Salmon River, New York
Salmon River Pulaski Fishing Report: September 17, 2026
The Salmon River remains low near 228 cfs, and the lower fly-fishing section in Altmar is closed while DEC completes hatchery egg collection.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- First light through midmorning
- Best methods
- streamers, egg patterns, nymphs
Quick Summary
The Salmon River remains low at 228 cfs and 5.34 feet at Pineville. The September 17 local report says Chinook action in the lower river slowed Wednesday, while kings remain in deeper holes and larger runs through the middle and upper river. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has delayed the opening of the lower fly-fishing section in Altmar; that quarter-mile section below the hatchery remains closed until sufficient salmon eggs are collected. The 16 miles below the Route 52 bridge and the upper fly-fishing section remain open. The river temperature reported by the local source was 65 F; the Pineville USGS gauge does not report temperature.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Kings are present, but low flow and slower lower-river movement make location important; the lower fly-fishing section in Altmar is closed |
| Flow | 228 cfs at Pineville |
| Gauge Height | 5.34 feet at Pineville |
| Water Temp | 65 F reported locally; not reported by USGS |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Stable |
| Best Window | First light through midmorning |
| Best Method | Sparse streamers, leeches, stonefly nymphs, and natural egg patterns |
| Wadeability | Good at established crossings in open water; do not enter the closed lower fly-fishing section in Altmar |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Pulaski calls for partly sunny skies, a high near 75 F, north wind from 2 to 6 mph, and a 30 percent chance of rain showers. No active New York weather alert covered Pulaski during the morning check. Friday should be cooler and mostly sunny.
River Notes
Pineville remains unchanged near 228 cfs, continuing the low September flow. Wednesday's lower-river action was slower than earlier in the week. Kings are still holding around deeper holes and larger runs in the middle and upper river, making those sections the stronger starting point when lower-river movement is quiet.
DEC delayed the normal September 15 opening of the lower fly-fishing section, which runs from the Route 52 bridge in Altmar upstream to the Salmon River Fish Hatchery property boundary. Low reservoir levels prevented the normal seasonal baseflow increase, and DEC cited low tributary flows and high temperatures as risks to migrating Chinook and hatchery egg collection. This closure does not apply to the 16 river miles below Route 52 or the upper fly-fishing section above the hatchery.
Begin at first light on the head or tail of a deeper run. Cover walking-speed seams and shaded slots with a sparse streamer or leech. A stonefly nymph or natural egg pattern can follow where fish hold but refuse a swung fly. If visible salmon do not respond after a clean pass, change angle or location instead of adding enough weight to drag through them.
Hatch Activity
This is a salmon-run report, so fish movement and forage matter more than a trout hatch list. Official gauges do not report migration. The September 17 local report supports slower lower-river Chinook activity and fish holding in deeper mid- and upper-river runs.
| Activity | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinook salmon movement | Not reported | Slower in the lower river Wednesday; kings remain in deeper water upstream |
| Stonefly nymphs | 8-12 | A searching choice around pockets and seams |
| Eggs | 6-10 mm | Use sparse natural colors in low water |
| Baitfish and leech profile | 4-8 | Cover deeper slots and pool tails |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streamer | Comet, Boss, or sparse salmon streamer | 4-8 | Swing through pool heads and tails at first light |
| Streamer | Egg-sucking leech, Woolly Bugger, or rabbit strip leech | 4-8 | Fish deeper slots with a controlled swing |
| Nymph | Black Stonefly, Prince Nymph, or Hare's Ear | 8-12 | Search pockets without dragging through resting fish |
| Egg | Single egg, sucker spawn, or estaz egg | 6-10 mm | Keep the rig sparse and avoid lining fish |
Tactics
Start at first light in a deeper middle- or upper-river run outside the closed lower fly-fishing section, or check an open lower-river travel lane before direct light reaches it. Use enough weight to reach the lane without dragging across salmon. Tackle should be strong enough to shorten fights. Keep landed fish in the water, avoid stepping on redds, and give other anglers room to rotate through the run. Check DEC notices before entering the Altmar fly-fishing areas because the lower section will remain closed until DEC announces that egg-collection needs have been met.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALMON RIVER AT PINEVILLE NY | 228 cfs | Not reported | USGS 04250200 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS station 04250200, the National Weather Service forecast for the Pulaski, NY area, and the September 14 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation closure notice. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge, weather, and access information, with the September 17 local fishing report reviewed separately for river temperature, Chinook movement, and river-section context.