A fresh push of coho salmon showed up in the Salmon River on September 23, and kings are still spread from the lower river into the middle and upper pools. The catch is the water: low, clear September flows are concentrating fish while making them easier to spook. Salmon River king and coho fishing under low September flows is not about covering every foot of river. It is about finding a travel lane or holding pocket, making a clean legal drift, and knowing when to move.
- What the River Is Doing Now
- Where Kings and Cohos Hold in Low Water
- Presentations That Fit the Conditions
- A Practical Low-Water Setup
- Timing, Pressure, and Fish Care
- Your Game Plan
What the River Is Doing Now
Conditions are specific enough that it pays to put a date on every number. On September 23, the dam release was 185 CFS, the Pineville gauge read about 220 CFS, and the afternoon water temperature was 62 degrees. A September 24 report put the water at 61 degrees and described a mix of kings and cohos, with some fish moving and others holding in deeper holes and larger runs.
The Lower Fly Fishing Catch-and-Release Area remains closed through October 31 because drought conditions produced low, warm water and managers are protecting the hatchery egg take. The Upper Fly Area remains open. Check the current Lake Ontario tributary and Salmon River regulations before choosing your access point or rig. A spot that was legal on a past trip may not be legal today.
The important fishing news is that low water has not stopped the run. Cohos moved into the lower and middle river in good numbers on September 23. Kings were reported throughout the river, with moving fish in travel lanes and resting fish in pools. That gives you two separate targets: fresh fish moving upstream and settled fish using the deepest available water.
Where Kings and Cohos Hold in Low Water
Start by reading depth and current, not by following the biggest crowd. In low flow, a change of one foot can be the difference between empty gravel and a holding lane.
- Pool heads: Fresh fish pause where a riffle pours into deeper water. Work the softer edge beside the main tongue instead of dropping directly into the fastest current.
- Inside seams: The line between quick water and walking-speed water gives salmon a route upstream without forcing them to fight the full current.
- Deep pool centers: Kings that have been in the river for several days often settle into the darkest water, especially after the sun gets high.
- Tailouts: Cohos and moving kings may slide through the lower end of a pool during low light. Approach from downstream and stay off the shallow lip.
- Broken water and shade: Chop, overhanging cover, and darker banks give fish security in clear conditions.
Watch before you cast. A rolling fish tells you where a lane crosses the surface, but one roll does not mean the whole pool is loaded. Make several controlled drifts through the lane, change depth or presentation once, and move if you are not contacting fish.
Presentations That Fit the Conditions
Float eggs or beads through the lane
Egg sacs, legal beads, and egg-imitation flies are natural choices for river salmon. Set the float so the offering travels near the bottom without dragging. If the float repeatedly stops in the same place, adjust before assuming every pause is a bite. The goal is a clean drift that follows the current, not a rig that sweeps sideways through fish.
Use smaller flies in clear water
Low, clear water usually favors a smaller profile and a lighter leader than anglers use in a heavy October flow. Egg imitations, compact streamers, and simple wet flies can all work when they are presented at the fish's level. Start bright at first light or in stained pockets, then move toward quieter colors as the sun climbs.
Control the swing
A streamer can be effective when it crosses a holding lane without racing. Cast slightly upstream, mend to let it settle, and allow it to come across the seam under tension. Finish every swing before lifting the rod. Cohos can follow a fly farther than expected, while a king may react only when the fly enters its immediate space.
Snatching or attempting to snatch is prohibited, and every foul-hooked fish must be released immediately without unnecessary injury. If your rig is lining fish or repeatedly hooking them outside the mouth, change the angle, shorten the drift, reduce weight, or leave that piece of water.
A Practical Low-Water Setup
| Component | Starting Point | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rod | 8 to 10 foot medium or medium-heavy rod | Controls line while keeping enough backbone for a large king |
| Reel | Spinning or fly reel with a smooth drag | Protects a lighter leader during long runs |
| Main line | 12 to 15 lb test for spinning gear | Offers capacity and control without excessive diameter |
| Leader | 8 to 12 lb test, adjusted for clarity and cover | Keeps the presentation natural while resisting abrasion |
| Terminal rig | Float rig, legal egg imitation, or legal fly setup | Matches the fish's level without forcing a sideways sweep |
These are starting points, not permission to ignore the special rules for a particular section. Hook style, gap, added weight, leader length, bait, and fishing hours can be restricted. Read the current regulation page before rigging, and check the day's flow before stepping into the river.
Timing, Pressure, and Fish Care
First light gives moving fish cover and usually offers the cleanest chance before pressure builds. Late afternoon can produce another movement window, but do not overlook a cloudy midday period. Under bright sun, shift toward deeper water, shade, and the slower edge of a main current tongue.
Low water makes stealth matter. Walk the bank when possible instead of wading through a travel lane. Keep a low profile, avoid throwing shadows over the pool, and give the next angler room. If fish are visibly spawning, leave them alone and stay off redds. When releasing a fish, keep it in the water, support it facing the current, and wait until it can swim away under its own power.
Your Game Plan
For September 24, the practical plan is simple. Check the latest flow and access status, start on a pool head or inside seam at low light, and use a legal egg, bead, or fly presentation that drifts naturally. If kings are settled deep, work the pool methodically. If bright cohos are moving, focus on the lanes connecting pools and be ready to change color before adding weight.
Need to match a legal rig to today's water? Visit Shorette's Bait & Tackle before you head out. Bring the current flow, the section you plan to fish, and the presentation you prefer, and we will help you build a practical low-water setup.