Fly Fishing the Salmon River. Garrett Brancy

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      25 . Salmon River (steelhead)

       Location: West-central New York, about a ½-hour ride from Syracuse, a 2½-hour ride from Albany, a 4½-hour ride from New York City; and a 4½-hour ride from Philadelphia. Full-service airports are available in all four cities.

      The Salmon River is home to one of the most robust and diverse trout and salmon fisheries the country. It is that rare place where you can catch Pacific and Atlantic salmon, steel-head, brown trout, and rainbow trout. The Salmon holds the Great Lakes record for king salmon. This fish tipped the scales at 47 pounds, 13 ounces. It also holds the world record for coho salmon—a 33-pound, 4-ounce specimen. That this

      fishery is within a half day’s drive of many of the largest cities in the eastern United States makes it even more amazing. It is truly a fly fisher’s paradise.

      The section of the most interest to fly anglers lies between the Route 3 bridge in Port Ontario and the dam at the lower Salmon River Reservoir near Altmar. The Salmon can be separated into three different sections: upper, lower, and middle.

      The lower section begins upstream of the Route 3 bridge. Here the river enters an estuary where salmonids stage before making their spawning migration in late August and early September. This section continues upstream through the village of Pulaski to the County Route 2A bridge. Here the Salmon is a very fast-moving river. Water flows through cuts in the bedrock. This is classic pocketwater, perfect for nymphing. Studded boots are a good idea here. While difficult to wade,

      this stretch of river can be extremely rewarding. When fresh fish enter the river, this is where you’ll find them.

      The first 2½ miles upstream of the Route 3 bridge is owned by Douglaston Salmon Run. It is open to the public under a fee system. The number of anglers is restricted. This gives guests the opportunity to pursue their passion in a safe and monitored environment for a modest fee. This area is home to some