my brother who lives in conneticut is heading up to the Salmon river, next week. i was wondering if the same rigs we use out here work for them there misplaced fish. do you think the ole corkie and yarn would work? or is that a nw thing. I'm trying to hook him up with some fresh ideas to slam some fish back there any help would be appreciated.

Having moved back and forth between the Northwest and the Northeast over the years, I've fished both the Salmon River in New York and the Washington Rivers. The Salmon has an incredible number of steelhead and salmon but also has an incredible number of jerks fishing for them in combat conditions. Fistfights are common. Most salmon are snagged.

The same lures will work back there as do out here, although in smaller sizes. I mostly fly fish, and found a #8 black wooly bugger to be my favorite for the kings. Nymphs sized #10-12 work best for the steelhead.

Although I prefer fishing out here, you can probably catch more salmon on the Salmon River than you can almost anywhere in Washington. I've had many days where I've fair hooked over 20 kings on my fly rod.

Have fun.

Having grown up in upstate NY, I've fished many of the rivers and streams in eastern Lake Ontario (Salmon, Little Salmon, Grindstone Creek). My suggestion is to stick with eggs. Yarn and corkie will work but I've always done well with the biggest gob of salmon eggs I could impale on a hook. Soak it in the deepest hole you can find with just a little bit of weight.

If you're on the Salmon River, try the Papermill pool. It holds alot of steelhead, along with Chinooks. Also check with the local baitshops, they'll point you in the right direction. Good luck.

hey dog. I just moved out here a year and a half ago and have fished the salmon river for 10 years (since I was 14). Just like coho said use the eggs. there are tons of holes to go to, but if he really wants to get the up to date info on the river tell him to go to Tony's Salmon Country. Ask the guys there they are extremely helpful. There will be crowds everywhere but there are tons of fish and a little hiking will get you away from the major combat zones. Tell him to stay away from the hole in town. I have come close to getting in fist fights with people and I am not a violent individual. He can also look up tonyssalmoncountry.com to get the info on how to contact Tony's. Tony is a great dude and if you are nice to him or Fritz. They will be more than welcome to help you out. Tell him the Devine's sent ya.
Good Luck and I am actually going to be there next weekend(going home for a wedding)
Have fun and keep a sense of humor cause it is a snagging festival that will make you appreciate the "crowds" of Washington.

devine

"once in a while you get shone the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right."