Salmon River Fly Fishing Guide Pulaski NY

Salmon River fly fishing for Large Runs of Steelhead and Salmon in Pulaski NY.
New England’s Best in the Northeast is Upstate NY for Salmon River fly fishing for Steelhead or Salmon with this Pulaski NY guide.

Salmon River fly fishing Pulaski NY for King Salmon (Chinook) and Coho Salmon.
Every Fall the Salmon River sees epic fly fishing runs of King Salmon and Coho Salmon in Pulaski NY. From Sept. through Oct. is when Salmon River NY fly fishing anglers can catch King Salmon weighing up to 30 lbs. With our Salmon River fly fishing Coho Salmon avg. 8 – 12 lbs. in Pulaski NY.
There is no Nookie like a Chinookie – There is no HO like a Coho.

Salmon River Steelhead fly fishing Pulaski NY.
Nov. Dec. is one of the Best Times for Salmon River Steelhead fly fishing in Pulaski NY. While fly fishing for Steelhead, Large Brown Trout can be caught anytime on the Salmon River NY.

These fly fishing Steelhead will well surely jump start your fishing heart! With fly fishing Steelhead Catapulting, Somersaulting, Bullet Runs and Tail-walks across the Salmon River Pool in Pulaski NY.

The Steelhead fly fishing on the Salmon River NY is Good in Mar. and April. And is another Best Time for Steelhead fly fishing Pulaski NY. With more Good fly fishing Runs of Steelhead entering the Salmon River NY during their Spring Spawning runs. When fly fishing for Steelhead in the Spring. Both the Lower Salmon River and the Upper Salmon River NY will have Steelhead when fly fishing Pulaski.

These are the Best Times for Salmon River Steelhead fly fishing in Pulaski NY all Fall, Winter and Spring.

For MORE – Salmon River Steelhead and Salmon Fishing Pulaski NY.

Enjoy my FUN Salmon River Steelhead Fly Fishing Story w/ Anton.

Anton was my 1 guest fly fishing off the drift boat today on the Salmon River. He Hammered the Steelhead! Ye-haaaa!
It wasn’t long before Anton had his first Steelhead on for the day, of many. After the next 15 minutes of no Steelhead for us to play with. We decided to get out of the Salmon River drift boat and wade fly fish this productive spot, 5-6 feet at a time. Working our 30 foot window of fly fishing opportunity. We picked away at the Steelhead with 1 here and 1 there. After Anton and I had moved down approx. 100 feet from where we had started off the drift boat. We found a pod of Steelhead in this normally productive Salmon River fly fishing spot.

I watched Anton’s fly fishing presentation thru out the day and suggested a few reminders and tips.
Try this, then like magic, “FISH ON” – We both would chuckle. At one point we were hitting Steelhead on almost every drift. WOW!

Then, all of a sudden nothing! We poked around for the next hour with not’a steelhead nibble. Looked at my watch and it was time to hit the drift boat ramp. All the other Salmon River drift boats and shore anglers were all smiles as we slowly drifted down the Salmon River past them, joking and laughing. It was nice to see everyone out enjoying this World Class Steelhead fishery!

On a Spring Salmon River fly fishing Trip, Anton lands this Nice 16 lb. Trophy Male Steelhead!

TIPS – Winter Salmon River Fly Fishing for Steelhead.

Matching the fly Hatch – One of mother natures many signature Salmon River fly fishing clues.
During the Winter time when ever it gets above freezing. Look on the banks of the Salmon River and try to imitate what fly you see crawling on the snow.
Here is a prime example.

Lil Winter Stone Fly on the snow. Notice the very slender body, which is not like the normal stone flies you tie or fly fish? Your normal Stone flies will work also, we have a LOT of them on the Salmon River. The Steelhead and Brown Trout love’m!

This is called (a family member of) a black stone fly. It’s probably the #1 fly imitation used by most experienced Salmon River fly fishing anglers targeting Steelhead, and rightly so. Sometimes you will notice thousands upon thousands of these on the snow covered banks of the Salmon River. This aquatic insect is one of the most abundant. And is a primary source of food for the steelhead during the Winter time. There are also other insect’s in different stages of their lives that the Steelhead key in on.
That’s another Salmon River fly fishing article.

Test your Steelhead and Brown Trout Salmon River Fly Fishing Knowledge.

What is an Oregon Cheese Egg Fly?
Answer – You roll a piece of Oregon cheese into a ball and place it on a hook and wing it out there. If you don’t catch a Steelhead or Brown Trout on it, then you can always eat the cheese!

Actually, its called an Oregon Cheese (color) Glow Bug fly. It’s a type of fly that imitates a reel egg that the Steelhead and Brown Trout like. One of the BEST Salmon River fly fishing flies for’m!

This Tip comes with a Money Back Guarantee! – So you owe me!
The VERY BEST color glow bug fly for Steelhead and Brown Trout day in and day out when fly fishing is a cream colored glow bug on the Salmon River.

Salmon River Fly Fishing HUMOR.

Like Magic, easily add 10 feet to your fly casting distance. – Simply make a cast and then walk 10 feet further out into the water and re-cast. Now your casting 10 feet further than you were before. You owe me BIG TIME for that Salmon River fly fishing Tip!

Ever heard this one? The way you fly fish? You’d have better luck catching a fish if you took up golf. har har.

A local Salmon River fly fishing sports shop has about 40 sign’s out front stating that they DO NOT clean fish! So almost everyday they have an angler (who doesn’t see there 40 sign’s that say they DO NOT clean fish) walk into there shop and ask them if they clean fish. They usually say… Why, is your fish dirty?

Funniest Steelhead Salmon River Fly Fishing Story I’ve Ever Heard!

John likes to tie his own Steelhead flies. He tied up a fly and laid it on his kitchen counter. His wife walk’s into the kitchen and sees it on the counter. The only thing was, she didn’t know it was a fly. It looked so reeeel that she thought it was a bug on here kitchen counter.
She ran and got a fly swatter and hammered the piss out’a that steelhead fly.
The moral of the story – John said that his fly was wife approved. That if she thought is was reeel, then the steelhead would also. Next time John went Salmon River steelhead fly fishing, he caught a bunch on that fly! I laughed and said I’d never heard of such a thing and would share the story with all of you. Thanks John!

Established in 1980 – 35+years of Pro. Fly Fishing Guide EXP.

I started off as a fly fishing guide in VT. for Trout for 10 years, working out of a Orvis endorsed franchise. Then split my fly fishing season’s by guiding the Salmon River and Cape Cod for Stripers and Blues for 30 years. Past Chief instructor of the Orvis Endorsed 2 1/2 day Saltwater Fly fishing schools on Cape Cod.

Google My Business.

Test your Fly fishing – Fly rod – Fly casting Knowledge.
By Randy Jones

Improve your fly casting skills by adding 10 or more feet to your Casting distance and 5 or more feet on each False cast.

Whats the most basic fundamental principle of fly casting? – It’s the Loading and Un-Loading of the fly rod.
Which of the 2 cast’s (forward or back) is the most important? – The back cast set’s up the forward and is more important.  By perfecting your back cast, it will add another 10 or more feet to your forward casting distance.

Power Stroke, Loop Size and Break at your Elbow.
What’s the only thing that determines the size of your Loop on both casts? –  It’s the distance your rod tip travels during the power stroke, combined with the complete stop of the rod tip. If your rod tip traveled 3 feet during the power stroke, Then you will 100% have a 3 foot loop. Tighter Loops are more aerodynamic, like a bullet or an arrow. Throw tighter Loops on both cast’s and you will 100% add 10 or more feet to your fly casting distance and 5 or more feet on each False cast when fly fishing.
HEY RANDY, I had Fruit Loops for Breakfast, will that help with my Loop’s? P.S. Whats a Loop?

Whats the best way to improve on tighter loops? Move your rod tip over a shorter distance during the power stroke AND don’t break at your wrist, break at your elbow.

Your forearm has many more muscles in it to quickly move the rod over a shorter distance during the power stroke and then quickly stop your rod, then your wrist. Your forearm is the unbreakable connection to your fly rod. When I make 80 to 100 foot casts using a 9 foot fly rod, my wrist (on its own) breaks about a inch, but my forearm does all the work. You can easily tell how much your wrist is breaking by looking at the distance between your forearm and the butt of the fly rod during both casts.

Wrists will often break, causing larger loops and less transfer of energy. It’s also really tuff to shorten the distance your rod tip travels during the extremely fast and quick power stroke and stopping your rod tip on a dime is made more difficult. **Try putting the butt of the fly rod under your long sleeve shirt cuff, so you cant break at your wrist. Practice this until you have achieved muscle memory. You will make a faster power stroke over a shorter distance with your rod tip, combined with an immediate stop of the rod. Throw tighter loops and add 10 or more feet to your fly casting distance and 5 or more feet to each False cast.

Pause – Loading and Looking.
Why should you always pause, after you’ve stopped the fly rod on your back cast? – It’s to give the fly line, leader and fly a chance to fully extend behind you. Most Importantly! – So at the very beginning of your forward cast, the fly rod has something to immediately pull or load against. Your goal is to always fully load your rod on either cast, which can easily add 10 or more feet to your fly casting distance. (If you prematurely bring your rod forward, it has nothing to immediately pull or load against as your line is still traveling back. Your rod will not load until this slack is removed, resulting in a poor forward cast).

How long should you pause on your back cast? – This is solely determined by how much fly line is outside your rod tip. I often look at my back cast to tell me when to bring it forward, it never lies.

Stop the Rod.
When looking at your back cast to determine when to initiate your forward cast, size of Loop and correct line direction, what’s the first thing you need to do before looking? – Stop the rod tip, so the loop can form and the fly line knows where it should go. Best practice is to stop your rod and only turn your neck to look. (Never turn your upper body during the back cast to look, this causes many negative things to happen.)

Whats the only thing that determines what direction your fly line, leader and fly will go on either cast? – It’s where you completely stop your rod tip.

When false casting and feeding out line, what needs to happen first, before letting the line go? – A complete stop of the rod. Letting the line go a second before the rod has stopped, causes it to un-load there. Missing out on a fully loaded fly rod.

When making your final cast and shooting line, what needs to happen first, before letting the line go? – Same answer as above. Never ever be in a hurry to let the line go. All the line that you are holding in the air behind you has to fully extend in front of you before the line your shooting can go anywhere.
Simple way you can learn this exact and precise timing. When casting, say to yourself – Stop the rod – Then let the line go. You can also look and see both the rod stop and letting the line go in this order for timing.

False Casting More Line.
How can you easily add 5 to 10 more feet into every false cast? Simple! Just re-read everything you’ve just read. To easily add 10 to 20 feet to each False cast, add the Double Haul. That was easy!

Ever Happen to You? 
Very Strong Wind in your face? Start your power stroke a lil later on your forward cast, stopping with your rod tip lower than normal while maintaining a very small loop. Your trying to sneak your line under the faster wind and pretty much SLAM your fly into the water.

If you tend to hook bush’s, grass or slap the water on your back cast, what can you do? – Completely stop your rod at the 1’o’clock position throwing your line straight back, combined with a tighter loop. Or, don’t wait so long before bringing your fly rod forward.

If you hook a tree that is behind you, what can you do on your very next cast to miss it? –  Stop your rod tip at the 12’o’clock position. This throws your line up in the air behind you, hopefully missing the tree.  Or move to a different location, like a parking lot.

Most of the above credit goes to Left Krey, may you rest in peace. His 5 basic principles of fly casting and Advanced Casting are still being taught by me. Thanks Lefty!

Salmon River Fly Fishing Gear – Line, Leader, Rod and Reel.

For Chinook (King Salmon) – Coho Salmon, Steelhead and Brown Trout in Pulaski NY.

Floating fly line is the norm. Some streams and the Salmon River can be too shallow for any type of sinking fly line. But it well work in deeper waters. For chinook (king salmon), a WF10F or a DT10F line should work. Be sure to use sufficient backing to be able to play the King – Coho Salmon and Steelhead. If you use a lot of weight on a fly line for chinook king salmon, a running line can be used rather than a tapered fly line. Use line of .029 or .032 diameter. Some Salmon River anglers now use a sinking tip tied to a floating fly line to get the fly down to the fish.

For other Salmon River fishing such as steelhead and brown trout, again running lines or floating fly lines are used. However, lines are generally 7 or 8 weight.

Leader and tippet sizes depend, as always, to a large degree on what flies you are using. Many Salmon River anglers tie their own leaders. Since you are often fishing with split shot, this is not finesse fly fishing and it is not necessary to have a perfectly tapered leader. Similarly, the leader need not be too long for this type of fishing, unless you are fishing in very clear water with a very small fly. Under normal conditions, a leader and tippet combination that is not longer than the rod itself should work. A longer leader and tippet combination on the smaller streams will be too long and difficult to handle. Many fly fishing anglers tie in at least one length of high visibility line (such as “Amnesia”) in the upper end of the leader. Use of a fluorocarbon tippet is becoming more popular because of its nearly invisible properties.

3x and 4x tippet is popular for steelhead and brown trout when fly fishing. When fishing for chinook king salmon, tippet material of from 8 to 12 pound test is common when fly fishing.

Salmon River Fly fishing Rods for King Salmon, Steelhead and Brown Trout.

For chinook king salmon, fly fishing anglers typically use 9 or 10 foot fly rods from 7 to 11 weight, with 9 and 10 weights probably the most common. Most fly rods in this class have a fighting butt, which is helpful. For steelhead and brown trout fly fishing anglers typically use fly rods from 6 to 8 weight. A 6 weight fly rod will not give you much backbone to land a large steelhead, and an 9 weight fly rod has more than enough backbone.

Salmon River Fly fishing Reels for King Salmon and Steelhead.

Any respectable fly reel will work, but a fly reel without a disk drag will make landing a chinook king salmon very difficult when fly fishing. A smooth disk drag is certainly helpful for playing a larger fish. For chinook king salmon, a fly reel which accommodates a 9 to 10 weight line will work well. If you can afford it, try an anti-reverse reel for king salmon. For steelhead, a disk-drag reel which accommodates a 7 to 9 weight line is adequate. Be sure to use plenty of backing; these steelhead can make very long runs on the Salmon River. A fly reel for chinook king salmon should hold at least 150 yards of 20 pound backing. High-visibility backing is a good idea so you and other Salmon River anglers around you can see where your line is.

Thumbs up from this Fishing Guide with a Very Happy Salmon River Fly Fishing Steelhead Guest.

The Steelhead and Salmon fly fishing of your dreams…… ………… we’ll mak’m reeeeeeeeeeeeeel.

The Salmon River, where Memories are Made!