Report: 9/17/05 Salmon River, Pulaski, NY. Reports and Ramblings:
Today was one of those very rare days where I actually got to go out and fish one of my favorite early season spots for Steelhead. Very lil weight, didn't tap bottom once, (they really move for it at this time of year, unlike those winter steelies) big Oregon Cheese glow bug (imitating a King Salmon Egg), rapids and pocket water. (Thats where the Steel is at during this time of year and water temperatures. They call it the "heat") This water also supplies them with a safe feeling. No one hardly ever fish's this water so I knew what chrome was hold'n would not have been pressured. Several cast's into the bubbles and my goal was achieved. A nice bright silver metalhead! Ye-haa. This water "heat" or rapids can and should be fished exactly like you do for your trout while fly fishing. With or without a strike indicator. To many boulders-snags to tap bottom
With rain, drizzle and the accompanying low light I noticed salmon on the move all afternoon. It would have been very easy if it was your first time on the river to know where to fish for them. You just had to look for the splash's up and down the river (their route) and then key in on the pockets they were staging in before there next rooster tail up to the next pocket. Fish the pockets inbetween the rocks. Must have been some dumb ones in the bunch because even I caught a couple.:) Lots of folks out enjoying the fishing, but I was not in line. I did what I tend to suggest to get away from the crowds to find some peace and tranquility on my few and far between fishing hours. Found some unpressured fish and it felt like I was in the wilds of some far off land.
Walked over to a hole that I have fished little and have had lil personal success in. But, it had all the ear marks of a good spot that could help me earn a living. I never really put the time in to learn the hole within the hole (hint) All I could ever find were the snags. :)
Today I put the time in, found the hole within the hole and in about 2 hours I got to enjoy playing with about 10 Salmon. Ye-haa. maybe Ill try to get away for a few tomorrow before I go back to work. This hole had a good number of salmon in it with no one around? Hmmm.
The best part about this once foreign hole was the hole within the hole also had an incredible seam (where the fast water meets the slow water, looks like a line and or seam) It had an added bonus of very deep water. This means it will hold fish during the brightest, sunniest part of the day. Any and all fish that run up the river will be hard pressed to leave it. Add in that this spot hardly ever gets fished and its a spot I can return anytime and hopefully hit some fish. Its almost impossible to fish the hole from the other side so it makes it even nicer knowing that there will be very few if any anglers across from you increasing the odds of more tangles or fish accidentally getting broken off by the unobservant angler.
This spot had 3 current breaks working for it that the fish use to rest and or stage before their next push.
1. Hole within the hole. (notice how many times I've mentioned this?)
2. Seam
3. The tail (many anglers do not consider or think of the tail of the hole as a current break.) This is one of the most popular area's on the river where you can always find fish. But, the best is when there is a hole in the tail.
To sum it all up. The more current breaks a spot has, the better the spot. The more current breaks concentrated in one spot in the hole makes it an even better location to fish. Only through a thorough study of the contour of the bottom in conjunction with the currents and their friendly seams and or current breaks will the secret's of where the most fish are at be unlocked.
Heard the lower end was pretty slow today. Hmmm. Estuary has a bunch, matter of time they say.
Best Fish's,
Randy Jones
www.yankeeangler.com - Fishing reports for pictures, articles and much more.
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