eqpt are using 8 wts. Back in the 2010 it was quite common to see heavy duty rods, 35 lb test, 1/0 and 2/0 hooks and huge nets.

Today the game has downsized significantly, and tactics have changed abit. 9 to 10 ft rods in 8 and 9 wts are the norm. 5 to 6 ft leader of 10 to 12 lb fluoro, a size 10/12 barrel swivel ( required line break) and 3 to 4 ft of 8 to 10 pound fluoro tippet, size up or down based on condition. Hooks are in the 6 to 10 range. ( egg patterns, buggers, soft hackle variants).

Flossing is popular, yes. But, a modified euro technique is very effective where by the wts are bounced on bottom and line in water vertically. This helps to get in the narrow channels quickly. Provide a longer drift, and reduces hang ups or getting your line nicked up on the rocks

 

[Skook]

Flossing is popular, yes. But, a modified euro technique is very effective where by the wts are bounced on bottom and line in water vertically. This helps to get in the narrow channels quickly. Provide a longer drift, and reduces hang ups or getting your line nicked up on the rocks

Just to clarify, I believe any weight placed below the hook, fly, or lure is prohibited on the Salmon River. When the line is hanging vertically, any weight may not extend below the hook even if it is somehow tied on a dropper above the hook or fly.

I am not sure if you are describing a bottom-bouncing technique with weight below the fly. My understanding is that any weight must be above the hook or fly, and any weight may be no more than 48" above the hook.

 

[C3Addict]

My first trip here was in 1989 so I’ve seen so many changes over years. I was never happy with what the Tailwater did by running a fence down to the river on both edges of their property. At the time the lodge wasn’t even open for business and yet they had a guy posted at both fences each day, all day long informing people it was private property. I’ve never gotten over it and never stayed there but friends of mine tell me it’s pretty posh.

The fence is gone and I fished the area off and on all week and didn’t see anyone questioning any fisherman. The lodge provides a lanyard with a badge if you want but I fished it without one and no issues. There are private property signs but that’s about it. If your in the water there is no private property, except DSR.

Maple Grove Resort down the road has their property posted along the river but I never see anyone enforcing it. Maybe cause I’m there for steelhead and not with the salmon crowd early in the year when it’s a zoo.

Your friends are correct the Tailwater is pretty posh compared to other alternatives and it’s about priced the same too. Since staying there twice already I am now spoiled, I have to stay there…😂😂😂

 

[Tigereye]

Just to clarify, I believe any weight placed below the hook, fly, or lure is prohibited on the Salmon River. When the line is hanging vertically, any weight may not extend below the hook even if it is somehow tied on a dropper above the hook or fly.

I am not sure if you are describing a bottom-bouncing technique with weight below the fly. My understanding is that any weight must be above the hook or fly, and any weight may be no more than 48" above the hook.

Yeah maybe i wasnt clear enough. In paragraph 5 I mention the required line break. The weights are above the swivel. Thus the " modified " euro technique i mention.

 

[Drifly]

The fence is gone and I fished the area off and on all week and didn’t see anyone questioning any fisherman. The lodge provides a lanyard with a badge if you want but I fished it without one and no issues. There are private property signs but that’s about it. If your in the water there is no private property, except DSR.

Maple Grove Resort down the road has their property posted along the river but I never see anyone enforcing it. Maybe cause I’m there for steelhead and not with the salmon crowd early in the year when it’s a zoo.

Your friends are correct the Tailwater is pretty posh compared to other alternatives and it’s about priced the same too. Since staying there twice already I am now spoiled, I have to stay there…😂😂😂

Salmon Acres across the street from Whittaker’s is charging people to fish their property. I go in from the railroad side on the other side of the river and walk up to the falls behind the cemetery. They must have a posted sign every 6’ all along the river on their property and guys patrolling like DSR. I think Maple wants money to fish there too….getting ridiculous.