DriftWater Fishing, Salmon River, Pulaski, NY

Trips

King salmon fishing on the Salmon River and Lake Ontario in Pulaski, NY, can be a very fun and beautiful as well as rewarding experience. We start fishing for King and Coho salmon during the late summer and early fall. The salmon, induced by hormonal triggers, start to school and congregate near their home streams where they were born. In this case, the mouth of the Salmon River in Port Ontario. This happens in late August or early September and is marked by the first run of salmon that ascend the river.

The rest and majority of the fish stage at or near the river mouth and wait for the conditions to be right before they too head up river to their spawning grounds. We target these staging fish in the lake with drift boats. During the day we troll spoons, flies, j-plugs and anything else that may attract one of these magnificent Great Lakes salmon to strike. As the sun gets low and the bite picks up, we switch to our night gear and night troll spoons and stick baits. These fresh water monsters never sleep, nor do we when the bite is on. This fishing lasts until the majority of the salmon push up the river toward their final destination.

Depending on water temperature and levels, this mass movement of fish occurs sometime in late September or early October. Once the majority of the run hit the river, we take the drift boats up stream and back troll plugs or cast flies to attempt to get these powerful fish to strike. Some days can be a bit slow, but as the river temps start to fall, the fish start to move and get into their spawning areas. Then their true aggression turns on and some epic fishing (hooking, catching) can happen. Because these fish are so big and powerful, it is not uncommon to lose up to ninety percent if you are fishing from the bank. Because we use drift boats to chase and move these mighty river warriors, we have a better landing percentage than the bank angler.

Come join me and my team of experienced drift boat captains and bank guides to fulfill your fishing dreams on the Salmon River in Pulaski, New York. You can expect to get the very best when you book with Driftwater Fishing. Please remember that dates fill up fast, so book your trip a few months in advance.