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Big Picture:Why We Like This River!

We were hoping to find more Steelhead and Big Browns, but we were just a little too early. Another 3 weeks and things should fire up. However, the river was choc full of King Salmon. At first we were a little dissapointed by the lack of Steelhead, but we soon got over it and had a blast fighting the kings. They fight hard. They jump. They run upstream (sometimes way upstream) and then back down stream. They are big, strong and very difficult to land in the river. Hence the saying, “Fish On Fish Off: Salmon River New York.” Ok, I know what your thinking. “There must have been a ton of guys there.” Yup there were, but that’s ok because that’s part of the Salmon River Experience. I actually don’t mind it. It is actually kinda fun. Lots of guys (plenty of space if you get away from the major pools), tons of fly shops, terrible food, no frills, long drive, cold, rainy, rocky, lots of snags, gotta be on the bottom…It’s all part of the heritage and part of the experience. Also, you will notice this. The guys that know how to fish for the Steelhead/Browns/Salmon will catch fish and lots of em. The guys who fish like they are fishing in their home waters catch very little. You gotta be willing to change and fish the Great Lake Tributaries like they are meant to be fished. Through the years, I have learned a fair amount about how to fly fish the Great lake tributaries. There are many techniques for different species and situations. Anyway, after meeting countless good steelheaders from all across the country and learning from them, I am developing and tailoring my own style and system that is a mix of everything I have learned and it is starting to pay off. Now, when I show up to the Salmon River I feel confident that I Know how to fish to the fish and where the fish will be. Pete, Jason and I hooked so many fish and landed only a handful. The fish are so big and as you could imagine there are a million reasons why the fish breaks off (bent hook, snapped leader, wrapped around a rock, wrapped around branches, gets in the quick water….) Jason had good luck on streamer patterns, I had good luck on black wooly buggers and pete seemed to prefer little blue estez egg patterns. I will always remember the battle that I had with one of the Kings I landed. I hooked him in a pool below a little waterfall and landed him about 300 yards downstream. Together, we fought and battled through quick water, rocks, pools and trees. I could not believe it when I finally got him down into the big wide open pool and It was even harder to believe when we landed him. It was one of those battles that will always be etched in my memory. Pete had one fish that ran so far upstream, it was mind boggling. We had a great trip, and I will definately fish for the Kings again next year. However, we are already thinking about the next trip. Steelies will be in the river soon and Big Browns will be too. 3 weeks maybe. A few cold nights, a little rain and we’ll be there.