Nice URL, errr, I mean Steelhead in Pulaski NY.

Another Steelhead Fishing Report that came from last years Nov. Archives, I thought you all might enjoy:

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We continue to see reeeeel good Steelhead fishing top to bottom of the Salmon River, Pulaski NY. Fresh Steelhead entering daily and running up the river, spreading out. Starting to see some resident's holding with a continuation of freshies moving thru daily. Water level is a nice pleasant 335 cfs. All spots producing!

Heard its been hit or miss in the lower end. A guide friend hit 2 Steelhead and 1 Brown down low, while guiding. He ended up fishing the middle river later that day, with great result's. Another guide friend did reel well in the middle section of the river. There really is no bad place to fish presently, providing you have the correct Habitat - (there is a lot of empty water out there), Rigging and Presentation.

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Monday:

Got out early to get the spot. We were rewarded w/ numerous fish! Lots of jump's, somersaults and silver bullet torpedo runs.

My 2 brand new, inexperienced guest's played with over 10 steelhead while useing a combination of fly rod's and spin.

I even "accidentally" (hehe) hooked up 3 while demonstrating. All anglers I spoke with over a 3 mile stretch (that had experience). Had early success in the morning, then it slowed to a crawl by mid-day. We experienced the same.

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A guide friend w/ 1 client hit approx. 8 Steelhead useing Eggs. My other guide friends 2 clients played w/ approx. 10 Steelhead useing fly rods. I also noticed Steelhead being played with above and below where we were. I'd guess approx. 50 or more Steelhead in our general area. Also saw numerous Steelhead in certain high viz. transitional resting area's mid-afternoon as we slowly drifted by them in the drift boat.

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Tues.:

Scheduled day off the water to work in the office.

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Wed:

Over 20 Steelhead played with! Ye-Haaa! I can count on 1 hand how many of these days with these incredible #'s my guest's have thru out our 6 month Steelhead season each year. It's HAMMER TIME!

 

Thursday:

Slooowed down. Only a dozen hook'd up thru out the day - yukyuk

Hit'm in all Prime Fall Steelhead Holding and Transitional spot's.

Myself and other guides noticed a decrease in the number of fresh Chrome today. Almost all the fish played with were what I call the resident's. They were darker in color and had been in the river a short while. Takes them a couple - few weeks to get a lil dark'r. The males have rosy checks and the females will be a silvery grayish. They have taken up residence in the prime holding water. I call these "happy fish". They have all 3 things they need to be happy and survive. Just like us!

1. Protection from predator's.

2. A food source

3. Comfort equals current breaks. This conserves there energy for the long Winter.

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Friday:

Only a dozen or so played with ;), thru out the day. Hit'm in all spot's. Every single Fall Steelhead holding and transitional holding Habitat are with Steelhead.

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All presentational techniques are producing. Some better than other's.

Egg's and egg imitations. Aquatics and bait fish imitations are all producing.

We used a combination of fly rods and spinning rods with incredible results.

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From the Mail Bag:

This email was sent by one of my good friends and clients for a clarification on the 1/8 ounce added weight regulation in the fly zones.

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Recently (November 2nd) I fished the LFZ and would appreciate clarification regarding the regulations for this water as well as the UFZ; specifically in relation to what does DEC consider the "1/8 ounce supplemental weight" restriction to represent; a #7, #5, or #4 lead weight or Tin split shot? From my experience Friday, I as well as many other anglers seem unaware of the 1/8 ounce restriction. Thanks Joe.

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The 1/8th ounce rule has been around for a while, it isn't new for this year and is described on page 34 of the regulations guide. The size split shot isn't the only issue, it is the total added weight to your fly and or line. So if you decide to fish a bead head nymph and use a swivel, the bead head and swivel cannot exceed 1/8th ounce. Or if you just want to use split shot on an un-weighted fly and no swivel then the split shot cannot be over 1/8th ounce. The best way to gauge the split shot sizes would be to get an 1/8th ounce jighead and compare the size of the added weight on it to the split shot you are considering.

Hope this answers you questions,

Scott E. Prindle

Aquatic Biologist

Region 7 Fisheries

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

1285 Fisher Ave.

Cortland, NY 13045-1090

Phone (607)753-3095 ext 204

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Randy,

This response does little to answer my question regarding the size split shot that would comply with "1/8 ounce restriction" if fishing with an un-weighted fly. Thus I will use the website information that identifies a #4 split shot as weighing 1/8 ounce. In reality, a #4 or #5 split shot is generally all that is needed.

Thanks Joe

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Stay tuned for more entertainingly informative and mildly educational reports and articles on this never-ending virtual fishing trip with your host Randy "The Yankee Angler" and friends.

I sincerely hope that what little I've been able to share with you will help you along the path to more enjoyable, safe, knowledgeable fishing.

Thanks for stopping in and spending your valuable internet fishing time here :)

Hope your all enjoying this great fishing!

Best Fish's,

Randy

Done