Located in Tug Hill, in upstate Oswego County, New York’s Salmon River has more king salmon than you could imagine. There are plenty of large salmon in these waters that flow due to dams and a state hatchery that releases a heavy stock. The salmon in these waters weigh anywhere from 5-to-18 pounds. There have been two major fish records that came from the Salmon River—a chinook salmon that weighed more than 47 pounds, and a coho salmon that weighed more than 33 pounds. Salmon River was actually named for the Atlantic salmon that once made their runs through these waters many years ago; the last recorded Atlantic salmon that was naturally found in Salmon River was seen in 1872. Since the late 1800s, chinook salmon have been stocked in these waters. As fish hatchery science and aquaculture has improved, New York State now stocks these waters with chinook, coho, and landlocked Atlantic.
Are you looking to plan your next big fishing trip to upstate New York? Keep reading to find out what time of year you should go and the best places to head to when fishing in the Salmon River!
Best Time of Year to go to Salmon River
The best time of here to go to Salmon River is during the fall. Many anglers will come here not only for king salmon, but also for brown trout and steelhead. People come here for recreational fishing both as serious anglers and with their families. Starting in early September, king and silver salmon will flood the waterways as they begin their spawning journey in the upper reaches of the river in October. Once they begin to spawn, you will notice an influx of brown trout and steelhead fish. Steelhead will stay in this river until they spawn in the late spring. Throughout the year, you will be able to catch a 30-pound king salmon or an impressive trout with ease.
Where to Stay on Your Trip
The best places to stay are either Pulasky or Altmar. Staying in the area is helpful because lodges and hotels will be able to offer you top notch advice and tips on where you should be fishing and what times to avoid the large crowds in the area. Since salmon and other sportfish are the main tourist attractions in the area, and a big reason as to why people come to stay at their businesses, these people will want to help you as much as they can for you to enjoy your trip. In fact, it is estimated that anglers collectively spend nearly $200 million every year in order to fish in the Salmon River. You can even find charter boats and fishing packages with boat rentals if you don’t want to fish from the shoreline. Consider hiring a salmon fishing guide in order to maximize your time and experience at Salmon River.
Best Parts of the River to Fish at
The best spot in the river to go salmon fishing is on a 12 mile stretch from the mouth of the river up to the Lighthouse Reservoir Dam. Behind the dam is a reservoir known as the lower reservoir. There is an upper reservoir known as the Salmon River Reservoir. Along this public path, between the upper and lower reservoirs, is the Salmon River Falls, which is the top spots for anglers to head to for salmon fishing. It is completely normal to be fishing this part of the river from the shore, where you will wade into the water and then cast your line. The flow of the river is controlled by the power company with stack in these waters. They release more water after a heavy rain or after a lot of ice melts in the wintertime.
What You Need to Bring and Prepare For
Much like other salmon fishing, you will want to make sure you are prepared for a long day out on the water where you will get wet and won’t mind getting messy. A change of clothes is important, and you may want to pack clothes that you can layer on throughout the day as you are fishing—rain gear, a sweatshirt, maybe even waders if you think you’ll be stepping into the water at all. You will definitely want to pack sunscreen and sunglasses and a hat as sun protection is very important and a sunburn is a quick way to ruin a good day out on the water. You also need to check to see if the local area or New York as any special permit for sports fishing that you need to purchase before heading. And bring two coolers—one full of snacks, sandwiches, and drinks so you can stay out all day, and another that starts the day empty but is filled to the brim with impressive salmon by the time you are ready to call it a day.
The Salmon River can be a great place to head to for fishers of all experiences. With its consistently stocked waters and easy access to public shores, you will have no problem at all planning your trip to this river in upstate New York!
