Salmon River, New York
Salmon River Fishing Report: November 4, 2026
The Salmon River is stable near 236 cfs at Pineville, with 48 F water and steelhead holding in faster pocket water throughout the system.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Morning through midday
- Best methods
- egg patterns, nymphs, streamers
Quick Summary
The Salmon River is stable near 236 cfs at Pineville, and the latest local reading puts the water near 48 F. Steelhead are distributed through the system and have been using faster pocket water during the warm spell. The official county report continues to favor the lower third, while some salmon remain on spawning water farther upstream. Start with single-egg patterns, then work nymphs or small streamers through broken water and pool transitions. The Lower Fly Section remains closed under the current New York State Department of Environmental Conservation notice; the Upper Fly Area and river downstream of Route 52 remain open.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good in open water |
| Flow | 236 cfs at Pineville at 7:15 a.m. EST |
| Water Temp | 48 F locally reported on November 3 |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Stable |
| Best Window | Morning through midday |
| Best Method | Egg patterns, nymphs, and streamers |
| Wadeability | Limited by slick rock, deeper slots, and concentrated anglers |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecasts mostly sunny skies, a high near 75 F, and southeast wind around 9 mph. Rain should arrive after 1 a.m. tonight, with one tenth to one quarter inch possible. Thursday brings a 90 percent chance of showers and another quarter to half inch of rain, so check the Pineville gauge before the next trip. No active weather alerts were posted for Pulaski during the morning check.
River Notes
Pineville has stayed between 236 and 240 cfs since Sunday and read 236 cfs this morning. This remains modest, stable water without a runoff pulse. The October 29 official county report documents fresh steelhead and places the strongest recent action in the lower third. A November 3 local update places steelhead from top to bottom, reports 48 F water, and points to faster pocket water after several warm days. Egg patterns remain the first choice, but productive colors can change through the day. Wind has also put leaves in the drift at times, so choose colors that remain easy to distinguish from leaf litter.
The Lower Fly Section, from the Route 52 bridge in Altmar upstream toward the Salmon River Fish Hatchery property boundary, remains closed under the current DEC access notice. The Upper Fly Area and river downstream of Route 52 remain open. Check posted boundaries before fishing, avoid redds and paired salmon, and do not wade across pale, freshly cleaned spawning gravel.
Hatch Activity
| Forage | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon eggs | 6-10 mm | The leading seasonal food for steelhead below spawning areas |
| Stonefly nymphs | 8-12 | Useful through riffles and broken pocket water |
| Caddis larvae and pupae | 14-18 | A smaller secondary option when fish avoid egg patterns |
| 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 sparse profile and change color before leaving productive water |
| Nymphs | Stonefly Nymph | 8-12 | Drift along riffle seams and pocket-water edges |
| Nymphs | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Use as a smaller trailer when fish reject egg patterns |
| 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
Begin in open lower-river riffles, pocket water, and pool transitions. Drift one egg pattern through faster lanes below spawning areas without crowding or casting over spawning fish, and change egg color before abandoning productive water. If that stalls, use a stonefly or caddis nymph along the same seams, or swing a small dark streamer through pool tails. Cover water carefully, carry cleats and a wading staff, and verify that each access lies outside the closed Lower Fly Section. Recheck the gauge after tonight's rain begins.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon River at Pineville (04250200) | 236 cfs | Not reported by gauge | 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 access notice and regulations, and Oswego County Tourism's October 29 fishing report. Gauge values are provisional and were checked at 8:03 a.m. Eastern.