Salmon River, New York
Salmon River Fishing Report: October 23, 2026
The Salmon River is easing through 252 cfs at Pineville, with late kings concentrated upriver and steelhead available in faster water below spawning areas.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Morning through midday
- Best methods
- egg patterns, nymphs, streamers
Quick Summary
The Salmon River is easing through 252 cfs at Pineville, down slightly from Thursday morning. The current county report directs anglers looking for late king salmon toward the river above Route 2A and reports steelhead in faster water below active spawning areas. Fish the morning through midday before the bright afternoon period. The Lower Fly Fishing Catch and Release Section remains closed; the river downstream of Route 52 and the Upper Fly Area remain open.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good in open water |
| Flow | 252 cfs at Pineville at 7:15 a.m. EDT |
| Water Temp | 54 F local reading; not reported by USGS |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Falling slowly |
| Best Window | Morning through midday |
| Best Method | Egg patterns, nymphs, and streamers |
| Wadeability | Limited by slick rock, concentrated anglers, and deeper slots |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecasts sunshine, a high near 56 F, and north wind at 2 to 6 mph. Tonight should turn mostly cloudy with a low near 31 F. Saturday returns to sunshine with a high near 57 F and light southwest wind. No active weather alerts were posted for Pulaski during the morning check.
River Notes
Pineville has eased from about 264 cfs Thursday morning to 252 cfs this morning. The change is modest, but the lower flow keeps fish and anglers concentrated around deeper travel lanes. Current regional reporting places the remaining king salmon opportunity above Route 2A toward Altmar, while steelhead are using faster water downstream of spawning areas. Focus on broken riffles, shaded slots, and the deeper side of current seams.
The Lower Fly Section, from the County Route 52 bridge in Altmar upstream about one-quarter mile to Beaverdam Brook, is closed through October 31 under the current New York State Department of Environmental Conservation emergency action. Check posted boundaries before fishing. The Upper Fly Area and the river downstream of the Route 52 bridge remain open.
Hatch Activity
| Forage | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon eggs | 6-10 mm | Primary seasonal food in current below spawning fish |
| Stonefly nymphs | 8-12 | Useful through faster riffles and broken pocket water |
| Caddis larvae and pupae | 14-18 | Smaller secondary option for steelhead and resident trout |
| Sculpins and small baitfish | 4-8 | Streamer option for deeper pools and low-light water |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs | Glo Bug | 8-12 | Use a restrained color and profile in the modest flow |
| Nymphs | Stonefly Nymph | 8-12 | Drift along riffle seams and pocket-water edges |
| Nymphs | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Use as a smaller trailer when targeting steelhead |
| Streamers | Olive Bugger | 6-8 | Swing through pool tails and shaded slots |
| Streamers | Woolly Bugger | 6-8 | Black or olive for the lower-light morning period |
Tactics
Use enough weight to reach the lower part of a travel lane without dragging the rig or lining fish. Drift an egg pattern through fast water below spawning activity, or swing a small streamer through pool tails for steelhead. Do not target visibly spawning fish, step on redds, or fish directly over cleaned gravel. Give other anglers room around concentrated holding water, and carry cleats and a wading staff for the slick riverbed.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon River at Pineville (04250200) | 252 cfs | Not reported | USGS |
Sources
Official sources checked were the United States Geological Survey gauge at Pineville, the National Weather Service point forecast and active-alert feed for Pulaski, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Salmon River closure notice, and the October 22 Oswego County Tourism fishing report. Gauge values are provisional and were checked at 8:01 a.m. Eastern.