The Fall Salmon Run
It’s that exciting time of year again—the fall salmon run. Anglers across New York are gearing up for what promises to be another thrilling season. Last year’s run was marked by unusually low water flow, which presented both challenges and triumphs. This year, however, brings a new set of obstacles that every angler must navigate.
Some of the best salmon runs in New York can be found in rivers like the Salmon River in Pulaski, renowned for its massive runs of both Chinook and Coho salmon. The Genesee River in Rochester also draws anglers for its consistent salmon runs. The Adirondacks offer pristine rivers like the Boquet River, where the salmon runs are a bit more remote but equally rewarding. In the Catskills, the Esopus Creek and Kaaterskill Creek also see great runs, providing a variety of fishing conditions.
Successfully adapting to varying water levels, temperatures, and the diverse species of fish will be crucial for achieving consistent results. With conditions constantly shifting, having a flexible approach will make all the difference in your success. Understanding how factors like water flow, temperature, and fish behavior change throughout the season can help you stay ahead of the game and improve your chances of a productive fall salmon run.
This guide will provide essential fall fishing tips tailored for targeting salmon, steelhead, and brown trout. With the right strategies in hand, you’ll be better equipped to tackle the season’s challenges and increase your chances of landing those trophy fish that make fall fishing so exhilarating.
Fall Salmon Fishing Tips
Tip 1: Fish In The Morning And The Afternoon
As early fall approaches, water temperatures become a significant factor in the success of your salmon fishing. When the water remains warm, it can slow down salmon runs and reduce their willingness to strike at flies or lures. Understanding this behavior is key to optimizing your fishing efforts.
To increase your chances of success, focus your fishing activities during the cooler parts of the day—typically in the early morning and late afternoon. During these times, water temperatures are lower, creating more favorable conditions for salmon activity. Additionally, reduced light levels during these periods help keep the fish calm, as they are less likely to be spooked by bright sunlight illuminating the pools.
By adapting your fishing schedule to align with these cooler, low-light conditions, you’ll enhance your chances of enticing early run salmon to bite. Prioritizing these optimal times can lead to a more fruitful and enjoyable fishing experience.
Tip 2: Salmon Like Flies With Movement
When it comes to choosing flies for salmon fishing, the topic can become overwhelmingly complex. However, I prefer to keep it simple. Through years of experience, I’ve learned that salmon are most responsive to flies that exhibit a lively movement, mimicking the natural behavior of prey.
Effective Fly Patterns
When targeting salmon during New York’s fall run, selecting effective fly patterns is crucial. While egg patterns become productive as spawning intensifies, early in the run, it’s beneficial to employ flies that mimic the natural prey salmon encounter upon entering freshwater. Here are some recommended patterns:
- Woolly Buggers (#2-8): These versatile streamers come in various colors, including black, olive, purple, chartreuse, flame, and orange. Incorporating materials like Krystal Flash in the tail enhances their attractiveness. Their pulsating action in the water effectively imitates small baitfish or leeches, making them a top choice during early run periods.
- Comet Flies (#2-10): Featuring bead chain eyes and vibrant fluorescent colors in the body, hackle, and tail, Comet-style flies are designed to catch the attention of migrating salmon. Their dynamic movement and bright hues make them effective during the initial stages of the run.
- Fatal Attraction (Black and Orange): This pattern combines a gold Flashabou tail, gold Diamondbraid body, black soft hackle, gold Krystal Flash underwing, orange bucktail wing, and a topping of pearl Krystal Flash and peacock herl. Its vibrant colors and enticing movement have proven successful in attracting Chinook salmon.
- Hairwing Flies (#4-8): Characterized by their long, bright, and colorful design, Hairwing flies are effective searching patterns. They cover a broad range of colors and can be particularly useful when experimenting with different hues to determine salmon preferences.
- Bunny Leeches (#10-14): These flies, tied with rabbit fur, are known for their lifelike action in the water. Their pulsating movement effectively mimics leeches or small baitfish, making them a valuable addition to your tackle bag during the fall run.
Incorporating these patterns into your fly selection can enhance your chances of success during New York’s fall salmon run. Remember to adjust your choices based on water conditions, salmon behavior, and the specific river systems you’re fishing.
Tip 3: Try Fishing The Pocket Water
It’s not uncommon for salmon to retreat into the deeper waters of pools and become inactive for several days. This behavior can be attributed to various factors, including rising water temperatures, declining water flows, or even heavy fishing pressure from other anglers. When salmon seek refuge in the deep, clear waters of a pool, they may remain there for an extended period, significantly reducing their willingness to bite.
Strategies for Targeting Active Salmon
Instead of focusing on deep pools, target the pocket water between them. Pocket water is the shallow, turbulent area between deeper pools, offering prime habitat for active fish.
Salmon in pocket water tend to be more active, feeding on smaller baitfish or responding to natural currents, making them more likely to strike a fly.
These areas also receive less fishing pressure than the popular pools, giving you a better chance of encountering salmon that are more willing to bite.
Pocket water is easier to access, allowing for better casting and presentation. By focusing on these areas, you can increase your chances of success during the fall salmon run in New York.
Tip 4: Reevaluating the “Bottom Fishing” Philosophy
We’ve all heard the saying, “If you’re not on the bottom, you’re not fishing,” but this adage doesn’t always hold true—especially if you embrace some of the following techniques. While traditional wisdom suggests that fishing close to the riverbed is essential, this approach can lead to unnecessary fly losses and frustration, particularly during the early stages of the salmon run.
Adjusting Your Technique
Use sinking leaders and sink tip lines to fish at the right depth without getting snagged. These lines help present your fly naturally in the water column, reducing tackle loss and increasing your chances of productive strikes.
When water flow increases, sinking leaders and sink tip lines can be especially useful. They allow you to target different depths as salmon move through various layers of the water column while feeding or migrating.
Start with lighter weights and adjust as needed to maintain a natural presentation and reach the desired depth. This technique helps you fish effectively without being constantly on the riverbed.
Fall Steelhead Fishing
Tip 1: Swinging Flies for Early Steelhead
In the early stages of the steelhead run, the fish are often scarce, making it essential to cover a lot of water. During this time, swinging flies can be your best approach. Steelhead are typically more aggressive and willing to chase a fly in the cooler water temperatures, so using a swinging technique allows you to effectively present your flies across various currents and depths. This method not only increases your chances of encountering a steelhead but also helps you identify the most productive water.
Tip 2: Target the Heads of Pools
When steelhead numbers are low, it’s crucial to maximize your efficiency on the water. Focus your efforts on the heads of pools, where steelhead are most likely to be found. These areas often serve as transitional points where fish wait to move upstream. By narrowing your search to these strategic locations, you increase your chances of hooking into a steelhead while minimizing wasted casts in less productive areas.
Tip 3: Employing a Strike Indicator
When steelhead are keying in on eggs, using a strike indicator can significantly enhance your success. Strike indicators serve as effective drift management devices, allowing for precise presentations in the current. Steelhead often position themselves in small slots where eggs are funneled naturally, and maintaining a clean drift down the center of these slots can lead to more consistent hookups. The visual cue provided by the indicator makes it easier to detect subtle takes, increasing your chances of landing fish.
Tip 4: Set Your Drag Light
Fall steelhead are known for their explosive runs when hooked, which is a big part of the thrill of targeting these fish. However, this explosive nature can also lead to lost fish if you’re not careful. During the initial moments after hooking a steelhead, they can make swift and powerful runs that might break heavy tippets or dislodge hooks. To improve your landing ratio, it’s advisable to set your drag light. By applying minimal pressure during those critical first few minutes, you allow the fish to run without risking a break-off, increasing the likelihood of successfully landing your catch.
Fall Brown Trout Fishing
Tip 1: Autumn Browns Love to Eat Eggs
As November approaches, the main run of brown trout begins, coinciding with the salmon spawning season. By the time the browns enter the river, the riverbed is rich with salmon eggs, creating a feeding frenzy. These hungry browns quickly key in on the abundant eggs, making it the perfect opportunity for anglers to use their favorite egg patterns. Fly patterns that mimic salmon eggs are highly effective during this time, and presenting them in areas where browns are actively feeding can lead to successful catches.
Tip 2: Switch to Nymphs When Browns Get Egg-Weary
While brown trout are notorious for their love of eggs, there are times when they can become wary of a steady diet of these larger meals. If you notice a decrease in bites while using egg patterns, it may be time to switch gears and employ nymphs. Choose nymph patterns that are similar in size to your egg flies to maintain consistency. Additionally, adding a touch of flash to your nymphs can increase their visibility and attract the attention of browns looking for something different. Experimenting with different nymph presentations can reignite their interest and lead to successful catches.
Tip 3: Active Browns Are Found in Riffles, Not Just Pools
A common misconception is that brown trout merely follow salmon upstream to feed on their eggs. However, brown trout are also spawners, and during November, they are actively seeking spawning habitats. To effectively locate these fish, concentrate your efforts in the riffles and the throats of pools, where browns are more likely to be found. These areas offer suitable conditions for spawning and provide active feeding opportunities. By targeting these habitats, you increase your chances of hooking into active browns during their spawning season.
Tip 4: Monitor Water Temperature for Better Success
Late fall can see a significant presence of brown trout in rivers, but early fall fishing can be challenging due to fluctuating water temperatures. It’s not uncommon for temperatures to drop five or six degrees overnight, which can shut down feeding activity. To improve your chances of success, pay close attention to the water temperature. When temperatures fluctuate, focus your fishing efforts during midday when the surface temperature is at its peak. This time frame often corresponds with increased fish activity, giving you a better opportunity to catch brown trout.
