Salmon River Report - Altmar, NY
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Steve F
Dec 21, 2011, 10:55:05 AM12/21/11
to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com
There have been a few reports lately on the Salmon River and after a long weekend in Altmar, I thought I'd add my two cents. With some residual PTO at work, I couldn't think of a better way to spend it than knee deep in a 38 degree river with 18 degree air temperatures.
On the whole, the trip was a great experience with 30-40 steelhead hooked and six landed, along with a few browns mixed in. The major difficulties faced were my inexperience and high water mixed with the power of the quarry. On Friday (the first day on the water and before I had any idea what I was doing) the water flow was up to a very fishable 750cfs from a week long level of 350cfs. I hooked into a few but the day was more educational rather than very productive. For the next two days the water levels were up to a very high 1800cfs which made wading in many locations difficult and others dangerous if not impossible. With a little local knowledge gained at the lodge and a few new fishing buddies met, they took me to a "secret" location that was very productive. Using egg patterns in the lower light and naturals midday, the three of us managed to land ~30 steelhead over the next two days. Though, with the high water, there were at least three times that amount of hookup and breakoffs - each one more exhilarating than the next. The normal pregression being a bite, hookset, a few arial manuvers by the fish, and anything over 10-15lbs would be likely lost on a long run in the sweeping current. I didn't stand much of a chance, but the more seasoned veterans did manage to horse a few of the big guys in.
At the suggestion of a few of the guys on TPFR, I stayed at the Salmon Heaven Lodge. I can't say enough about the lodge, very cheap rates ($35/night), decent accomodations, walking distance to some of the best stretches of the river, and a small breakfast included. The accomodations were by no means extravagant, but for a fishing weekend it was certainly adequate and well maintained. The best part of the lodge was the friendliness and willingness of the staff and clients to teach a budding steelheadder with tips and tricks of the local water. One of the guides actually gave me a handful of flies and directions of better ways to use them the following morning.
A few lessons learned:
- Leave your fluorocarbon leaders/tippet at home, couldn't hold a knot in the colder water with the smaller sizes.
- Bring lots of flies, very snaggy waters in the upper stretches of the river and many breakoffs with light tippets.
- Be ready to get on the river 30min+ before first light to secure the best holes, especially when flows are up.
- Longer rods, long-belly floating flylines, and roll/spey casting skills are invaluable.
- Layer up to stay warm.
All-in-all, it was a fantastic trip that I will likely be trying to repeat in the next few months. They say January and February fish just as well as December, but without the crowds due to the colder temps. Can't wait to get back.
Steve F.
John Bilotta
Dec 21, 2011, 11:25:43 AM12/21/11
to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com
That's great. Glad you had a good trip.
Thanks
John
Sent from my iPhone
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Braden Halter
Dec 21, 2011, 1:14:33 PM12/21/11
to Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders
Hope you left some for the rest of us! I'm headed up there next week!
On Dec 21, 11:25 am, John Bilotta <obassocia...@comcast.net> wrote:
> That's great. Glad you had a good trip.
> Thanks
> John
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
On Dec 21, 11:25 am, John Bilotta <obassocia...@comcast.net> wrote:
> That's great. Glad you had a good trip.
> Thanks
> John
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Dec 21, 2011, at 10:55 AM, Steve F <spfbea...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > There have been a few reports lately on the Salmon River and after a long weekend in Altmar, I thought I'd add my two cents. With some residual PTO at work, I couldn't think of a better way to spend it than knee deep in a 38 degree river with 18 degree air temperatures.
>
> > On the whole, the trip was a great experience with 30-40 steelhead hooked and six landed, along with a few browns mixed in. The major difficulties faced were my inexperience and high water mixed with the power of the quarry. On Friday (the first day on the water and before I had any idea what I was doing) the water flow was up to a very fishable 750cfs from a week long level of 350cfs. I hooked into a few but the day was more educational rather than very productive. For the next two days the water levels were up to a very high 1800cfs which made wading in many locations difficult and others dangerous if not impossible. With a little local knowledge gained at the lodge and a few new fishing buddies met, they took me to a "secret" location that was very productive. Using egg patterns in the lower light and naturals midday, the three of us managed to land ~30 steelhead over the next two days. Though, with the high water, there were at least three times that amount of hookup and breakoffs - each one more exhilarating than the next. The normal pregression being a bite, hookset, a few arial manuvers by the fish, and anything over 10-15lbs would be likely lost on a long run in the sweeping current. I didn't stand much of a chance, but the more seasoned veterans did manage to horse a few of the big guys in.
>
> > At the suggestion of a few of the guys on TPFR, I stayed at the Salmon Heaven Lodge. I can't say enough about the lodge, very cheap rates ($35/night), decent accomodations, walking distance to some of the best stretches of the river, and a small breakfast included. The accomodations were by no means extravagant, but for a fishing weekend it was certainly adequate and well maintained. The best part of the lodge was the friendliness and willingness of the staff and clients to teach a budding steelheadder with tips and tricks of the local water. One of the guides actually gave me a handful of flies and directions of better ways to use them the following morning.
>
> > A few lessons learned:
> > - Leave your fluorocarbon leaders/tippet at home, couldn't hold a knot in the colder water with the smaller sizes.
> > - Bring lots of flies, very snaggy waters in the upper stretches of the river and many breakoffs with light tippets.
> > - Be ready to get on the river 30min+ before first light to secure the best holes, especially when flows are up.
> > - Longer rods, long-belly floating flylines, and roll/spey casting skills are invaluable.
> > - Layer up to stay warm.
>
> > All-in-all, it was a fantastic trip that I will likely be trying to repeat in the next few months. They say January and February fish just as well as December, but without the crowds due to the colder temps. Can't wait to get back.
>
> > Steve F.
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
> > To view this discussion on the web visithttps://groups.google.com/d/msg/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/-/i8I1k34A2TUJ.
>
>
>
> > There have been a few reports lately on the Salmon River and after a long weekend in Altmar, I thought I'd add my two cents. With some residual PTO at work, I couldn't think of a better way to spend it than knee deep in a 38 degree river with 18 degree air temperatures.
>
> > On the whole, the trip was a great experience with 30-40 steelhead hooked and six landed, along with a few browns mixed in. The major difficulties faced were my inexperience and high water mixed with the power of the quarry. On Friday (the first day on the water and before I had any idea what I was doing) the water flow was up to a very fishable 750cfs from a week long level of 350cfs. I hooked into a few but the day was more educational rather than very productive. For the next two days the water levels were up to a very high 1800cfs which made wading in many locations difficult and others dangerous if not impossible. With a little local knowledge gained at the lodge and a few new fishing buddies met, they took me to a "secret" location that was very productive. Using egg patterns in the lower light and naturals midday, the three of us managed to land ~30 steelhead over the next two days. Though, with the high water, there were at least three times that amount of hookup and breakoffs - each one more exhilarating than the next. The normal pregression being a bite, hookset, a few arial manuvers by the fish, and anything over 10-15lbs would be likely lost on a long run in the sweeping current. I didn't stand much of a chance, but the more seasoned veterans did manage to horse a few of the big guys in.
>
> > At the suggestion of a few of the guys on TPFR, I stayed at the Salmon Heaven Lodge. I can't say enough about the lodge, very cheap rates ($35/night), decent accomodations, walking distance to some of the best stretches of the river, and a small breakfast included. The accomodations were by no means extravagant, but for a fishing weekend it was certainly adequate and well maintained. The best part of the lodge was the friendliness and willingness of the staff and clients to teach a budding steelheadder with tips and tricks of the local water. One of the guides actually gave me a handful of flies and directions of better ways to use them the following morning.
>
> > A few lessons learned:
> > - Leave your fluorocarbon leaders/tippet at home, couldn't hold a knot in the colder water with the smaller sizes.
> > - Bring lots of flies, very snaggy waters in the upper stretches of the river and many breakoffs with light tippets.
> > - Be ready to get on the river 30min+ before first light to secure the best holes, especially when flows are up.
> > - Longer rods, long-belly floating flylines, and roll/spey casting skills are invaluable.
> > - Layer up to stay warm.
>
> > All-in-all, it was a fantastic trip that I will likely be trying to repeat in the next few months. They say January and February fish just as well as December, but without the crowds due to the colder temps. Can't wait to get back.
>
> > Steve F.
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
> > To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
> > For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders?hl=en.- Hide quoted text -
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
>
> - Show quoted text -
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