Steelhead Fishing on the Salmon River in Pulaski NY – Fall, Winter, Spring and April.

Salmon River Steelhead and Salmon Fishing Pulaski NY.

The Salmon River receives Large Fishing Runs of Salmon and Steelhead in Pulaski NY. Its the Best known freshwater fishery in Upstate NY for Steelhead and Salmon fishing.

Salmon River King Salmon and Coho Salmon fishing Pulaski NY.
Every Fall the Salmon River sees epic runs of King Salmon and Coho Salmon from September through October in Pulaski NY. When Salmon River fishing anglers can catch King Salmon that avg. 15 lbs. – 20 lbs. with some reaching 30 lbs. Our Salmon River Coho Salmon avg. 8 – 12 lbs. with many larger in Pulaski NY.

Steelhead fishing Salmon River Pulaski NY.
Steelhead fishing begins on the Salmon River in Pulaski NY in the Fall. And our Steelhead fishing season lasts all Winter into Spring in April in Pulaski NY. The Best Time for Brown Trout is anytime while fishing for Steelhead in Pulaski NY.

Check out my Oct. 16 Blog Steelhead fishing Pulaski NY. – Oct. 21 Salmon River Steelhead fishing Pulaski NY.
Nov. 4 Steelhead fishing Salmon River NY. – Dec. 5 Salmon River Steelhead fishing Report. – Jan. 6 Winter Steelhead fishing Salmon River NY.
Jan. 19 Winter Steelhead fishing Pulaski NY. – Feb. 14 Spring Steelhead fishing Salmon River Pulaski NY.

Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Video Tips.
1) Ever wonder where the Steelhead stop to rest at? While running the Salmon River for only a Brief period of time?
2) Find out where the Steelhead hold at. During the Middle of the day, once they have stopped running the Salmon River. From approx. 9:30 am  until 5:30pm.
(Skip the repeated Intro. @ 1:11).
3) Where do the Steelhead hold at for Extended periods of time on the Salmon River? (Skip the repeated Intro. @ 1:11).

Best Places to fish on the Salmon River NY. Best fishing Spots in Pulaski NY.

The Best Place and Best Spots to go Salmon fishing on the Salmon River in Pulaski NY from Early to Mid. September. Would be Best in the Lower Salmon River fishing spots in Pulaski NY. One of the Best Places to fish for Salmon would be in the Salmon River NY rapids during either low light period. The Best fishing spots would be in the Pools. These Pools are always one of the Best fishing spots in Pulaski NY.
The Best place to fish on the Salmon River NY from Mid. Sept. to Mid. Oct. would be anywhere along the Salmon River. From the Lower Salmon River to the Upper Salmon River NY you will have Salmon.
The Best place to fish around Mid. Oct. would be in the Salmon River NY Pools for some late running Salmon. Or Salmon fish where you have a Major gravel influence on the River. These Salmon River gravel flats are always one of the Best Places and Best fishing spots in Pulaski NY during Mid. Oct.

When Your Salmon River Steelhead Salmon fishing – Target these 3 Prime areas to help You Catch more Fish!

1. When the Salmon and steelhead are running the Salmon River. Fish there “Temporary Transitional Resting Spots” as they make there way up the Salmon River. Otherwise, you are fishing to Salmon or Steelhead that are not stopping, decreasing your odds greatly. Tutorial Video on Temporary Transitional Resting Spots.

2. Once the fish have stopped running to hold during the middle of the day. – (From approx. 9:30am. to 5:30pm.) Try Fishing these “Prime Transitional Holding Spots”. Tutorial Video on Prime Transitional Holding Spots.

3. Once the Salmon or steelhead have stopped running the Salmon River. And have found a spot that satisfies all their survival instincts. Try Fishing these “Prime Holding Spots” – (Pools). Normally, the most fish and they aren’t going anywhere soon. Tutorial Video on Prime Holding Spots – Pools.

Fishing you the Best of luck! When your Salmon River Steelhead Salmon fishing.

4 Advanced ways to locate and target the Most Fish when Your Salmon River Steelhead Salmon fishing.

Tutorial Video on EXPERT Fish Locating Habitat. – (These are areas I look for on the Salmon River when guiding folks like yourself.)

1. Find a Salmon River fishing spot that is a combination of all 1 thru 3 – (in above content). Or, a spot that has all 3 in close proximity. So you can jump around according to what the Salmon or Steelhead are telling you to do.

2. Combine all of the above and find a spot above a looong stretch of rapids. The fish get tired after running these Salmon River rapids and will hold here for an extended period of time.

3. Include all of the above and make sure that your spot has 98% of the Salmon or Steelhead in a transitional stage. Move into it. (Funnel or Pinch point in the river.)

4. My #1 Salmon River Fishing Spot! Combine all of the above and pick a spot that compresses and or concentrates them. On a dime, like a sardine can, trash can lid or the size of a Volkswagen beetle or bus. This cuts down on all the guess work. And it allows to to present your offering to all the Steelhead and Salmon on every drift.

The VERY BEST place to Salmon or Steelhead fish? Is anywhere I’m not! yukyuk.

By utilizing the above. You will have the most Steelhead or Salmon in front of you for the greatest period of time. In a concentrated area offering you the greatest opportunity to present your offering to ALL of them. Fish ON and ON and ON! Now you know what “This Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing Guide” look’s for normally.
I hope you found my “Guide Tips” entertainingly informative or mildly educational. – May all Your door knobs smell of BIG Salmon and Steelhead!
Best Fish’s, Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing guide, Randy Jones.

Randy, what’s the Very-Very Best way to keep my rod from EXPLODING! When I’m fighting and doing battle with a BIG Salmon or Steelhead?

I’m glad you asked, Just hand me your rod and I’ll land it for you. – har har.
((Great, after my sarcastic joke….. now I feel obligated to write the below for you.))

TOP 3 WAY’S to avoid exploding your rod on any BIG Salmon or Steelhead.
I’m talking from Salmon River Steelhead Salmon fishing experience folks.

#1 Rule – Rods will easily explode on you when you put your hand ABOVE the cork (hand grip) for extra leverage on rod blank when fishing. Sure, on lil trout you measure by the inch, it’s never broken. But, how about a 30 plus pound Salmon River King Salmon. Even a 10 pound Salmon River Steelhead will cause your rod to break – explode if it’s mishandled by you. Don’t blame the manufacture, its your fault! These fish are equal opportunity rod breakers. And don’t care how much or how lil you spent on your rod. Rods are meant to be flexed fully. So by placing your hand above the cork it isn’t and it will EXPLODE!

2. Check your ferrals thru out the day. (A ferrel is where the pieces of your rod join together). No matter the price you pay for your rod, they do come loose thru out the day. By checking them every few hour’s you should be ok.
If your ferrules are loose. And your rod is doubled over on a BIG Salmon or Steelhead, it will break Every time.

3. Remember when your rod fell off the roof of your car? Or, got a nick in it from a split shot or lead eyes on your streamer? Even if you do all of the above, that nick is your weakest link. I will guarantee you, that is where it will break when your rod is doubled over when Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing.

In Closing,
When you drop your grandmas finest china on the floor, it breaks. Her china was not made to be dropped on the floor. Your fishing rod is no different.

If you remember that your fishing rod is similar to your grandma’s finest china. And follow rules #1 and #2, you’ll be ok. (Many anglers bring 2 rods when Salmon River Steelhead Salmon fishing).

P.S. If you ever hear several Gun Blast’s down river from you during Salmon season. Those are Rods Exploding! This 100% tells you there is a Good push of Salmon running the river below you. Soon to arrive in your spot. Ye-Haa!

Drift Fishing with a Fly – Spin Rod Part 1. When Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing.

There are numerous ways to present a fly/bait with a fly/spin rod when Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing. This is one of the more popular methods used in the Great Lakes region. Some well known fishing authors have written about it. My friend Tom Rosenbauer mentions it in his Orvis fly fishing technique book.

Deep nymphing, dead drifting, drift fishing, high sticking, chuck and duck. These are all terms I’ve heard, used to describe the same method. Anytime you can make it easier for any species of fish to feed or strike anywhere in the world you will increase the odds of hooking up. That’s why this presentation technique is so popular when your Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing. It works in every condition you will ever find on the Salmon river. (High-low water, cold-warm water, any species, clear-off color water, fast-slow moving water, close in far out, no room for a back cast, crowded conditions, etc…).

You only want to lightly tap your weight on top of the rocks, (3 light ticks is sufficient) giving your rod tip a 1-2 in. twitch when feeling a slight pause, stop or hesitation. Many times the steelhead or salmon do not slam your flies or bait, but instead mouth it before spitting it out. This feel’s like a pause or hesitation while you are on your Salmon River drift. In my opinion, it is critical to concentrate on detecting the pause or hesitation that happens when a fish lightly pick’s up your bait or fly. Pre-setting the hook immediately before it has a chance to spit it is critical while you are checking to see if it is a rock or fish. If you slightly twitch the tip of the rod (3-4 inch’s) on the pause, then you are pre-setting correctly. If it’s a rock, you have just gotten over it, and kept your fly/bait on the bottom. If you fully set, then a lot of the time you have moved you weight and fly/bait so far off the bottom, that your drift is over. If its a fish or a snag, then your line will not move and stop which means you should immediately fully set the hook. I pre-set the hook with a twitch, then set, if line remains still when Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing.

The first lesson I was ever taught when Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing using this technique was. If you pre- set on the pause or hesitation, and pull up a leaf, then you are detecting the slight pause or hesitation correctly. If you wait every time for your line to stop before you set, then you are missing fish. I always tell my clients – when in doubt, pre-set the hook, and if the line doesn’t move, PLEASE (politely) set it!

Not a day goes by when you can watch other Salmon River anglers fishing for Salmon or Steelhead and see there line pause with no reaction by them. Or watch the line stop dead for 3-4 seconds with no reaction. The reaction to the take has to be immediate or fly/bait is spit out. Many fish are lost and simply never hooked up because many, many anglers are all waiting for that BIG BANG of Fish On when Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing.
A blind man can easily detect the take when the fish slams it, but it’s the 10% of anglers that catch 90% of the fish that are concentrating mostly on the pauses and hesitations, in my opinion.

Here are several ways to help you detect subtle takes when Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing.

(Pauses and hesitations)
1. Watching the line in the water as it moves down stream on the drift. You will normally always see it, before you feel it.
2. Feeling with your rod hand on rod grip.
3. Lightly touching your rod hand index finger to line. For a fly rod, this will only work proficiently if the line is coming straight off the reel to your first rod guide. If your in the habit of making those lil trout loops (what I call them) after you’ve cast, then it does not work.
4. Holding the line in your other hand. The line should be held in your fingertips for greatest sensitivity.
5. There are some seasoned Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing angler’s who don’t watch their line in the water on the drift. Instead they look at their rod tip through the entire drift. Letting the slight movement of the tip tell them what is going on underneath the surface.

Proper Weighting with your Fly – Spin Rod when Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing.

I sometimes change my weight 2-3 times without moving from the same spot. I work the water close, then farther out. Weighting is critical to helping you detect the takes. The key is to lightly tap the bottom, not dredge the bottom. Too much weight and detecting subtle takes is impossible and you’ll end up getting stuck, breaking off and re-tying a lot. Most Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing anglers use to much weight.

This technique also works in your local streams and river’s for trout during high water conditions. Also in the deeper, faster sections were traditional fly lines will not allow you to get down to the bigger fish.

Basically, their is no difference when you get a pause or hesitation from a rock, salmon or steelhead that has just mouthed your fly/bait. Most anglers are all waiting for the big BANG. Thereby missing 50% of actual takes. If you think about it, doesn’t a pause or hesitation always precede a complete stop? When a fish takes and spits your fly, bait it can happen in a split second. By concentrating on your line movement, correct weighting, depth of drift, contact with the bottom, pauses and hesitations. You will be on your way too becoming a part of the 10% that catch’s 90% of the fish.

Best fish’s, Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing guide Randy Jones.

Drift Fishing with a Fly – Spin Rod Part 2. When Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing.

Correct speed of drift: Imitating an egg-nymph dead drifting along the bottom at the same rate of speed as the bottom water column, is imperative to successfully hooking up. This is achieved by looking where you’re mono enters the water. It should be moving slightly slower than the surface current combined with a light ticking of your weight on the bottom rocks. This matches the bottom current speed close enough. Making your offering look real enough to even the Smartest Salmon River steelhead or salmon.

Fine Tuning and Perfecting your drift fishing when Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing.

My primary goal when first fishing a Salmon River spot is NOT to catch a Salmon or Steelhead. It’s making sure my drift is fine tuned and perfect FIRST. Only after this determination, do I have any real chance of catching a Salmon or Steelhead.

I always guess approx. how much weight I will need according to the depth and speed of water I’m fishing, combined with the distance I’ll be casting. I start every cast at the 12 O’clock position. 12 O’clock is always straight in front of you, straight across the Salmon River current. My goal is to start lightly ticking the bottom rocks shortly there after with my rod tip high.

If I don’t feel the bottom shortly after casting at 12. Then I’ll cast the same weight slightly above (up river) the 12 O’clock position. My goal is to start ticking the bottom at 12 with my rod tip high. If I achieve this, my weighting is perfect. If I don’t achieve this, then I know I’ll need a lil more weight to achieve the perfect drift.

Once you’ve achieved the correct weight and exact spot you need to land it in the water for the perfect drift. It becomes imperative to your success to land your weight in the water in the EXACT same spot, cast after cast. Casting your weight to far up river or casting your weight to far down river doesn’t work for numerous reasons when Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing.

Sub-surface Non-visual characteristics of Spin – Fly line that can either help or hurt you.

In my opinion, when drift fishing correctly the line between the tip of your rod and weight should be a straight line sub-surface. This can easily be achieved by holding your rod tip high on the drift by putting less line into the Salmon River water column.

If I held my Fly – Spin rod tip low while drift fishing, several negative things can happened.
1. First and most importantly no Salmon or Steelhead are caught.
2. A low rod tip puts more line into the Salmon River water column, which creates a sub-surface bow or slack in your line. Causing your fly/bait to unnaturally speed up and swing through the Salmon River hole, instead of dead drifting through it. There by making your tasty morsel look more like a speeding bullet than something that was naturally drifting along the bottom at the correct speed that was edible.
3. The weight would not bring our fly/bait into the strike zone due to the current bowing the line and speeding up the drift and keeping the weight off the bottom.
4. When dead drifting the Salmon River correctly, its imperative that you control your weight. Most anglers let the weight control them. With a low rod tip you are creating a sub-surface bow or slack in your line and letting the weight control you. Your weight is simply slogging along the bottom looking for the quickest and easiest Salmon River rock to call home for good. By holding rod tip high, you can control your weight by skipping over these snags with a quick 3-4 inch twitch of your rod tip when feeling a pause or hesitation.
5. Usually, if you have a subsurface bow or slack in your line, you will not feel the weight lightly ticking the rocks sensation. Due to the vibrations not being transferred up through the bowed or slack line to your rod hand or finger. Which makes feeling the pauses and hesitations impossible. Causing you to miss fish and getting snagged on the Salmon River bottom a lot.

With a high rod tip and a straight line from rod tip to weight, you will achieve your desired and most productive dead drift.
Cutting down on drag, giving it a more natural drift by imitating the correct bottom speed. Feeling those pauses and hesitations better, detecting the take better and getting hung-up on the bottom less when Salmon River steelhead Salmon fishing.

Angle of rod tip to line to cut down on Snags.

To achieve a maximum dead drift and cut down on snags the rod tip should be held directly over the line on your entire drift. When you feel a pause or hesitation and twitch your rod tip. If its a snaggy rock, you will pull your weight straight up and over it.
If you follow your line with your rod tip in front of the line, or behind it, many negative things happen.

The above articles all have some exceptions to them. There are even more advanced techniques to add to the above articles that will further your success rate. I guess I’ll save those for my Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing guest’s.
Happy Hook’n, Randy Jones

Here is How I Rig my Fly Rods and Spinning Rods for Drift fishing while Salmon River Steelhead Salmon Fishing.

Salmon River King Salmon and Coho Salmon Fishing: Sept. – Oct.
Fly Rod Equipment: Fly rods for Salmon should be a 9-10 weight. Reels should have 200 yds of 30 lb. test backing. Disk or cork drags are preferred. (No plastic parts)
Rigging for Fly Rods: By far, the most productive way that allows you the best odds to consistently hook-up and to be able to fish any and all waters. Is to use a floating running line for dead-drifting your fly patterns. Sometimes we will use a sinking line or a weight forward floating fly line with a strike indicator when fly fishing. But this only works in some of the water.
Fly Line: Cortland Running line 30 lb. test.
Butt: 8-10 feet of  Seaguar Grand Max Fluorocarbon straight 15 lb. test.
Swivels or Snap swivels: Size 10.
Weight: Variety of split shot in #2-#7 or Slinkies in different sizes.
Tippets: Seaguar Grand Max Fluorocarbon 12 lb. test. ***The distance between the hook, artificial fly or lure and any weight attached to the line or leader, whether fixed or sliding, shall not exceed four feet. (When Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing).

Spinning Rod Equipment: Spinning rods for Salmon should be able to handle 15-18 lb. main line with a strong drag system on spinning reel. (No plastic parts)
Spinning Rod Mainline for Salmon I exclusively use Ande Mono Envoy 15lb. test.
Swivels or Snap swivels: Size 10.
Weight: Variety of split shot in #2-#7 or Slinkies in different sizes.
Leaders: Seaguar Grand Max Fluorocarbon 12 lb. test. ***The distance between the hook, artificial fly or lure and any weight attached to the line or leader, whether fixed or sliding, shall not exceed four feet. (When Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing).

Salmon River Steelhead and Brown Trout Fishing: Oct. thru April.
Fly Rod Equipment: Fly rods for Steelhead or Brown Trout should be a  6-8 weight, 10 feet, medium flex. Disk or cork drags are preferred. (No plastic parts)
Rigging for Fly Rods: By far, the most productive way that allows you the best odds to consistently hook-up and to be able to fish any and all waters. Is to use a floating running line for dead-drifting your egg or nymph patterns. Sometimes we will use a sinking line or a weight forward floating fly line with a strike indicator when fly fishing. But this only works in some of the water.
Fly Line: Cortland Floating Running line 20 lb. test.
Butt: 8-10 feet of  Seaguar Grand Max Fluorocarbon straight 10 lb. test.
Swivels or Snap swivels: Size 12.
Weight: Variety of split shot in #2-#7 or Slinkies in different sizes.
Tippets: Seaguar Grand Max Fluorocarbon 8 lb. test. ***The distance between the hook, artificial fly or lure and any weight attached to the line or leader, whether fixed or sliding, shall not exceed four feet. (When Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing).

Spinning Rod Equipment: Noodle spin rods for Steelhead or Brown Trout should be rated for 6-12 lb. main line test with smooth drag. (No plastic parts)
Spinning Rod Mainline for Steelhead: I exclusively use Ande Mono Envoy 12 lb. test.
Swivels or Snap swivels: Size 12.
Weight: Variety of split shot in #2-#7 or Slinkies in different sizes.
Leaders: Seaguar Grand Max Fluorocarbon 8 lb. test. ***The distance between the hook, artificial fly or lure and any weight attached to the line or leader, whether fixed or sliding, shall not exceed four feet. (When Salmon River steelhead salmon fishing).

***FYI to ALL Fly anglers. Fly Zones are for Traditional Fly casting with a weight restriction, which this isn’t.

Salmon River Steelhead fishing Pulaski NY with Capt. Bill landing a Trophy 20 lb. Steelhead!

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

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

The Salmon River, where Memories are Made!