The famed SALMON RIVER is easily the most popular of the Lake Ontario tributaries, offering it all to the inquisitive fly fisherman. During all twelve-months an angler can find excellent fishing for any number of species. However, it's the fall, winter, and spring fishing that will keep you coming back! During these times the river sees its annual influx of salmon, steelhead, and brown trout.

PACIFIC SALMON are the early fall draw to the Salmon River!  The first, but small, runs of these great fish arrive in late August.  Run intensity and duration builds through September, and the fishing will last until mid-October.  While targeting Chinooks and Silvers (also called Kings and Cohos) we'll sight fish, casting floating lines and streamers. This is a very aggressive, exciting, and effective method of targeting salmon. Salmon lack the ability to feed once in the tributaries, but kings and cohos never lose their killer instinct. We'll play off that aggression! I offer a popular early season special during the very first part of the run, and then full-day trips for the rest of the season.  All trips include tackle, access passes if needed, and instruction.
A legal limit of  Pacific salmon may be harvested.

Timing (expect year-to-year variability)

• Late August to mid Sept: building numbers of bright fish, minimal fishing pressure, runs vary day-to-day, most fishing occurs in first few hours
• Labor Day Weekend: scheduled 750 cfs release typically triggers a run of silver kings
• Mid Sept thu first week Oct: runs and pressure increase, fish still aggressive but bronze
• Middle October: peak crowds, runs and fish health variable

STEELHEAD are prevalent in the Lake Ontario tributaries from late October through early May during most years. You'll learn the nuances of steelhead behavior and location and the skills needed be a successful angler anywhere steelhead live. We can spey cast with two-handed rods and the swung fly or explore traditional single-hand applications like swung flies or indicator nymphing.  The choice is yours!  I offer full-day trips that include tackle, a stream side lunch, and access passes for the fall and spring seasons.  I also offer a winter special for 4-hours of fishing during the warmest part of the day; excluding meals.
All trout, steelhead, and Atlantic salmon will be released.

Timing (expect year-to-year variability)

• Mid October: initial sporadic runs start; "leaf hatch" occurs last week of October (chrome fish)
• November thru Christmas: consistent to heavy runs; angling pressure decreases (peak pressure in early November)(chrome to silver fish)
• January-mid March: smaller, less predictable runs, colder temps, minimal angling pressure (silver to dark fish)
• End of March to very early April: pre-spawn funk, hot and cold fishing, lite pressure
• mid to end April: spawn transitioning into drop back season, intense upriver angling pressure
• Early May: drop back, start of summer runs (Skamania steelhead, Atlantic salmon), light angling pressure

 I am also happy to provide hourly Skagit style spey casting instruction for those who want to get started with this important style of casting but do not wish to jump into the associated fishing techniques.  It is important to learn a minimum number of casts that will allow you to cast over both shoulders from both river right and river left, so that should be your goal.  Practice will make you proficient.  I am happy to provide tackle.

Please see my RATES page for costs.