North Branch Salmon River New York Fly Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone Stream
Species
Brook Trout
Size
Small
Location
North Central New York
Nearest Towns
Redfield
Season
April 1 until October 15
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of New York
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
This stream can be great to fish anytime of the season.
Spring:
Spring provides the best time to fish the North Branch of
the Salmon River. Hatches are present most days and
the brook trout can be taken on the surface if the water
is above 50 degrees.
Summer:
The fishing generally slows down some during the
summer but is still good early and late in the day.
Fall:
Fall is the second best time to fish for the brook trout.
These fish spawn during the fall and turn into their
bright, beautiful spawning colors.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing North Branch of the Salmon River New York
The North Branch of the Salmon River flows from the Tug Hill Plateau into the Salmon River Reservoir at Redfield, New York. It has a decent population of native brook trout and also receives an additional stocking of brook trout by the State of New York. This stream has a huge amount of public fishing rights that is almost nine miles in length.
There is a 33 foot strip of land on one or both banks of the stream that is available for fishing purposes only. We should note that this is only because the land owners are willing to do this. If property is damaged, I feel sure many would change their minds so be careful
not to damage this right in any way.
This link will provide a very good map of the river and the public access.
Fly Fishing Guide to the North Branch of the
Salmon River
Fly fishing the North Branch of the Salmon River is fairly easy. This stream consist of mostly pools with short riffles and a few runs between them.
Brook trout are about the easiest of all trout species to catch. They are not near as selective in the way the go about eating as the other trout species. This stream has both a native population of Northern Brook Trout and it is also stocked with hatchery raised brook trout. There can be a difference in the way the stocked and native brook trout feed and take your flies. The stock trout are much less afraid of people or predators. They have been fed in the hatchery and are used to seeing people. The native trout are a lot more careful about exposing themselves. You need to hide from them to fool them into taking your fly. Staying low and dressing in colors similar to the background of trees and grass will help. The trout can get a very good look at your flies in the clear, slow moving water, so good presentations are necessary to fool the natives and sometimes, even the stocked trout depending on how long they have been stocked. Many of the stockers are removed and keep by fisherman within days of being stocked. We suggest leaders of at least nine feet long and tippets no larger than 5X to fool the native brook trout. Sometimes, a lighter tippet is necessary. You will need to use both upstream and downstream presentations, depending on the flow of the water. Generally speaking, upstream presentations work best for the fast moving water. Short upstream cast in the riffles and runs will normally produce but the trout will usually take the fly near the ends of the fast water, so be sure to let the fly drift into the slow water.
Trees can be a problem casting from the banks in many areas and getting into the stream is often necessary. You will always be far better off to fish from the banks as long as you can cast to the area of water you want to fish. Wading spooks trout but is sometimes necessary. Another tip we may provide is although the brook trout seem to take large flies at times, you are usually much better off using smaller flies.
If something is hatching, you are far better off to try to match the particular insect with your fly even though the brook trout are not picky. When the natives are in a feeding current picking off flies from the surface or on the bottom, they are used to seeing the same insects drift downstream. If your fly doesn’t resemble the naturals at all, they may reject it. You will usually increase your odds of success by using something that looks similar to the hatching insect.