If you are trying to figure out Salmon River king and coho fishing after the October 2 rain and northwest wind in low flow, you are not alone. The river has been skinny all fall, the fish have been spooky, and one weather change can either turn the bite on or leave everyone scratching their heads. The good news is that a small rain followed by a northwest blow is exactly the kind of event that can pull fresh fish in from Lake Ontario and get the ones already in the river moving again. Here is how to read the water, adjust your presentation, and put more salmon on the gravel this week.
Table of Contents
- What the weather changed
- Where to look in low flow
- Tactics for kings and coho
- Rigging tweaks for skinny water
- Colors and timing
- Regulations and flow management
- At a glance
Three useful Salmon River picks in stock
Low, clear flow calls for practical gear, not forced lure matches. These three current in-stock items fit the job: clear fluorocarbon for a quieter presentation, a compact weighted nymph for deeper drifts, and a fish-friendly net sized for trophy salmon.
| Product | Best use this week | Current price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
 Kistler Fishing Lines |
10- or 12-pound clear fluorocarbon leader material for low, clear water | $19.95 | Shop Kistler line |
 Double Bead Peacock Stonefly Nymph, 6-Pack |
A compact, weighted size 8 nymph for getting a controlled drift down in current | $16.95 | Shop stonefly nymphs |
 Catch Cam Pike Net |
Landing 30- to 40-inch-plus salmon cleanly from the bank or a boat | From $225.00 | Shop the landing net |
All three were active, published to the Online Store, and available when we checked them on October 2. Click through for the current variant and price, or stop in and ask what best fits your setup.
What the October 2 rain and northwest wind changed
Low flow has made the salmon edgy. On the morning of October 1, the Lighthouse Hill release was 185 cfs, the Pineville gauge read 216 cfs, and the lower river water temperature was 60 degrees. Kings and cohos were still moving upriver and holding in pools, with steelhead also reported in parts of the lower run. That is a real fish movement, but it is still a low-water fishery where careful positioning and clean drifts matter.
Rain arrived early October 2, with the forecast calling for about a quarter inch and west-northwest wind at 10 to 15 mph. The fresh report expected that weather to encourage another push from the lake, but it is a setup, not a guarantee. The scheduled release remained 185 cfs through 11:59 p.m. October 2, so do not plan on flood conditions. Watch the actual gauge and fish movement before choosing a spot.
Where to look after the bump
In low flow, salmon do not spread out the way they do when the river is up. They stack in the deepest slots, the heads of pools, and the tailouts where current still funnels food. After a small rise, look first at the lower river mouth and the first deep holes upstream. Fresh fish moving in will hold there before they run the shallower riffles above.
Kings prefer the slower, deeper water. They will sit behind boulders, in trench lines, and along current seams where they can rest without burning energy. Coho are more willing to use faster water and broken riffles, especially early and late in the day. If you see fish rolling in a fast tailout, they are more likely coho. If you see dark shapes holding in a deep slot, they are likely kings.
One rule for skinny water: do not wade through the run you are about to fish. Low flow means the fish can see you from a long way off. Fish from the bank or the edge, make your drifts, then move. If you must cross, go well below the pool and come back up on the far side.
Tactics for kings vs coho
Kings in low flow
Kings in skinny water are pressure shy. Scale down where you can. Use 10 to 12 pound fluorocarbon leaders, small egg hooks, and just enough split shot to tick the bottom. The bite is often a soft lift, not a hard grab. Keep your rod tip low and watch the line. A slight stop or tick is usually the fish.
Natural presentations rule. Treated egg skein, single eggs, beads, and small nymphs all work. If the water is still clear after the rain, go smaller and more natural. A peach or light orange bead in 6 mm or 8 mm can outfish a big gob of eggs on tough days.
Coho after a weather change
Coho are aggressive and will chase. They also tend to hold in slightly faster water, so a swung fly, spinner, or small spoon can trigger reaction strikes. A No. 3 or No. 4 spinner in bright chartreuse, orange, or pink is a good starting point. If the rain stained the water, add glow tape or a bead chain for flash.
Unlike kings, coho will often hit on the move. Cover water. Make a few casts through a run, and if nothing happens, walk upstream 20 yards and try again. They school tighter than kings, so once you find one, stay in that lane.
Rigging tweaks for low, clear water
- Leader length: Start with 6 to 8 feet of fluorocarbon. In clear water, extend to 10 feet.
- Shot size: Use the smallest weight that reaches the bottom. In low flow, a BB or 1/0 split shot is often plenty.
- Hook size: Drop to size 8 or 10 egg hooks. Big hooks spook fish in skinny water.
- Float choice: Use a small, clear float or a stealth indicator. Big bright floats alert every fish in the pool.
- Spoon and spinner size: For coho, 1/8 to 1/4 ounce is plenty. Leave the heavy hardware at home.
Colors and timing
Before the rain, natural colors such as light orange, peach, and pale chartreuse were the safer bets. After the rain, if the water picks up any stain, switch to brighter shades: hot pink, flame orange, and chartreuse. Glow finishes work at dawn, dusk, and on overcast days. Do not be afraid to change color every 20 minutes if the fish are rolling but not biting.
Timing matters more than color. The first two hours of daylight and the last hour before dark are usually the most productive. Cloudy, windy afternoons can extend the bite. If the northwest wind is blowing hard, the river mouth and lower holes often fish best because the lake water is being pushed in.
Regulations and flow management
As checked on October 2, the lower fly section remained closed because of low water, while the upper fly area remained open. The rest of the river below Route 52 also remained available under the applicable rules. Check the official Salmon River access notice and the live flow schedule before leaving because temporary access and release conditions can change.
Carry your license, know the bait rules for the section you plan to fish, and respect the flow management. The low water is not just tough on anglers; it is tough on the fish. Handle them quickly and keep them in the water if you are releasing them.
At a glance
| Condition | Where to fish | What to throw |
|---|---|---|
| Low, clear water before the rain | Deep slots, tailouts, current seams | Small beads, single eggs, light spinners |
| After October 2 rain and northwest wind | Lower river mouth, first deep holes, heads of pools | Egg skein, bright beads, small spoons, glow spinners |
| Stained water | Inside current seams, softer edges | Bright chartreuse, pink, glow finishes |
Stop into Shorette's Bait & Tackle before you head to the river. We will set you up with the right shot, beads, skein, and terminal tackle for the current flow, and we will tell you what we are hearing from the parking lots and the drift boats. Tight lines.