Fishing Season: Fall

Salmon River - NY

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

50

Whitakers's Tip of the Week

The end of October is generally considered our transition period where were past the peak of salmon, but before the peak of steelhead, providing anglers with a mixed bag depending on what section of river your fishing. At this point the majority of anglers have switched over to steelhead mode but you still have some anglers looking for salmon. We currently have steelhead scattered throughout the river from top to bottom, but the lower end of the river has produced the best action on a daily basis over the last several days. With salmon still spawning in the gravel areas of the river, eggs patterns have produced steady results. On really windy days leaves have been a factor, so non leaf colors work well under those conditions.

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 10/30/26

Above average temperature for this time of year along with dry conditions.

Techniques & Tips as of 10/30/26

Streamers with sink tips or dead drifting egg patterns.

Local Species Available Fall

  • Fish Icon

    Steelhead

  • Fish Icon

    Brown trout.

Whitakers's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Hot Cone Woolly Bugger black, olive 4
Meg A Egg Sucking Leech purple, black 4
Cone Head Marabou Muddler olive, white, brown 4
Bead Head Flash Zonker white, black 4
Estaz eggs chart, pink, chart 6
rubber legged stone black, brown, olive 6
Glo-bugs orange, pink, chart 6
steelhead hammer pink, blue, chart, red 6

Hot Cone Woolly Bugger

Dressed hot to tempt big fish, this woolly bugger fly is doubly seductive.

3.99

Item #63LT

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 and mid section.

Best Access:

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