Salmon River, New York
Salmon River Pulaski Fishing Report: October 12, 2026
The Salmon River remains near 216 cfs, with current reports describing strong king, coho, and steelhead action from top to bottom despite holiday pressure and low flow.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- First light through late morning
- Best methods
- streamers, egg patterns, nymphs
Quick Summary
The Salmon River remains near 216 cfs and 5.31 feet at Pineville. A current local report describes strong fishing from top to bottom, with kings, cohos, and some steelhead in the system. Holiday-weekend pressure, low flow, and the lower Altmar closure still limit options, so start early and move beyond crowded pools.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Fish are distributed through open water and reports are strong, but low flow, holiday pressure, and the lower Altmar closure constrain access |
| Flow | 216 cfs at Pineville |
| Gauge Height | 5.31 feet at Pineville |
| Water Temp | Not reported by USGS; the local report page displayed 58 F at the morning check |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Stable |
| Best Window | First light through late morning |
| Best Method | Natural egg patterns in travel lanes; 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 morning fog giving way to cloudy skies, a high near 63 F, and west wind from 1 to 8 mph. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the 8 a.m. check. A chance of rain begins tonight, with more substantial showers and thunderstorms forecast Tuesday.
River Notes
Pineville has held near 216 cfs and 5.31 feet. The October 12 local report says anglers experienced strong action across the river over the weekend, with kings, cohos, and some steelhead. That is fresh fish-distribution context, though holiday pressure increased and will concentrate anglers at familiar pools. Quieter travel lanes, pool edges, and deeper slots away from crowds remain the practical targets.
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. Give other anglers room, avoid redds, and do not crowd a lane already being fished.
Hatch Activity
This is a salmon-run report, so fish movement and forage matter more than a trout hatch list.
| Activity | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinook movement | Not reported | The current report describes kings from top to bottom |
| Coho presence | Not reported | Cohos remain part of the current river-wide mix |
| Steelhead presence | Not reported | Some steelhead are included in the current report |
| Stonefly nymphs | 8-12 | A searching choice around pockets and seams |
| Eggs | 6-10 mm | Keep colors natural and presentations sparse 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 beyond crowded pools to find quieter water. 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. Use tackle strong enough to shorten fights, keep landed fish in the water, avoid redds, and leave room for anglers 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 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 12 shop report reviewed separately for species distribution, fishing pressure, and water temperature.