Salmon River, New York
Salmon River Pulaski Fishing Report: October 1, 2026
The Salmon River remains steady near 216 cfs, with fresh salmon moving into the lower river, older fish holding upstream, and the lower Altmar fly-fishing section still closed.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- First light through midmorning
- Best methods
- streamers, egg patterns, nymphs
Quick Summary
The Salmon River remains steady near 216 cfs and 5.31 feet at Pineville. A new October 1 county report describes several recent pushes of salmon, with fresh kings staged near the river mouth and earlier arrivals holding in larger pools from Altmar downstream. Start at first light, use a sparse presentation in the low flow, and check lower-river travel lanes before working upstream holding water. The lower fly-fishing section in Altmar remains closed under an emergency order.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Fresh salmon are entering the system, but low flow concentrates fish and anglers, and the lower Altmar fly-fishing section is closed |
| Flow | 216 cfs at Pineville |
| Gauge Height | 5.31 feet at Pineville |
| Water Temp | Not reported by USGS; the latest local page displays 62 F |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Stable |
| Best Window | First light through midmorning |
| Best Method | Sparse streamers and natural egg patterns in lower-river travel lanes; leeches and stonefly nymphs in deeper holding water |
| 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 cloudy skies, a 50 percent chance of showers, a high near 72 F, and south wind from 7 to 10 mph. Rain becomes more likely tonight, with one-quarter to one-half inch possible before Friday. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the morning check.
River Notes
Pineville has held at 216 cfs and 5.31 feet for the past two days. An October 1 Oswego County report says salmon have entered in steady pulses over the past several days. It points anglers toward the lower river below Route 81 for newly arriving fish and toward larger pools from Altmar downstream for fish that moved earlier. Kings remain staged in Lake Ontario close to the river mouth, and Friday's forecast northwest wind could encourage another push after today's fishing window.
New York State 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 emergency closure remains in place while the hatchery works toward its salmon egg-collection target. Respect posted boundaries and check current regulations before fishing near Altmar.
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 October 1 county report describes recent pulses of salmon into the river, fresh fish in lower-river travel lanes, and earlier arrivals in larger upstream pools.
| Activity | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinook and coho presence | Not reported | Recent pulses have moved into the system; check below Route 81 for fresh fish and larger pools farther upstream for holding fish |
| 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 an open lower-river travel lane below Route 81, or choose a larger pool from Altmar downstream for fish that have stopped moving. Stay outside the closed lower fly-fishing section. Cover the head, inside seam, and tail before changing locations. Use enough weight to reach the lane without dragging across salmon. If the first pass is clean, change angle or fly once, then move. Use tackle strong enough to shorten fights, keep landed fish in the water, avoid redds, and give other anglers room to rotate.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALMON RIVER AT PINEVILLE NY | 216 cfs | Not reported | USGS 04250200 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS station 04250200, the National Weather Service forecast and active alert feed for the Pulaski, NY area, the September 14 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation closure notice, and the October 1 Oswego County Tourism fishing report. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge, weather, access, and regional fishing information.