Fishing Season: Fall

Salmon River - NY

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

65

Whitakers's Tip of the Week

Were getting cooler temperatures at night but with warm and sunny conditions during the day anglers have reported that the best fish movement is first thing in the morning before the sun gets high on the water or later in the afternoon once the sun is off the water. During the day with the low water conditions the fish have been holding in and around the deeper holes and larger runs. Most of reports were getting from anglers stopping into the shop or staying in the motel have come from the lower end of the river. Anglers reported landing mostly kings but a few cohos were in the mix. The few anglers we spoke with who fished the mid to upper end of the river did report some fish holding in the deeper holes. The NYS DEC has Closed By Emergency Order The Lower Fly Fishing Catch & Release Area from September 15th through October 31st, 2025. Drought conditions have produced low and warm water conditions, therefore the Lower Fly Fishing Area will remain closed in order to help ensure an adequate Pacific salmon egg take at the Salmon River Hatchery during the fall 2025 spawning season. Any questions or concerns please contact the Region 7 Fisheries office at (607)753-3095 x 204. Brookfield, in consultation with the New York State DEC, have decided to continue with the current 185 cfs base flow out of Lighthouse Hill for the beginning of September due to ongoing drought conditions coupled with low reservoir levels. This lowered base flow will remain reduced until the reservoir recovers to normal historic elevations for this time of year.

Directions open in app

Map of Salmon River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Tailwater Lodge
Zero Limit Adventures

5-Day Outlook as of 9/22/25

Possible chance of rain.

Techniques & Tips as of 9/22/25

Swinging streamers with sinking leaders or dead drifting egg patterns.

Local Species Available Fall

  • Fish Icon

    King Salmon

  • Fish Icon

    Coho Salmon

Whitakers's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Meg A Egg Sucking Leech pink, orange, chart 4
Hot Cone Woolly Bugger black, olve 4
Chuck and Duck Sculpin olive, brown 4
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer black,olive 6
Steelie omelet cerise, peach, chart 6
rubber legged stone black, brown, olive 6
Conehead Bunny Muddler white, olive, black 4
Bead Head Flash Zonker black, white 6
Glo-bugs orange, pink, chart 6
Fish Skull buggers black, white 6

Meg A Egg Sucking Leech

An effective imitation of a leech and egg, perfect for salmon and steelhead fly fishing.

2.99

Item #059T

Buy Now

Whitakers's Recommended Gear

Description: About Salmon River

The Salmon River is without a doubt, the most famous salmon and steelhead river in the entire northeast. The salmon river is hydro electrically controlled and the water levels can vary based on rainfall, snow melt or drought. There is 13 miles of public access and 2 miles of privately controlled access where anglers can purchase a daily access pass. Labor Day weekend signals the start of salmon season with a scheduled water release. With the increase in water level the salmon begin their annual migration. Most of the true spawning areas/gravel bars are upstream of the Pineville bridge and that's where the bulk of these fish end up. Chinooks and Coho are fall spawners and they die after spawning. By November they are pretty much gone. Steelhead are spring spawners, but the first of the winter run fish show up with the salmon. November and December see more steelhead entering the river system. These fish will overwinter in the river and provide us with a winter fishery. January and February are reserved for serious fisherman. Lots of snow...dress warm...sleep in a bit longer and carry hand warmers. Spring comes eventually, in March or April. The spawning process begins and can provide plenty of action as the water temperature rises along with the arrival of mild weather. Once these fish have completed spawning, it's like a slow down stream migration as they feed all the way back to Lake Ontario.

Nearest Airport:

Syracuse International Airport (SYR)

Hatches:

Caddis, Stoneflies

Best Time to Fish:

First thing in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Best Stretch:

Lower end of the river.

Best Access:

DEC Public fishing access lots off NYS RT13, RT2A, RT52.