Join the fun & excitement of salmon fishing

There is a fever rising and it will spread rapidly, particularly among fishermen and women. It is very contagious and tends to last about a month It results in neglect of work around the house, sometimes jobs, or other duties. Common symptoms are lack of sleep, a tendency to sometimes travel great distances, and walking around in hip boots or chest waders.

No, it is not some new virus or mutation of a deadly strain. It is called “salmon fever” and treated by going fishing for the king or coho salmon that will soon be running up the Lake Ontario tributaries. The run has not yet started but it may be soon. Last week when I was at the Salmon River there were a decent number of fish in the river, mainly the lower section near the “staircase” at Pulaski and Douglaston Salmon Run near the Route 3 bridge. However, anglers were already trickling into town checking into motels and campgrounds and trying their luck on the river.

Early in the day some anglers were getting “hookups” but few fish were landed.

Visualize an angler casting repeatedly to the deep water along the far shore of the river. Suddenly there is an eruption of water as a huge fish leaps clear of the water and starts a powerful run downstream. The reel screams as the salmon peels a hundred yards of line in a single run while the angler desperately tries to slow the mighty fish before it breaks clear.

Welcome to the sport of salmon fishing. Scenes like this will be repeated for another few weeks along the Salmon River, the Oswego River, smaller tributaries, and streams all along the Lake Ontario shoreline. It is world class fishing right in our backyard and once you have experienced it, it is difficult to forget about it.

Thousands of Chinook and coho salmon return to the streams where they were born to spawn and die. There is approximately 10 miles of public access on the Salmon River. The area above the bridge in Altmar is limited to fly fishing only in an effort to let fish reach the hatchery upstream.

The best way to avoid crowds is to fish in the middle of the week and fish early or late in the day. The first and last hours of the day are the best time to fish anyway since that is when the salmon are moving upstream. Be prepared to walk a bit to get away from the crowds. Stop at All Seasons Sports Shop on Rte. 13 in Pulaski to get a map of the river with convenient access points.

Although salmon do not feed when they enter the tributaries to spawn, they can be coaxed into striking out of aggression or instinct. Large flies such as Wooly Buggers, single hook lures, or egg sacks are all common ways of taking salmon in the river. Salmon tend to hit egg sacks or artificial eggs and flies that imitate eggs. The theory is that they want to remove any competition to their own spawn.

Chinook salmon tend to travel in deep water and stay near the river bottom as they migrate upstream. Thus your bait, fly, or lure should pass just off the bottom since the fish do not move up in the water column to strike. Concentrate on the heads or tails of pools, deep runs along the banks, or behind the boulders, etc. that break the current.

You want your bait or lure to move naturally just over the bottom. Add or subtract split shot to a dropper line to keep your lure at proper depth.

While battling salmon is definitely not a job for ultralight tackle, neither do you want the 50 lb. test line and broomstick rods that some bass fishermen tend to use.

Long rods help you fight the fish and also aid in keeping line off the water, preventing drag on your bait in the presentation. Most fly fishermen prefer 9 foot rods for 8 or 9 weight line. Spin fishermen commonly use a medium action 8 or 9 foot rod. Both call for quality reels with good drags and lots of capacity. The main line should be 12 lb. test with a four foot leader of 6 lb. test.

If you have never fished for salmon in the streams you might want to consider hiring a guide to show you how as well as where. Former local resident Chris Mulpagano (387-2623) is one of the best and uses his driftboat to cover lots of river.

Chris can also recommend other good guides when he is busy.

If you don’t have the tackle you can check for anything you need, including Korkers for wading the slippery Salmon River bottom, at All Seasons Sports on Rte. 13 in Pulaski. Owner Jim Dence is a local resident who is familiar with conditions on the river and can outfit you with the proper equipment as well as advice. Call 315298-6433 for more information.

The Oswego River and other area tributaries also have impressive runs of salmon. Along the western part of Lake Ontario there are other tributaries such as Oak Orchard River which also have good runs of salmon. For information on these contact www.orleanscountytourism or call 1-800-724-0314. Also check Niagara County at www.niagara-usa.com or call 1-877-FALLS US.

You do not need to spend $5,000 or more for a fishing trip in Alaska to experience the great excitement and fun of salmon fishing. You can do it right in our own backyard. But beware: once you catch salmon fever it is hard to get rid of it.

SHORT CASTS

Fall Outings in Adirondacks

Hiking in the Adirondacks is always popular, especially in autumn with colorful fall foliage and cooler weather. However as we have reported, this has led to problems of overcrowding at parking areas, overcrowding and overuse of trails in the high peaks, and people being lost, injured or unprepared.

Remember that starting this month there is a free shuttle system in the Keene Valley along Rte 73. This runs from the four most popular parking lots and should help to alleviate some of the worst problems of parking and access. There is also a new reservation system at the Adirondack Reserve which guarantees parking at this private property and allows access to three of the peaks. Check the DEC website for details.

If you are planning on doing any hiking in the Adirondacks, especially the High Peaks, check the DEC website for lots of information. For example the Backcountry Tips section has lots of advice on things to do and bring before setting out on a hike.

Have a cell phone but don’t rely on it. Carry a map and compass, flashlight, plenty of water, and emergency shelter such as a space blanket. Carry extra clothing and be prepared because it is a different climate and weather conditions on top of the peaks.

Other sections on the DEC website deal with updated conditions of roads and trails. Heavy rains this year have washed out bridges or made the roads and trails unpassable. Even closer to home in the central Adirondacks there are closures due to machinery working to make repairs. For example roads were closed at Wolf Lake Landing between Otter Lake and Thendara and Mill Creek Road at Woodgate.

Keep in mind that fall foliage is changing already due to shorter days and cooler nights. The High Peaks typically hits peak foliage around the third or fourth week of September and the Central Adirondacks is often peak in the first week of October, about a week ahead of central NY. See the Foliage Reports on the “I Love NY Fall Foliage Report” which is updated every Wednesday.

Fishing Report

Salmon are moving towards the spawning tributaries on Lake Ontario but most are not ready to run yet. Shifting winds have moved the water and subsequently the baitfish and salmon. Charter boats and other anglers have had to move a lot to find the fish each day. Best lures are Atommik Mirage or Pro Am or flies such as Hammer Fly behind Stinger Chips. Some days fish are found 120 — 140 feet down but they can be anywhere depending on the bait fish.

On the Oswego River the first group of king salmon has entered the river and headed up to the dam. Between the bridges you should cast deep diving crankbaits such as Thundersticks one or two feet off the bottom according to Capt. Andy Bliss of Chasin Tails Guide Service. Pautzke Fire Cure eggs will work better as the water temperature drops. Remember there are zones where it is mandatory to wear PFDS.

The Oswego Fire Dept. has a program to loan PFDS at no charge. Call 315-343-2161.