Smallmouth Bass
PeakWhere: boulder runs, bridge shade, pool tails, creek-mouth rock, and lower-river current breaks on Salmon River.
Move: tubes, Ned rigs, small jerkbaits, poppers, and crayfish-colored streamers.
Species guide →Salmon River
Good
About Salmon River
The Salmon River at Pulaski drains 285 square miles of Tug Hill Plateau into Lake Ontario and is the most famous freshwater steelhead destination in the Great Lakes region -- and arguably the most crowded. The Salmon River Reservoir (Lighthouse Hill Dam) controls flows; the lower 13 miles below the Altmar barrier hold steelhead in serious numbers October through April. Crowds in the prime windows; pre-dawn arrivals get the best water.
September through April with peaks at the late-October fall run, the December-January winter steelhead, and the March-April spring. Managed releases. Plan around weekend crowds. The optimal fishing flow on Salmon River is 500–1,500 CFS — flows above this range are typically too high and stained, flows below run low and clear. The river's long-term median flow is approximately 296 CFS, computed from the last several years of USGS gauge readings.
Current conditions (live, updated every 15 minutes): flow 256 CFS, clarity clear. Steelhead Addiction's Guide's Report rates the river GOOD as of this reading.
Storm signals active in region.
Flow Rate
256
CFS
Gauge Height
5.41
ft
Water Temp
-
°F
Air Temp
63.9
°F
Clarity
Clear
Wind
🌬 Calm
≤5 mph
Last updated: 7 minutes ago (7:45 AM EDT)
Conditions today: Good. Trending: rough.
Flow
Pressure
Air temp, scaled
Rain per hour
Storm pulse window
Hourly flow pending
Confidence: 0.42
No big rain in the lookback, but the barometer dropped 0.21 inHg over the last 24 hours. Flow held steady at 253 CFS, water temp drifted held steady. Falling pressure has a reputation — sometimes it wakes fish up, sometimes it shuts them down, and we're not going to pretend we know which it'll be today. Quiet sky on the way. Conditions should hold.
Lookback window Jul 23, 7 am to Jul 26, 7 am ET.
Data refresh every 15 min. This is a pattern read, not proof of causation; fish reserve the right to embarrass the spreadsheet.
Flow
Pressure
Air temp, scaled
Rain per hour
Storm pulse window
Hourly flow pending
No big rain in the lookback, but the barometer dropped 0.21 inHg over the last 24 hours. Flow held steady at 331 CFS, water temp drifted held steady. Falling pressure has a reputation — sometimes it wakes fish up, sometimes it shuts them down, and we're not going to pretend we know which it'll be today. Quiet sky on the way. Conditions should hold.
Lookback window Jul 19, 7 am to Jul 26, 7 am ET.
Data refresh every 15 min. This is a pattern read, not proof of causation; fish reserve the right to embarrass the spreadsheet.
| Gauge | Flow (CFS) | Height (ft) | Water Temp | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon River at Pineville (primary) | 256 | 5.41 | - | 7 minutes ago 7:45 AM EDT |
| N Branch Salmon River at Redfield | 18 | 0.88 | - | 7 minutes ago 7:45 AM EDT |
Guide's Report
Based on current conditions as of Sun, Jul 26 at 7:45 AM EDT (7 minutes ago)
Report generated 7:52:33 AM EDT
Holding steady at 256 CFS, water is clear. Worth the gas money. Pick your water carefully. Stable water means fish are in their comfort zones. Cheaper Than Therapy. Slightly..
Salmon River
Today's Weather: Good
16% rain
SE 3mph
Coming up: Partly Cloudy
Flow Rate
0
CFS
·
5.41
ft
19th percentile · Low
Summer mode - stable summer flow
24h trend
—
+2%
Summer fishability window
253–485 CFS
Current-month middle flow band for warm-water fishing
72h movement
stable (0%)
Status
stable summer flow · 5.41ft
Low water — projection flat
Clouds
· 64°F
· SSE 5mph
29.94" ↗
Guide says:
Holding steady at 256 CFS, water is clear. Worth the gas money. Pick your water carefully. Stable water means fish are in their comfort zones. Cheaper Than Therapy. Slightly..
"Tailouts Don't Lie"
Flow is stable in the ideal range — fish are settled and holding in predictable lies.
Clear water — ideal for visual hunters like smallmouth. Long leaders, natural colors, and finesse presentations like drop-shots will produce.
How to Fish It
Fly/Lure Selection
Clear water demands finesse. 6-8lb fluoro, natural colored tubes (watermelon, green pumpkin), 3-inch drop-shot worms, or small swimbaits.
Where to Fish
Focus on current breaks, behind large boulders, and slack water eddies along the banks.
Storm Context
STORM QUIET
Storm signals active in region.
What's Coming
Heavy rain is incoming — fish NOW. Current conditions are fishable but the river will blow out. This is your window.
Rigs to consider right now
Match the current report to a setup
Ned Rig
Catches fish that are willing to eat but not interested in chasing something loud.
Beginner
Neko Rig
Adds a different fall and bottom posture when Ned or wacky presentations are getting ignored.
Intermediate
Texas Rig
Gets a soft plastic through cover without turning every cast into salad.
Beginner
Drop Shot Rig
Keeps the bait in the strike zone without dragging it into every rock on the bottom.
Intermediate
Summer river plan
Salmon River summer fishing targets
Use the current flow, clarity, and sky conditions to choose the target. Summer fish usually reward shade, structure, and low-light timing.
Walleye
PeakWhere: lake mouths, harbor edges, deeper summer basin water, and low-light shoreline structure on Salmon River.
Move: crawler harnesses, crankbaits, jigs, and evening presentations near moving water.
Species guide →Panfish
PeakWhere: docks, weed edges, ponds, marina slips, brush, and shaded shoreline structure on Salmon River.
Move: small jigs, waxworms, micro poppers, and slip floats for kids or fast action.
Species guide →Northern Pike
Where: cooler weed edges, connected backwaters, tributary mouths, and ambush lanes on Salmon River.
Move: spinnerbaits, spoons, jerkbaits, and quick releases when water warms.
Species guide →Current read
Clarity is clear. Overall rating: Good for smallmouth bass. Use the graph below to time falling or stabilizing flows before committing a trip.
Summer FAQ
What can I fish for on Salmon River in summer?
Focus on the warm-water species shown above, then use the live flow, clarity, and temperature read to choose shade, rock, current breaks, creek mouths, lakefront structure, and low-light windows.
Steelhead care
Should I target steelhead on Salmon River in summer?
Usually no. When water is warm, shift to smallmouth, walleye, panfish, pike, or another summer target instead of pressuring stressed trout.
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7-Day Flow & Temperature
Flow distribution
1095-day history · n=2,168 · 85% confidence
Now vs history
244 CFS below optimal
Optimal window
500–1,500 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Typical range
258–521 CFS
25th–75th percentile
Seasonal context:
Current flow is below typical for July.
July median on this river: 266 CFS
(n=608 hourly samples).
Clarity vs flow ranges
Steelhead Green
likely now
257–512 CFS typical
Stained
847–934 CFS typical
Low:
Below typical — fish may be hugging deeper runs.
Sample quantiles
|
Theoretical line
Fair fit — tails diverge (71%)
Points on the dashed line mean the river's flow distribution is log-normal. Bows at the tails suggest multiple flow regimes (snowmelt vs rain events) or sensor artifacts. The math for this river uses log-space statistics, so a poor fit here is a reason to squint at the optimal zone.
Recent Angler Reports
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Near Salmon River
Local Fly Shops & Guides
Featured
Fox Hollow Lodge
Altmar, NY · 2 mi
Streamside lodge on the upper Salmon River in Altmar. Cabins and guide service for steelhead and salmon anglers.
Malindas Fly and Tackle Shop
Altmar, NY · 2 mi
Fly and conventional tackle on the upper Salmon River. Fly tying materials and deep local stream knowledge.
Salmon River Fish Hatchery
Altmar, NY · 4 mi
NYS DEC hatchery where steelhead and salmon are raised. Open to the public — see the fish firsthand.
Fat Nancys Tackle Shop
Pulaski, NY · 4 mi
Well-known Salmon River tackle shop. Live bait, custom rigs, stream conditions, and lodging info.
Salmon River Falls
Orwell, NY · 5 mi
110-ft waterfall within a 112-acre DEC unique area. Spectacular frozen falls in winter.
Salmon River Sports Shop
Pulaski, NY · 5 mi
Expert advice and tackle since 1972. Pulaski's go-to salmon fishing store for over 50 years.
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30-Day Statistics
Min Flow
224 CFS
Max Flow
801 CFS
Avg Flow
343 CFS
Min Temp
-
Max Temp
-
Avg Temp
-
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Multiple days of heavy rain ahead — expect significant flow increases and muddy water. Plan trips for windows between rain events or 1-2 days after.
Best day to fish: Overnight — favorable conditions expected.
Sunday is the day before rain moves in — barometric pressure drop often triggers aggressive feeding. Don't miss it.
Daily Fishing Forecast
Weather-based daily ratings — independent of current river flow. A "good" forecast day can still mean a blown-out river. Cross-reference with the Guide's Report above for a complete picture.
Overnight — Angler's Report
good fishingNWS Forecast Detail
Overnight:
A slight chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Sunday:
A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night:
Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind around 3 mph.
Monday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Moderate rain will push flows up. Water may get stained to muddy — switch to bright flies and heavier weight.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Monday:
A slight chance of rain showers between 8am and 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday Night:
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 1 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tuesday — Angler's Report
poor fishing- Heavy rain expected — river will likely blow out. Fish early before it rises or wait 24-48 hours after for the drop.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Tuesday:
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Tuesday Night:
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Moderate rain will push flows up. Water may get stained to muddy — switch to bright flies and heavier weight.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Wednesday:
Rain showers likely before 2pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. North wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night:
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Thursday:
A slight chance of rain showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday Night:
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Friday:
A slight chance of rain showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Friday Night:
A slight chance of rain showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Saturday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Saturday:
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Forecast via NWS, updated 2 hours ago (5:03 AM EDT). Fishing ratings are estimates based on weather — always check current river conditions.
Recommended Gear
Clear water — finesse tippet and natural patterns first.
RIO Products Fluoroflex Freshwater Tippet - 100% Fluorocarbon, Medium-Stiff Leader for Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, and Bass - Abrasion Resistant - 25 or 30 yd Spool, 0X-20lb Sizes
$13.99
Scientific Anglers Absolute Fluorocarbon Saltwater Tippet, 30M (16lb)
$16.85
RIO Products Fluoroflex Bonefish Tapered Leader - 100% Fluorocarbon Fly Fishing Leader for Saltwater Species - Abrasion Resistant - Available in 8lb, 10lb, 12lb, 16lb, and 20lb
$16.99
RIO Products Fluoroflex Strong Tippet, 100% Fluorocarbon Fly Fishing Tippet for Trout, Abrasion Resistant, Strong, & Knot Friendly, 100yd Guide Spool
$44.99
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More on Salmon River
Recent Storm Events
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- July 4 Alley Storm — Jul 4, 2026
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From the Archive · Rivers
The Salmon River
Lake Ontario's flagship salmonid fishery — four anchor species, an eight-month season, and the model the Alley towns scaled down from.
The Salmon River is the most consequential salmonid tributary in the Great Lakes basin. Strictly Lake Ontario, not Alley — but the program apparatus, the angling community, and the lessons all overlap...
Read the chapter →
