It’s been a while since my last update. As you can imagine I’ve been on the water a lot lately. If you follow my blog, you know my statement that conditions can and do change quickly. True to form this is exactly what has happened. We have gone from low water drought conditions, to high water flood conditions. We’ve been begging for some rain and that’s exactly what we got. I often say be careful for what we ask for, we may just get it. When all this rain finally settles out, we are going to receive approximately 7 inches of rain. This is a lot of rainfall without being generated by a hurricane. As of now I am still fishing the Salmon River. We are making a shift from salmon fishing to steelhead fishing. We had a great salmon run hopefully this will continue on to the steelhead run. As for water flows, as you can imagine, water flow is up. Water flows went from the minimum flow of 185 CFS a present flow of 1800 CFS. This is not adding the heavy runoff. The run off was so heavy that Douglas salmon run closed operations down due to high water flows for Saturday October 22^nd, A rare event to say the least.  As for the fishing, the salmon run was very good run to say the least. We had fish trickling in almost daily, which made the fishing consistently good with just a little bit of effort. Over the last two days I’m seeing a sharp drop off the new salmon coming into the river and a slow but steady improvement in the steelhead fishing. Keep in mind we will still see a few new salmon trickling in periodically and of course there is salmon spawning all through the river as of now. At this stage of the game we will concentrating our efforts towards steelhead fishing. I would like to tell you the type of water and a few techniques we are using catch these steelhead, But the game has changed. One thing is for certain Standard flies will produce, egg patterns in colors of Orange, Chartreuse, and her Oregon cheese. Egg sucking leech, I like the Orange heads on this fly pattern.  For the high water break out all the fun stuff we like to swing. It will take a couple of days to figure out the new patterns with the steelhead fishing. Conditions can and do change quickly.

The biggest change over the past week is the water flows. The water flow started out at 335 CFS, now is reduced to 185 CFS. The drought continues to have its effect. Hopefully we will get some heavy rains soon. Please note; with the present low water flows the lower fly-fishing zone on the Salmon River has been closed. As you can imagine this reduction in water flows is having a big effect on the fishing. Fist the fish are still on the move, the paste of the run has been picking up over the last week or so. This is normal for early October to see heavy runs of salmon; it is now the peak of the run. Obviously with the fishing, we have had made some adjustments to the low water. Nothing-unusual most of our adjustments are basic fishing 101. Low water salmon are more spooky, now, so we needed to back off the fish and make longer cast, lengthen our leaders and of course lighten up on the weight.  Often all we need to do is use a bead headed fly and a little line handling skills. This is often more than is needed to get the fly and keep the fly deep enough for the fish to eat it. The further off you can fish, the more relaxed the salmon will be.  Relaxed salmon will bite more aggressively and well stay in their respective holding location considerably longer. Keep in mind that at this stage of the salmon run, spooked salmon will often react by continuously pushing upriver. We are now in early October and the salmon spawning activity is growing on a daily basis. We should be at pick spawning soon. We are on now occasionally starting to see a few steelheads showing up. Hopefully these fish will keep their normal schedule. The fly pattern that seems to be developing, is at first light in the morning we are having good success with bright colored flies like size 6 crystal willy buggers in colors of bright pink, Purple and occasionally chartreuse. After that once the water gets lit up by the sun, We need to drop down in tippet size. At this point we are fishing size 6 willy buggers or other patterns of equal size. Also picking flies with the flash that is tone down has also been effective. With the spawning now going on, egg flies will now become important addition to the fly box. 

Note;

At this time I still have some prime October days open ,27,30 ideal dates for fishing Steelhead. Please feel free to give me a call [Cell 585-233-0436] and discuss any concerns and your options.

An interesting fact about fishing the Great Lakes tributaries, is that how fast conditions can and do change. Over the past week the salmon fishing on the Salmon River has improved on an overall basis. This is not to say the fishing is hot and heavy but the pace of the fishing is slowly improving. We are still fishing for a few hookups day and a couple of fish in the net. But the salmon are silver bright, hot and angry when hooked up. The fishing pressure overall is still very light for this time of the year and we are able to work the water and fish where we like. This is definitely my favorite time of the year to fish for salmon. For now most of my fishing efforts is focused on the lower river, fishing in the Douglaston salmon run.  At this point I am able to start to put together a daily pattern. Most days we will see early morning movements of salmon that I would rate as a light but steady trickle of fish. This fish activity will generally last until mid morning. After that it is time to cover water and hunt for holding fish. At this point there has been enough fish moving through the system that there are groups of salmon scattered throughout the entire river.  Some hunting maybe required to find the small groups of fish. With a little effort locating a pod of salmon should not be a problem. Also keep in mind the lower fly-fishing zone is now open and there is a few salmon that have already made it into this section of river. Over the past week the Salmon River watershed has received some decent rainfall. Water flows still remain at fall minimum flow of 335 CFS. water temperatures has warm over the past week, Temperatures now are in the upper 60s low 70s degree range.

I’m starting to notice a pattern  develop. At first light in the morning we are having good success with larger flies like size 4 willy buggers. After that once the water gets lit up by the sun. We have needed to drop down in tippet size and fly size. At this point we are fishing size 6 willy buggers or other patterns an equal size. Also picking flies with the flash that is tone down has been more effective.

Note;

At this time I still have some prime September days available these are October 3,4,5,6,27,29,30 ideal dates for fishing Chinook salmon and possibly catching a run of Coho Salmon.

Please feel free to give me a call [Cell 585-233-0436] and discuss any concerns and your options.

As far as the Chinook salmon and the Salmon River are concerned, fall is here.  As of writing this report the salmon fishing has been picking up every day for the last few day. All indications are pointing towards a normal salmon season. Too early to know for sure but all indications are positive. The timing of this group of salmon running is typical for mid  September. More years than not we will receive at least a small round of salmon at this point. Also the lower fly zone will be opening for this coming weekend.  Generally speaking it will take the salmon 3 to 4 days to reach the upper river. At writing of this update there should be a few salmon scattered through the entire river system. Do not expect to find heavy concentrations in any single location. However if you’re looking for fresh salmon and light fishing pressure this is the time to fish.

Water temperatures have plummeted over the last few days with the cool, almost you could say cold night. Last few mornings water temperatures are starting out at the low 60° mark and finishing up the day in the mid 60s degree mark. We are seeing approximately 5° temperature swing daily. Water flows have not fluctuated much over the past week, flows remain at fall minimum of 335 CFS.

For those of you who fish with me in the past, or follow this blog will know I am primarily a woolly bugger fisherman for salmon. So this comes to you with no surprise that we have been using Black, brown, and occasionally olive woolly buggers.

Note;

At this time I still have some prime September days available these are September 20,21,22,25,29 ideal dates for fishing Chinook salmon and possibly catching a run of Coho Salmon.

We are also offering two spey casting classes.

Date for the casting clinic are

Clinic 2; October 1 Saturday, starting time 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Meet at 2.A fishing excess parking

Please feel free to give me a call [Cell 585-233-0436] and discuss any concerns and your options.

Fall is coming. Things are starting to change, Especially with the fishing. Over the last few days there has been small handfuls of salmon making their way through the lower end of the Salmon River. Nothing consistent yet but a very good sign, considering it’s the end of August into early September.  The salmon fishing on the lake has been consistent to very good. All signs are pointing to a good relatively early start to the salmon season.

Over the past two weeks the Salmon River watershed has received some heavy rain falls. As result water flows have been increased to fall minimum water flows of 335 CFS hopefully we will continue to receive plenty of wet whether so this flow can be maintained. Water temperatures have also dropped, for the lower river water temperatures are fluctuating between a low of 68° to a high of 72°. River conditions are starting to look a lot like fall. If you intend to take a vantage of these early trickles of fish, planning on starting your fishing day as really as possible. You will want to take a vantage of the cooler water temperatures. Also most of the activity will be over by midday. I do personally enjoy late August early September salmon fishing. Keep in mind we are fishing for a fish or two. The main salmon fishing traffic has not hit the river yet.

There are still plenty of opportunities with the local trout streams. With some of the recent rains and cool night water conditions are improving quickly. By now most of the summer mayfly hatches are over. However streamer fishing can be very productive especially at first and last light. Also keep in mind ants and beetles will continue to be available to the trout, good thing for us dry fly fisherman.

Note;

At this time I still have some prime September days available these are September 20,21,22,23,24,25 ideal dates for fishing Chinook salmon and possibly catching a run of Coho Salmon.

We are offering another fishing option for early salmon season, running from late August to mid September. This is fishing for salmon in the morning for either Atlantic Salmon or Chinook salmon depending on availability. Then heading off to the Brook trout water for an afternoon of trout fishing.

We are also offering two spey casting classes.

Date for the casting clinic are

Clinic 1; September 3 Saturday, starting time 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Meet at Pineville fishing excess parking Clinic 2; October 1 Saturday, starting time 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Meet at 2.A fishing excess parking

Please feel free to give me a call [Cell 585-233-0436] and discuss any concerns and your options.