"World Class Waters"
Enjoy
Stress Free Days of Fun and Relaxation
while fly fishing the fresh waters of Upstate New York,
to the Berkshires of Massachusetts,through the Quabbin
Reservoir watershed and to the salty shores of Cape Cod.
Escape to solitude and become a better flyfisher by day's end!
Salmon Season's near it's end. Steelheading to start!
November 05, 2003
by Walt Geryk
The overall '03 Salmon Season on the Salmon River, NY was at best fair with few small runs of Kings and Cohos early in September and into October. The best we can recall is one major run in early October where fish held from Douglaston to the Town Pool. Many of these fish were eventually taken during the week by the extreme heavy fishing pressure in this lower stretch of river. Most days saw water flows of 750 cfs and better which also made it difficult for most anglers.
Now with all signs of improvement, fish were stacking up in the estuary and at the mouth of the river, we were waiting for the real runs to begin. Just when all the fish were busting loose, so did mother nature with the rains. The salmon started there major run and the water levels rose to dangerously high conditions, 1000, 1200, to the 1700cfs is still at today.
Pulling out all stops we fished north, all the way from Henderson Harbor Area back to the Salmon River. Fishing all rivers and creeks in this stretch we were able to salvage which was to be a promising, many fish season to fair at best with good days having a dozen or so hook ups. Most days required long walks with hundreds of casts for three to six hook ups, which in fly fishing standards is still good. But as most of you have seen in years past, twelve hook up days was a bit on the slower end of the trips.
Salmon averaged 15 to 23 pounds but fought like true champions, line screaming runs into backing. Their fighting ability far out weighed their size, what a blast for all! This year the largest salmon landed and released tipped in about 28 pounds, a bit lighter than last years 38 pounder.
Hopefully next year mother nature will not rain down on us, as she did this season, and will allow us to have somewhere around 385 to 500 cfs for the most of the salmon season. That'll be Awesome!
This season is probably the slowest I've fished in twenty-five years, but all clients had a memorable trips. All will return again in pursuit of these fresh water monsters , knowing they will take a fly by traditional fly fishing and in hopes of experiencing the massive runs of salmon of years gone by. Well, that's fishin!
Steelheading is just about here and Brown Trout season is upon us on the Western Shore. For those of you who want to winter steelhead fish with me, but are concerned about flyfishing line freeze-ups spoiling the trip, I am ofering an alternative, bobber with fly or egg sac fishing with lite line for these cold times and flyfishing for the warm-ups.
What's your favorite Fly Fishing Magazine (kindly email me your choice)
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Planning a trip of a lifetime, then give me a call at to reserve your dates early, as the 2003 season is near it's end. It's best to reserve your time with me first, then I'll assist you in lodging reservations.
Preserve Your Trophy
Carry a camera and a cloth measuring tape then use the formula, which is fairly accurate, if you'd like to have the weight, (length X girth X girth / 800 = lb.) and this should give all the info needed for bragging rights without over stressing the fish. Once you land that trophy fish of a lifetime, it's your choice to kill and have mounted and no one should condemn you for your decision to do so. You can also send a good photo and measurements to a professional taxidermist where they can make a reproduction of the fish that you released.
Planning on releasing a fish, then handle it as little as possible and return into the water ASAP! When releasing the fish be sure to be facing it upstream in slower moving water, this may require some moving of the fish slowly forwards and back to help the flow of water through its gills, take your time for proper revival, which can take up to 8-10 minutes. You'll know when the fish is ready as it will have good balance and will start on it's own to pull away from your hands.
For more information on this fishery, give me a call and I'll be more than happy to answer all your questions.
Good luck and have fun.
Point & click on "Calendar Page, for the Four Seasons of Fishing" for both New York and Mass., then check out my complete website!
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