As we reminisce about our time on the water I want everyone to remember the folks that make this site possible.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM SUMMERFEST 2012

Summerfest is our annual event that allows us, through donations of our sponsors to raffle off items to keep the lights on. Although the community would be nothing without our membership that makes us strong, the lights wouldn’t be on without our great sponsors that donate their time and talents to keep SC as the go-to destination. I held off on making this post till the heat of the season so that the most viewers could see an recognize the folks that are behind the scenes. Aside from our loyal sponsors, I want to take time to thank the mod staff who tirelessly maintain the quality of forums we come to call a second home. Its a thankless job and they continue to do it, year in and year out.

As members when you think of taking a trip, tying that next fly, bedding down for the weekend stay or grabbing the latest gear head to the folks listed below. The support us, you support them.

On a quick note the uptick in water along with colder temps has brought the chrome into the river in some good numbers. We are seeing fresh hatchery kings still entering the lower river and even some cohos. The numbers aren’t the insanity it was 3 weeks ago, however fishing remains good through the river.

On a completely different tangent… Felix Baumgartner’s feat yesterday was just simply amazing. I know its all over the web but for any of you who may have missed it the Red Bull Stratus Project was a success after a few delays to weather. Watch the quick highlight video above.

SOURCE: Paul’s Guide Service

After reading the reports and posting them here for two weeks now I could have only hoped that their were some remaining fish by the time I arrived at first light Friday morning.  What I found out quickly was not only were they still running but they were running in numbers I have only dreamed about. I thought back to the many September weekends spent with the guys where having tangled with 1 or 2 made for a great early season delight. What I was witnessing… was nothing short of an early Christmas miracle. The river was packed, but 99% of the folks I encountered were pleasant and cordial and that in and of itself makes for a great trip. As the sun began to set, and my body and mind started to remind me that I was running on no sleep for almost 20 hours I stopped fishing dead in my spot and just watched through my polarized glasses as groups of 2 to 10 kings and cohos blew by me at alarming rate. And it didn’t stop… This went on for almost 30 minutes before I decided the salmon gods have been gracious to both myself and my group and I watched in awe as those powerful kings blew up river through the gauntlet of fishermen and the refuge of the setting sun.

Saturday proved to be more of the same, and when the weekend was done and I was driving south on 81 to my family I was missing so much… I thanked God above for letting me have two days of the most enjoyable memories a salmon fisherman could ever ask for. To all of you experienced the same in the last two weeks, be thankful for days and weeks like this, they don’t come along often and especially not with the close friends I got to share it with.

To Chuck, Joe, Dave, Jeff, Lee, John, Glenn, Vince and the Jersey Boys and most importantly Dad…. thanks for a memorable one!

-Brian

With the season in full swing I want to start posting some of the more effective patterns out there. Paul swears by this one for kings for both himself and his clients. The best part, its super quick to tie!

Paul likes to tie these in only a few colors as he likes to keep his Guiding flybox to the K.I.S.S method.

Special Thanks to Paul at Paul’s Guide Service for all of the details and photos.

Materials

• Hook – Mustad 7970 #2
• Lead wire (optional)
• Tail/Body – Everglo Tubing
• Eyes – XL Bead Chain
• Hackle – EP- Anadromus Brush

Step One:

Add Lead Wraps.

Step Two:

Cut a piece of Everglo tubing for the tail and body.  Take a dubbing needle and fray the end to make the tail.

Step Three:

Slide the tubing over the hook and attach it with a few wraps above the barb and on the front.

Step Four & Five:

Attach the bead chain eyes with tight figure 8 wraps.Attach the EP Brush, wrap one or two turns and tie off.  Make a small head behind the bead chain and whip finish.

Well folks the wait is over but first I want to personally thank MattD of CPR Custom Rods , Eunanimus, Eric** and Mudman.

Without Further Ado:

1. Custom Fly rod - 9 foot 8 weight 2 piece built on an American Tackle Matrix blank by MattD and CPR Custom Rods
Anthony Delia [ranger-8]

2. Custom Painted Cranks – Eric**
Christopher Tobias

3. Classic Wet Flies – Eunanimus
Mike Manzo [muddshark]

4. 2 Dozen Nuke Eggs Size 8 – Mudman
John Speranza [spudman]

Nice work everyone.

Well folks your questions have been answered. Early reports out of the DSR this am have noted the first big run of Cohos. It seems this season has been anything but normal and predictable. Usually the Cohos early run signals the grand entrance of the Kings for the season. So far this year we have had low water conditions, big pods of native Kings running 3 weeks early and now the Coho push.

Its anyone’s guess at this point what the future holds, but for those who have concerns about the lake being empty… DON’T because they are still smacking ‘em in deep water.

SOURCE: Accuweather Storm Details

SOURCE: Weather Channel Storm Details

The question on everyone’s mind is how much help will this bring the levels in the reservoir. Word on the street is that Brookfield Power has at present enough water stored for 185 CFS for at least 30 days. This means the threat of the water going even lower seems to be stayed at least at this point. My assumption is this rain can only help what has been a lousy water situation and help the DEC and Brookfield navigate through this maze.

Albany — New York state environmental officials say warm water and dry conditions have forced them to push back the opening of fishing season on part of the Salmon River. 

Anglers who want to use the Lower Fly Fishing Area will have to wait until Oct. 31. The season was supposed to open Saturday but Department of Environmental Conservation officials are worried about the impact on salmon reproduction. 

Trout and salmon return there from Lake Ontario to spawn. 

This is probably best for the fishery as a whole as they are looking to ensure the return for future generations of salmon.

SOURCE:  The Syracuse Post Standard

In case you are living under a rock the 2012 salmon season is in full swing… apparently warm temps, massive numbers, low water and the calendar have had no and I mean NO effect on these salmonids. Its is only September 17th and we have had what is arguably one of the best early seasons ever on the river. The fish have been coming in in huge numbers and according to our captain friends there are a ton to come yet who are biding their time in deep water.  All you had to do was follow the recent reports here on Facebook and the DSR and you would know that there is no need to wait till Columbus Day weekend this year.

To make matters even more interesting there is just shy of 2″ of rain in the forecast for tomorrow.  Who thinks this situation is going to get interesting rear fast.

We will keep you in the loop here but the video shot in the DSR at the Joss Hole should give you a real good clue as to what is occurring on the river daily!

SOURCE: Thanks to Jim LeBlanc for the video posted to the DSR