Salmon River, New York
Salmon River Pulaski Fishing Report: October 16, 2026
The Salmon River falls to 216 cfs at Pineville with king salmon distributed throughout the open section, but rain and thunderstorms today followed by a sharp cold front this weekend will change the game.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- First light through late morning
- Best methods
- streamers, egg patterns, nymphs
Quick Summary
The Salmon River is at 216 cfs at Pineville, down from 224 cfs yesterday. King salmon are distributed from top to bottom with coho and some steelhead also in the system. Water temperature is Not reported from USGS today. Rain and thunderstorms arrive today with a 100% chance of precipitation and up to half an inch of rain, followed by a cold front tonight that will drop temperatures into the mid-30s by Saturday morning and push flows higher over the weekend. 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 in the morning; rain today and a sharp cold front Saturday will change conditions significantly |
| Flow | 216 cfs at Pineville |
| Water Temp | Not reported from USGS today (previous check: 56 F per local observation) |
| Clarity | Stable today; expect potential decline after tonight's rain and Friday's downpour |
| Trend | Falling. Down from 224 cfs yesterday |
| Best Window | First light through late morning |
| Best Method | Egg patterns in travel lanes; sparse streamers, leeches, and stonefly nymphs |
| Wadeability | Good at established crossings in open water; do not enter the closed lower Altmar section |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for the Pulaski area calls for periods of rain and a chance of thunderstorms before 4pm, then a chance of rain showers. Cloudy skies with a high near 69, with temperatures falling to around 62 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Tonight brings a chance of rain showers. Cloudy with a low around 36 F. Northwest wind 12 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 45 F and northwest wind 9 to 14 mph. Strong northwest winds and cold temperatures follow over the weekend.
River Notes
Pineville is at 216 cfs, down from 224 cfs yesterday. Kings, cohos, and some steelhead are all present in the system. Angler reports from recent days described very good fishing with plenty of action from top to bottom.
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.
Today is the last clear day before a significant weather change. Rain and thunderstorms today with up to half an inch, followed by a sharp cold front Saturday that will drop temperatures into the mid-30s and push flows higher. Plan to fish the Salmon River today while conditions are favorable, and expect the river to rise and darken over the weekend.
USGS station 04250200 returned flow and gauge height data only; no water temperature was returned today.
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 | Reported from top to bottom throughout the open section |
| Coho presence | Not reported | Cohos remain part of the current river-wide mix |
| Steelhead presence | Not reported | Some steelhead 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 stable 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. Today is the last day before the weather changes significantly; plan to fish the Salmon River while conditions are still favorable and flow levels are steady. The rain and thunderstorms today, combined with Friday's additional downpour and Saturday's sharp cold front, will push flows higher and reduce clarity. If you are fishing Friday, be prepared to shift to subsurface patterns in rising, stained water, or consider waiting for the cold front to clear on Saturday night.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALMON RIVER AT PINEVILLE NY | 216 cfs | Not reported | USGS 04250200 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS station 04250200 for live flow data (temperature data not returned in this update cycle), and the National Weather Service forecast and alert feed for the Pulaski, NY area. USGS gauge data returned successfully this update cycle.