Salmon River, New York
Salmon River Pulaski Fishing Report: October 8, 2026
Fresh kings continue entering the Salmon River and spreading upstream, with egg patterns leading in open water despite low flow and the lower Altmar closure.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- First light through midmorning
- Best methods
- streamers, egg patterns, nymphs
Quick Summary
The Salmon River is near 220 cfs and 5.32 feet at Pineville. Oswego County's October 8 report confirms that fresh kings have continued entering the river and pushing fish farther upstream, giving anglers more room to find moving or holding fish. Low flow and gusty west wind still complicate the day. Start with natural egg patterns in travel lanes and quieter holding water, rotate carefully, and remain outside the closed lower fly-fishing section in Altmar.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Fishing is productive across open water, but low flow, wind, pressure, and the lower Altmar closure restrict options |
| Flow | 220 cfs at Pineville |
| Gauge Height | 5.32 feet at Pineville |
| Water Temp | Not reported by USGS; the latest local report displayed 56 F |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Stable, rising only 4 cfs since Wednesday morning |
| Best Window | First light through midmorning |
| Best Method | Natural egg patterns in travel lanes and holding water; sparse streamers, leeches, and stonefly nymphs as secondary choices |
| Wadeability | Good at established crossings in open water; do not enter the closed lower Altmar section |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Pulaski calls for a high near 62 F and a 50 percent chance of rain showers. West wind should run 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Showers remain possible tonight, with a low near 44 F. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the 8 a.m. check.
River Notes
Pineville has edged from about 216 cfs Wednesday morning to 220 cfs and 5.32 feet. Oswego County's new October 8 report describes steady pushes of kings over several days, with new fish entering and earlier arrivals spreading farther upstream. Fish are both moving and holding in pools, so anglers can look beyond the most crowded holes for quieter travel lanes and pool edges. The October 7 local report also noted kings, cohos, and some steelhead across the open river.
New York State DEC delayed the normal September 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 effect through October 31. Today's gusts can make line control difficult and increase falling-limb risk. Keep clear of compromised trees and move to protected water if casting becomes unsafe.
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. Oswego County's current report confirms continued king movement and a broader upstream distribution; the latest shop report also noted cohos and some steelhead.
| Activity | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinook movement | Not reported | Fresh kings continue entering while earlier fish spread farther upstream |
| Coho presence | Not reported | The October 7 local report included cohos in the open-river mix |
| Steelhead presence | Not reported | Some steelhead are mixed into the current run |
| Stonefly nymphs | 8-12 | A searching choice around pockets and seams |
| Eggs | 6-10 mm | The current county report identifies egg imitations as the leading choice; keep colors natural in low water |
| Baitfish and leech profile | 4-8 | Cover deeper slots, shaded seams, 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 and shaded seams 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 | Lead with a sparse natural presentation and avoid lining fish |
Tactics
Start at first light in an open travel lane, or walk past crowded pools to find quieter water farther upstream. Stay outside the closed lower fly-fishing section. Lead with a natural egg pattern and cover the head, inside seam, and tail before changing locations. Use enough weight to reach the lane without dragging across salmon. Shorten casts in the wind, 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 | 220 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 8 Oswego County Tourism fishing report. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge, weather, access, and fish-movement information, with the October 7 shop report reviewed separately for water temperature, coho, steelhead, and fishing-pressure context.