Salmon River, Oak Orchard Fishing Report
Capt. Troy Creasy
November 6, 2008
Salmon River - Freshwater Fishing Report
Holy Steelhead!!!!!
Water temps have stabilized and actually climbed back into the mid 40's. The bite is on and we have been smoking the fish.
Plugs, eggs, swinging flies it is all working right now. Chrome fish are being caught from top to bottom. No need to go to Altmar and stand elbow to elbow. Pick your favorite hole and dig in.
Tim and his son TJ were royally spoiled the last few days. It was not fair what they did to the fish.
Some days you just can't go wrong. These guys have fished six days with me over the last 4 years and they always beat on them bad.
Same goes for the Oswego. Lot's of rainbows and browns. Water is high and the flow is strange as most of the turbines are off and l of the water is coming over the dam.
Anglers fishing the 18 Mile Creek area are enjoying some pretty darn good fishing. In fact, to quote Buffalo Sabres announcer Rick Generet, the fishing has been scary good (pun intended). The increased water flow has brought in some more salmon and trout into the system while providing a little color to the water at the same time.
Reports coming in had water coming over the dam and the water stained, but definitely fishable. That should improve for the weekend action, with the focus on king salmon and trout like browns and rainbows. The power plant was producing power, which is good news for the shore fishing guys on the east side of the creek near the dam, helping to spread the fish out a bit. Some fresh coho salmon have shown up on the scene this week, along some some silver female kings. Not only can you catch them below the dam, but you can catch them in the harbor and off the piers. At least off the piers when the winds cooperate.
Some night fishing for kings is still happening with eggs, spoons or Rat-L-Traps. Some browns and steelhead are being caught off the piers, too. Steve Strong of Olean has been catching steelhead up to 12 pounds off the piers in Olcott, with a Little Cleo spoon the best enticement. Brown trout can be caught throughout the creek, with woolly buggers and single eggs or egg imitations the best baits to use.
A 17 pound brown was reported from the dam area at mid-week. Try fishing the first couple hours of light for the best brown trout fishing. In the harbor, Jim Johnson of Newfane was catching some nice perch in Olcott, picking up some decent northern pike in the process, too. The Wilson short pier was producing both brown trout and perch, with an occasional steelhead.
From Ron at Orleans Outdoors
http://www.orleansoutdoor.com/conditions.htm
No big changes in conditions... Unseasonable mild weather, continued little precip, and slow and steady fishing pick on browns and steelhead with waning salmon action. Anglers fishing more then one day are reporting better action each day they fish, so there is slow improvement. There is a forecasted cool down by the weekend with chance of rain showers Fri and Sat.
The last bit of measurable precip was over one week ago. So far this fall season there has not been enough rain to cause any blow out conditions, and most all trib flows are back low and clear. The Oak Orchard is hanging in at a very nice med level.
The duration of the good flows in the Oak Orchard is unknown, it seems higher then it should be given the amount of precip that has been received, so it is likely that the water feed includes some "extra" and a bit early Canal water.
A drop back down in Oak Orchard flows is possible. The strong salmon "run" is about 3/4 done with the action transitioning from salmon to brown trout and steelhead. The brown trout and steelhead are more spread out now in the Oak Orchard with the spawning Kings clinging to the gravel and adjacent holes.
A few fresher, green Kings are still in the mix and a few cohos have been evidenced. The last increase in flows has encouraged more browns and steelhead upstream and spread out some of the angling opportunities.
Water temps are in the 40's F and probably won't be dropping any more this week or could go back up toward 50 F. Salmon numbers include a mix of white-tailed spawners and some dark fish.
I just had November 25 open up. Great time if you are interested.
See you on the water, Troy
Target Species:
steelhead, brown trout
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