About Salmon River, NY

Located in Oswego County, New York, is the aptly named Salmon River. As its name suggests, this river is an area for anglers who wish to catch the various species of salmon, as it is one of Lake Ontario’s famous tributaries. The River has its headwaters in New York’s Tug Hill region and then flows 44 miles west past two hydroelectric dams and then over the 110 foot Salmon River Falls. The River then empties into Lake Ontario at Port Ontario. Aside from its namesake, the river is also becoming a popular fishing spot for steelhead and brown trout. 

Salmon River got its name from the Atlantic salmon that used to be plentiful in its waters. This salmon served as a crucial source of food and income for the Native Americans and early settlers. The Iroquois Confederacy used the river as a hunting ground and fishing spot long before the Europeans arrived in the Americas. Because it was also a natural harbor during this time, the French and British and their Iroquois allies fought for control of the area during the French and Indian Wars.

Unfortunately, the Atlantic salmon became extinct locally in the River in 1872 and Lake Ontario in 1898. The decline was due to overfishing, pollution, and the construction of dams in the area. The local government has been artificially stocking the river with salmon and other gamefish since the late 1960s to revitalize it. A tributary north of Altmar is where the hatcheries used to artificially stock salmon in the river are located.  

All About Fishing In Salmon River, New York

With a long history of fishing in its name, it’s no wonder that the Salmon River is one of the go-to destinations for anglers seeking salmon in the area. Chinook, coho, and atlantic salmon can all be caught in its waters, as well as steelhead and brown trout. Early attempts at restocking have been unsuccessful due to pollution and the existence of sea lampreys. During the late 1960s, the stocking of 22,000 coho salmon was the beginning of the regrowth of salmon fishing in the area. The coho was later joined by chinook and steelhead in the 1970s. New fishing regulations have also been established to support the growth of gamefish in the river. 

Despite its rocky history, Salmon River continues to be a prime fishing spot in the area for anglers. Every year, millions of salmon migrate back to the river to lay eggs. This “salmon run” attracts anglers from all over to catch these fish where they are most plentiful. 

Popular fishing spots in the area include the Salmon River Estuary, the Lower Salmon River, the Salmon River Reservoir, and the Douglaston Salmon Run. The last location bears special mention, as it is a privately owned fishing spot where some of the best action on salmon and steelhead could be found. The popular fishing techniques in the area include fly fishing, spinning, trolling, and baitcasting. Catch and release is also recommended to help preserve the number of gamefish in the river. 

Fishing Seasonality

Fishing in the Salmon River occurs throughout the year. But most anglers would usually go here during the “salmon runs” of late August to October. This is when the numbers of coho and chinook salmon are at their highest in the river. If you’re looking for steelhead, the river offers opportunities to catch two variants of it. The washington variant appears from late October to Spring, while the Skamania variant begins to appear in the river in June. Atlantic salmon spawning occurs earlier than the coho and chinook, as it happens during July. Brown trout begins to appear in numbers in the area from mid-September to mid-November. Do note that there is a limit on the number of fish you can catch in the river, so be mindful of the number of fish you catch to avoid any troubles. 

Fishing Seasonality

Fishing in the Salmon River occurs throughout the year. But most anglers would usually go here during the “salmon runs” of late August to October. This is when the numbers of coho and chinook salmon are at their highest in the river. If you’re looking for steelhead, the river offers opportunities to catch two variants of it. The washington variant appears from late October to Spring, while the Skamania variant begins to appear in the river in June. Atlantic salmon spawning occurs earlier than the coho and chinook, as it happens during July. Brown trout begins to appear in numbers in the area from mid-September to mid-November. Do note that there is a limit on the number of fish you can catch in the river, so be mindful of the number of fish you catch to avoid any troubles. 

All About Fishing In Salmon River, New York

With a long history of fishing in its name, it’s no wonder that the Salmon River is one of the go-to destinations for anglers seeking salmon in the area. Chinook, coho, and atlantic salmon can all be caught in its waters, as well as steelhead and brown trout. Early attempts at restocking have been unsuccessful due to pollution and the existence of sea lampreys. During the late 1960s, the stocking of 22,000 coho salmon was the beginning of the regrowth of salmon fishing in the area. The coho was later joined by chinook and steelhead in the 1970s. New fishing regulations have also been established to support the growth of gamefish in the river. 

Despite its rocky history, Salmon River continues to be a prime fishing spot in the area for anglers. Every year, millions of salmon migrate back to the river to lay eggs. This “salmon run” attracts anglers from all over to catch these fish where they are most plentiful. 

Popular fishing spots in the area include the Salmon River Estuary, the Lower Salmon River, the Salmon River Reservoir, and the Douglaston Salmon Run. The last location bears special mention, as it is a privately owned fishing spot where some of the best action on salmon and steelhead could be found. The popular fishing techniques in the area include fly fishing, spinning, trolling, and baitcasting. Catch and release is also recommended to help preserve the number of gamefish in the river.