Salmon River, New York
Salmon River Pulaski Fishing Report: October 14, 2026
The Salmon River holds near 224 cfs with stable flows and king salmon distributed throughout the open section, but today's morning showers may begin to raise water levels and reduce visibility by afternoon.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- First light through late morning
- Best methods
- streamers, egg patterns, nymphs
Quick Summary
The Salmon River is holding near 224 cfs and 5.33 feet at Pineville, a slight increase from yesterday's 216 cfs. Flows are stable with no significant rise expected. King salmon are distributed throughout the open river section from top to bottom, with coho and some steelhead also present. Today's forecast calls for a slight chance of morning showers, which may begin to raise flows and reduce clarity by afternoon. Start early, work open travel lanes, and stay clear of the lower Altmar closure.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Fish are distributed through open water and conditions are steady, but today's morning rain may reduce clarity and raise flows by afternoon |
| Flow | 224 cfs at Pineville |
| Gauge Height | 5.33 feet at Pineville |
| Water Temp | Not reported by USGS |
| Clarity | Not reported; expect some decline if morning showers deliver heavy rain |
| Trend | Stable from yesterday, slight increase from 216 to 224 cfs; rain may push it higher |
| Best Window | First light through late morning |
| Best Method | Natural egg patterns in travel lanes; sparse streamers, leeches, and stonefly nymphs as secondary |
| 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 slight chance of rain showers before noon, then cloudy skies with a high near 61 F. West wind 8 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Tonight brings mostly cloudy skies and a low around 40 F, with northwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Thursday looks mostly sunny with a high near 58 F. No active NWS alerts covered the Pulaski area at the morning check.
River Notes
Pineville has held near 224 cfs and 5.33 feet, stable from yesterday's 216 cfs. The Whitakers Sports Store October 12 daily report described strong fishing from top to bottom over the past few days, with king salmon, coho, and some steelhead in the system. Angler pressure was high over the extended weekend, which concentrates fishers at familiar pools and travel lanes. The practical approach is to walk beyond crowded pools and target quieter water.
The New York State DEC emergency closure of the lower fly-fishing section in Altmar remains in effect through October 31, extending from the Route 52 bridge upstream to the hatchery property boundary. Do not enter this section under any circumstances. Give other anglers room, avoid redds, and leave room for fish to rotate through lanes.
Today's morning showers should be light and brief, but if they deliver more than a light dusting, expect a gradual flow and clarity decline through the afternoon. The first light through late morning window remains the best option.
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 October 12 Whitakers 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 in Altmar. 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. If today's morning showers bring more than a light dusting, expect a flow and clarity decline by midday; plan an early exit or shift to subsurface patterns that can still work in slightly stained water.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALMON RIVER AT PINEVILLE NY | 224 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. Whitakers Sports Store's daily report was not accessible via automated fetch at the time of this report; the October 12 report was referenced for species distribution and fishing pressure context.