Salmon River, New York
Salmon River Fishing Report: October 27, 2026
The Salmon River is steady near 240 cfs at Pineville, with steelhead spread through the system and the strongest recent action in the lower river.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Morning through midday
- Best methods
- egg patterns, nymphs, streamers
Quick Summary
The Salmon River is steady near 240 cfs at Pineville. October 26 local reporting places steelhead throughout the river, with the most consistent recent action in the lower river, while anglers still looking for salmon should concentrate on the middle and upper sections. Egg patterns remain the leading approach for trout in fast water below spawning areas. Fish the morning through midday before activity slows under the bright sky. The Lower Fly Section remains closed due to low water; the Upper Fly Area and river downstream of Route 52 remain open.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good in open water |
| Flow | 240 cfs at Pineville at 7:15 a.m. EDT |
| Water Temp | 52 F in the October 26 local report; not measured by the Pineville USGS gauge |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Stable |
| 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 mostly sunny skies, a high near 50 F, and north wind around 6 mph. Tonight should turn partly cloudy and cold, with a low near 28 F. Wednesday should become partly sunny with a high near 60 F and southeast wind around 7 mph. No active weather alerts were posted for Pulaski during the morning check.
River Notes
Pineville is unchanged from Monday morning near 240 cfs. The modest flow concentrates fish and anglers around deeper travel lanes, riffles, and pool transitions. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reports king and coho salmon throughout the river, with brown trout and some steelhead also being caught. October 26 local reporting adds that steelhead are now scattered from top to bottom, with the lower river producing the most dependable recent action. Anglers still targeting salmon should favor the middle and upper river. The locally displayed water temperature was 52 F; the Pineville USGS gauge does not measure temperature.
The Lower Fly Section, from the Route 52 bridge in Altmar upstream toward the Salmon River Fish Hatchery property boundary, remains closed due to low water. The Upper Fly Area and river downstream of Route 52 remain open. Check posted boundaries before fishing. Do not target spawning salmon, walk on redds, or fish directly over cleaned gravel.
Hatch Activity
| Forage | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon eggs | 6-10 mm | Primary seasonal food in fast water below spawning fish |
| Stonefly nymphs | 8-12 | Useful through 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. Start in open lower-river riffles and pool transitions for steelhead, drifting an egg pattern through fast water below spawning activity or swinging a small streamer through pool tails. If salmon are the target, move to legal middle- and upper-river water. Cover water rather than crowding one slot, and give spawning salmon a wide berth. Carry cleats and a wading staff for the slick riverbed, and verify that your chosen access lies outside the closed Lower Fly Section.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon River at Pineville (04250200) | 240 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 Central New York Fishing Hotline, and Oswego County Tourism's October 22 fishing report. Gauge values are provisional and were checked at 9:01 a.m. Eastern.