Salmon River, New York
Salmon River Pulaski Fishing Report: September 20, 2026
The Salmon River has edged up to 232 cfs, with kings recently reported through the system and the lower fly-fishing section in Altmar still closed.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- rising
- Best window
- Morning rain through midmorning
- Best methods
- streamers, egg patterns, nymphs
Quick Summary
The Salmon River has edged up to 232 cfs and 5.35 feet at Pineville. Recent local reporting found Chinook moving and holding from the lower river through deeper middle- and upper-river runs, but no new September 20 movement report was available at the morning check. The lower fly-fishing section in Altmar remains closed while the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation completes hatchery egg collection. Fish open water during the rainy morning with sparse streamers, stonefly nymphs, or natural egg patterns, and avoid crowding visible salmon.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Kings are present and flow has edged up, but fish distribution is uneven and the lower fly-fishing section in Altmar is closed |
| Flow | 232 cfs at Pineville |
| Gauge Height | 5.35 feet at Pineville |
| Water Temp | Not reported by USGS; the latest local page displayed 65 F |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Rising slowly from Saturday morning |
| Best Window | Morning rain 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 rain before midafternoon, a high near 64 F, and northeast wind near 8 mph. Rainfall of one-tenth to one-quarter inch is possible. No active NWS alert covered the forecast zone at the morning check. Watch the Pineville gauge if rain persists, especially before crossing at the end of a session.
River Notes
Pineville is up about 8 cfs from Saturday morning. That is a small change, but rainy, dim conditions can help salmon move through shallow connections between deeper pools. The latest accessible local report remains dated September 18. It found mostly Chinook and a few brown trout in the Douglaston Salmon Run, with kings also holding around Pulaski and in deeper runs farther upstream. Treat those locations as recent context rather than a same-morning report.
DEC delayed the normal September 15 opening of the lower fly-fishing section from the Route 52 bridge in Altmar upstream to the hatchery property boundary. The agency cited low reservoir and tributary flows, warm water, and the need to collect sufficient salmon eggs. The river below Route 52 and the upper fly-fishing section remain open under their applicable regulations.
Begin at the head or tail of a deeper open-water run. Cover walking-speed seams and shaded slots with a sparse streamer or leech. Follow with a stonefly nymph or natural egg pattern where fish hold but refuse a swung fly. Move after a clean pass instead of adding enough weight to drag across visible salmon.
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. Recent local context supports Chinook moving and holding in deeper runs throughout the system, but no September 20 local update was available at the morning check.
| Activity | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinook salmon movement | Not reported | Rain and dim light may help movement, but no same-day local observation was available |
| 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 in low 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 in a deeper open-water run outside the closed lower fly-fishing section. 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 redds, and give other anglers room to rotate. Check DEC notices before entering either Altmar fly-fishing area, and check the Pineville gauge before crossing after sustained rain.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALMON RIVER AT PINEVILLE NY | 232 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 18 local report reviewed separately for recent fish movement and river-section context.