Salmon River New York Continues to Get a Bad Rap but does offer
Quality & World Class Fly Fishing
After fishing nearly 25 years in The Salmon River Region, I have decided
to put into words my views from my experiences. Having spend countless,
exciting and disappointing times in the region, I continue to return for
the
camaraderie of the close friendships made and the challenge of the fishing.
The beautiful and many would say World Class Salmon River Region,
located in upstate New York, is a fishery that has seen so much seasonal
attention from anglers in the past, traveling from throughout the fishing
world to hook and catch monster size fish and in large quantities, again
needs attention, attention of another kind. To now, many of the much fewer
travelers are seeking the same, big fish and big harvests. Some guides are
promoting themselves first with story book like reports and boasting of
astronomical success rates, which seems to serve as great short term lure
to attract new and unsuspecting sportsmen. Promoting the
Salmon
River Region as a sports fishery should be the priority and when that
becomes the main focal point, the visitors will begin to return to the once
most talked about, visited and chronicled fishery in the Northeast.
There are really are only a few ways to legally fish this region, as a matter
of fact they're the only ways of legally taking inland fish, unless
special
or other regulations apply (see F&W Regulation Booklets in the areas
to
be fished). Fly Fishing, either the traditional fly line, leader and fly
way, or
the more popular Salmon River Region Method, using running line /
mono-filament and weights with fly rods and various types of spin and light
tackle fishing.
In years prior to and ending in 1995, snagging was a legal and an accepted
way of taking salmon during their fall migrations starting in September and
with this season ending October 15th , then most anglers went home thinking
the season was over because the fish don't bite and wouldn't return until
the following September. The once prosperous and bustling towns and villages
in Oswego and Jefferson Counties during those times now seem to be holding
on, holding for something good to happen again with only a few hard at work
with the region as priority. It's not fair to say snagging was all bad and
had to
be eliminated over-night, as it was, but possibly should have been reformed
to
make it a bit more civil (as civil as civil can be) and should have been
revised
until these visitors were taught that salmon can be taken by acceptable and
traditional means.
All those who are passionate and concerned about the future of this fishery
need to become teachers.
The old topic salmon don't bite perception continues to be the hot topic
of discussions through out the northeast, which seems to make the illegal
methods worth the while for the new visitors and the normal way for many
of the annual returnees. Here's an area where we hear they call this
fishing, we're not paying good money to return here and do this. The salmon
don't bite is a perception, a black cloud hanging over the region, and must
be appropriately worded by all agencies, businesses and individuals who are
attempting to promote this fishery in a positive and honest way.
There is a difference between biting, striking and eating.
As far as eating, once the salmon enter the rivers, for the most part they
will not eat; however, they will bite or strike a properly presented bait,
lure,
and fly.
Now, what if we put the fishing experience first and catching second? Just
think of all the time spent and patience needed for fishermen to entice these
fish to strike, which is definitely more challenging and extremely rewarding,
lots of fun and
exciting too!
But this also requires the same from the guides and promoters for visitors
to
achieve this.
Is this baseball, hearing fishermen and guides boasting of 8 for 25 days
like they
were going to compute there batting average after the season?
Instead of the normal bragging rights being about how many were hooked and
or landed, which is fun for the teller and agonizing for others to hear,
how about
the less glamorous stories on how a fisherman worked over a few fish for
an
hour or so until one finally took and exploded on his or her presentation.
Then
talking about how many casts or drifts were made before the line either stopped,
hesitated or the fish nearly ripped the rod from their hands. Or even hearing
someone saying they had to leave some fish alone, because they wouldn't
open
their mouths for anything, to go on and find some others that they had fun
with,
all in a days fishing. It can happen, if all involved help promote the experience
and the fishery first. I understand there are still many of those who want
to hook
and fight double digit fish daily and there are times that will happen, but
remember this is a great fishery and should not have to be measured by numbers
of fish. We also should try to understand that we're going fishing with hopes
of
catching. That's right fishing first, and then catching. Catching should
be and will
always be for many anglers a bonus and an exclamation point to an already
great
day outdoors.
But it doesn't make it a bad day of fishing if only one or a few hookups
happen
in a day, unless your lured to the area by reports of people walking on fish
all day,
which can only result in disappointment and a feeling of failure for those
who may
have followed these types of reports. My guess is that mostly all sportsmen
will
return to this area, irregardless of how few fish were hooked up, if they
are shown
that a quality and informative experience on the rivers. This area may have
lost many
more visitors because they, who fished in past record years of salmon and
steelhead
harvests, believed that those same results would always be, or scared away
by the
crowds. There are miles of river that can be fished and those who venture
off can
enjoy a great experience. Now imagine, back then, if they were taught
patience
and how to actually fish for these trophies, well, these visitors could be
doing the
promoting for the area as they do in other trout and salmon fisheries.
So, why is Pulaski different from other fisheries, mostly all know why, and
I believe
I'm not writing about things that most already don't know. So put the past
mistakes
aside, but not out of mind and plan for the future, which is now.
The lure of the salmon stories from Pulaski, NY, to feeling the strike, then
the
hookup, experiencing the unbelievable battle that will be encountered, then,
hopefully,
the landing of a trophy, no matter of its size. This is usually what's needed
to keep
them coming back for more.
The surrounding and Salmon River Region that has reasonable and clean
lodging,
good to excellent dining, well stocked fishing shops, plenty of large, with
many
trophy sized fish in the waters, and not forget about the many friendly and
helpful
people you'll meet. What else could we possibly ask for in what should be
a prime
destination area?
As a guide, not only should I be qualified by prospective clients in types
of fishing
and personality, but I also qualify my clients to be sure I can give them
what they
are expecting from their trip and me. Many are looking for the complete
experience
and hoping to catch that trophy fish of a lifetime. If you give them the
fish without a
good experience, they probably won't be back, but give them a good time on
the
water without a fish, well let's just say there already talking about a future
booking
while having dinner.
You should here and see them when the first fish of the day occurs and they
can't
wait to come back for more. I believe they're coming back for more of the
experience and the fish just adds to their tales at the end of their trip!
It's been said many times, It's all about the quality, not the
quantity.
As a Professional Guide, I promise one thing for sure, You'll leave the water
a
better fly fisher by day's end!
