Fishing Season: Fall

Salmon River - NY

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

34

Whitakers's Tip of the Week

With the recent low water conditions the steelhead have been holding in and around the deeper holes and larger runs which is normal as we head into winter. The upper end of the river between Altmar and Pineville generally gets the most attention this time of year on a daily basis. Pale colored egg patterns or nymphs with rubber legs or wiggle stones have produced the best results for pressured fish in the upper end of the river. In the lower end of the river on days when slush ice ice is not a factor, anglers are having success with bright colored egg or estaz patterns, either dead drifted or under a strike indicator.

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 12/30/25

Winter storm warnings. Expect lake effect snow, very high winds and the feel like temperature will be below zero.

Techniques & Tips as of 12/30/25

Egg patterns under a strike indicator, dead drifting with nymphs or swinging small streamers with sinking leaders.

Local Species Available Fall

  • Fish Icon

    King Salmon

  • Fish Icon

    Coho Salmon

  • Fish Icon

    Steelhead

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:

Upper end of the river.

Best Access:

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