Need some fishing info.

[fishdoc01]

I know that most of you fellas are from the Pulaski area, and I have enjoyed the experience of meeting many of you over the years. I'm from RI and after pounding the river for 20+ years, the worn old body is catching up to me. As far as the Big Salmon is concerened, I find it near impossible for me to get around many of the old haunts. A fused spine, new right hip, a left hip and both knees still on the list of surgeries to come, has made wading in the fast water a bit difficult to say the least. I know...STAY HOME YOU OLD FART! Sorry, no can do. I love it so much and there is no way that I'll talk my boys into not going.

We'll be heading up this Thursday and from what I am reading we just might hit it right for a change. Used to catch more fish than anyone could ever want and catch and release was the way to go.

I guess that what I'm asking is for a little insider info on where a beat up old timer can go and still be able to enjoy the thrill of hooking a salmon, brown or a steelie or 2 and not be beat up to much by river flow.

I'll understand if you would like to keep your secret spots just that...a secret, but any help would be greatly appreciated and you can be assured that any info will go no farther than my boys and myself. I've fished the ******* with mixed success, but with low water conditions you know how poor the fishing can be in those rivers.

A number of years ago we would fish what we called "Clark's Pool" in the Little Salmon because it was behind Clark's house. He would let us park on his property and we would carry plastic bags to carry out the trash left behind by not-so-appreciative trespassers. The fishing was great, but he sold the property and we never seemed to be able to find the new owner. The house was white and green stripes right on the corner of the road that runs along the side of the little salmon. Also had permission from the legendary "Dominic" who cleaned fish near his home and I think drank anything that had alcohol in it. He was quite the character.

All help will be appreciated. If you desire privacy please don't hesitate to email me.

Tight lines,
Fishdoc...have no clue how I got that nickname, but it stuck!

[fishdoc01]

Nice to see that 21 people have read my request. A testament to the mentality of fishermen that no one has come forward with any help.

If anyone who reads this forum ever comes to RI to fish our outstanding coast line feel free to contact me...I'll see if I can help you out!

This is a first for me...I responded to myself!

Thanks for the space Lilsalmon.

[Finman]

Hey Fishdoc,

I would say that you can find a lot of spots/holes at the town pool up river from the bridge. I know for a fact that lil'salmon's Dad has some bad joints also and he got around that area enough last weekend to hook some fish. Even the Ballpark area has enough calmer areas to get to some runs and holes that shouldn't be too hard on you. The main thing is that the water level is at 335cfs which is to your advantage to be able to find some spots to wet your line. If the water was 700 or above I think you'd have a much more difficult time, but at 335 I'd check out the Town Pool, the Ballpark, and maybe even the Compactor, or pull into the C&M lot between the Town Pool and the Ballpark, get to the water, and walk either little trail to the right or the left to the more easily accessible and shallower spots, then slowly work your way to a run, pocket, riffle, or hole to fish in. Of course there will be a ton of people, but it 'tis the time for the crowds now. Hope this helps!! Good luck and tight lines to ya!

Finman <^<<

[gman2153]

Try the Staircase section. If you have a disabled drivers placard you can park right next to steps. Easy walk to river. Nice area to fish..
If you are with a buddy, he can drop you off on the street where the fenced in utility boxes are - only about 100 yards to water.

Only minutes from Earl's bar - 3 beer special for $2.75...

Lil Salmon has a map of the river on this home page - great map.

Try midweek - avoid the CROWDS....

Good Luck

[fishdoc01]

Finman and gMan,
Thanks a lot for the info I really do appreciate it. I'll give the areas a try. I am familiar with some of them. I've fished most of the river over the years, but never paid much attention to the difficulty of fishing some areas. I just beat the hell out of myself, rested for a few hours and got right back at it. I missed last year due to these crappy joints, but I'll do my best to not miss again.
The boys will be out of school by this time next year, so getting mid-week fishing will be easier to arrange. Yeah, I know what the weekends bring. I have literally been elbow to elbow with both good fishermen and some real asses. I was fortunate to have a few of the local guys give me valuable pointers over the years and I've had some good fun learning from my own experiences.

I actually go to NY when the fishing here in RI is peaking. Some of my local friends think I'm nuts for not launching the boat in the Atlantic for the best fishing of the season (they've never had a jumping coho or king ripping up a river). We are getting stripers in the 30 and 40 lb range and 10 - 15 lb blues that tear your equipment up as well as you fingers if you're not careful. This past week there have been large schools of false albacore and bonito (up to 10 lbs) around...talk about a strong fast fish. In seconds 100 yards of line are gone off the reel. For the past 2 years we have had late season runs of bluefin come within casting distance from shore. That's right, BLUEFIN TUNA. The problem is, if you hook up from shore, just cut off quickly to spare your line. 50 - 100 lb tuna from the beach is an impossibility. I have not hooked up yet, but we're prepared this year. Whoever hooks up, sits on the front of the boat and the other guy takes the helm and the chase is on. If the boat can't do 25 - 30 mph just cut off the fish. They can't sound on you, that's what many tuna do when hooked, because the water is to shallow. The chase can be a long one and often times a lobster pot line takes you out of the chase.

Well so much for the RI fish stories. I'll let you know how I make out this weekend. Thanks again,
Fishdoc

[Craydaddy]

Now I know some guys won't liek this but oh well! :P 2 weeks ago was my dad's first time up there and I took him to the DSR because I was not sure how he would make it around the river. He really enjoyed the walk around there and he said it is pretty easy for and old timer! LOL! After that I took him to the rest of the river. He thought the ball park was pretty easy to get around. We fished from the town pool almost to rt. 81. Give them a shot man! Good luck and let us know how you did!

[Lil Salmon]

The DSR is fine, but you need to have korkers. I tried fishing there last season as a young pup and it was hard to get around. I'm not a fan of the DSR otherwise but the guys are definetly right I have been fishing the area from above the town bridge up through the ballpark to RT 81. Its a lot more accessible than many of the other areas. Gman mentioned the staircase, thats a beautiful stretch of river to fish. Hope all of this helps you out. Good luck to ya and keep 'em tight.

Lil'

[fishdoc01]

Thanks to all again. The boyts are wired as tight as a bow string. They have been buzzing me all day about the weather and the fishing reports. Told them we would pack in the AM...we're already packed except for the food. One of them has not been in 4 years...college has interfered he said....typical fisherman! He is just chomping at the bitt! They won't stay in a camp either..the popup and tent is how they insist on going. God bless 'em.

I've printed out all of your suggestions and will give 'em a try. Remember, if ever in RI don't hesitate to ask for info. If you have never done a lot of saltwater fishing, RI is a greatly kept secret, and a few of us know the water well!
fishdoc

[Lil Salmon]

Good luck to ya this weekend. I will be up from Friday till Sunday. Tell your boys I know the feeling. I had to take a 4 year break from the Salmon River because I was playing college football. And since they were technically paying for my education its was kind of hard to explain to them my salmon fishing addiction. Thank god I have been back on the good ole' Salmon River for 4 years now. I wish you and you boys the best of luck and hope to see you up there. I usually fish from the upper town pool through the ballpark.

Lil'

[gman2153]

Lil- what position..

Were you a line hog like me getting dirty in the trenches or one of those little puke backs that would step on my back??? The Good Ole Days.

[Dances with Salmon]

Last year the DEC completed a handicap angler access at the Route 3 bridge on the North side. Send me your Email address and I can send some pictures of it.

[Lil Salmon]

Gman...at 6' 200 lbs. I'll let you guess what position.....I doubt you'll get it. I'll give you a hint. I held a PA state record until a few years ago.

-Lil

[steelheader007]

..wrestled too ?

[Lil Salmon]

no I played basketball and baseball. I actually still play fastpitch softball.

[gman2153]

If I were to make a wild guess,,I'd say Tight End...
Sort of fits in with Tight Lines....lol

Do you recall hearing about Jimmy Cefalo, played for Pittston Area, then PSU, then Dolphins--- broke state rushing records back in circa 75-76... He used to step on my back...lol

It was great to open up the lane, lift my face up out of the dirt and see him running wild toward the endzone.

He got the girls, I got to carry the keg to the after game party...LOL

[fishdoc01]

I'm going to say "kicker". Kinda big, but I bet you had distance!

Gman, might make a stop at Earl's sounds like a deal!

I haven't fished the staircase in a number of years, but it always was a good spot...just too damn many bodies.

As far as the DSR area is concerned, I fished it years ago when you could just pull off the road anywhere along the road and just walk in. I stopped at at a local restaurant a few years back and some of the local folks were talking aboout how pissed they were with the senator's closing of the area to non-paying fishermen. I had asked the waitress if the deer season had opened yet and her responce was "not yet, but there should be an open season on ********". She was refering to Douglaston (is that his name...I forget). We just called it the flats back then and hooking fish took little or no effort, they were stacked like cord wood in every pool. As a matter of fact, the compactor and cemetary areas had so many fish at close range that you coulod actually single out the silver (fresh fish) from the bronze and set a drift for them. Back then you could clean your fish right in the river and the eggs were bought for anywhere from 50 cents to 75 cents per pound. If you had your fish cleaned, it used to cost a buck per fish and they still bought the eggs and we ended up making money on the eggs....it payed for the ice.

Thanks again for all your help and oh, yes by the way Lil' some of my knee hip etc. problems are from getting pounded as a tackle in HS and Frosh college and 30+ years crouched behind a plate. It sure seemed worth it at the time!

Look for RI Lic. plate Comb # 241 Dark grey Tahoe. Stop by and say hello. We'll have some cold ones on board.

[Lil Salmon]

FishDoc you got it. i kicked for Lafayette College from '96 to '99. I was a receiver and SS in high school but my leg put me through college.

It's great to hear the stories from the good 'ole days. P.S. you guys can always find me from the upper town pool through the upper ballpark. Silver Mountaineer with PA plate 'samnczy' ....i thought you all would like that one.


Lil'

[Anonymous]

LIl..

Are your initials D.M. or J.K.

[Lil Salmon]

neither. BM

[gman2153]

Lil - you got that vanity plate - saw your vehicle up their once. Gotta stop and meet you next time.

Just bought another car and tried to get a PA plate "FISHON" - already taken...

Hey fish doc - did you play ML baseball or an Ump?? Would like to hear more.

p.s. - try a bowl of Earl's chili with that 3 beer special - brings you good luck on the river... later

[fishdoc01]

No, gman..no pro ball..HS, College and local leagues. Once went to the Cape Cod League...some good ball players there. Coached HS ball for 13 years, had a blast. Sent a couple of kids to the majors, we had a pro scout that lived in town so some kids got a good look.

As far as this past week end is concerned, WOW..FREAKIN' SNOW! Was a wild ride to ***** Creek (Colonial Camp Grounds) and setting up in driving mini snow balls (it wasn't as hard as hail) was a real treat. I always hope for rain when we leave RI but this past weekends rain was a bit of an over kill.

We often fish the smaller creeks S & N *****, but those suckers were running faster than the Salmon R. from Friday to Monday. So I took the boys to the Ball Park as you suggested. THANKS A LOT!!! The boys had a hell of a time. They are not "boys" any longer at 27 and 21 but they still are to me! I crossed the river to fish the far side on Friday, but by Sat afternoon the water started running to fast for me and my beat up legs. Sunday was even worse as the rains kept on falling. I did however get to the first big flat rock to the left of the ramp and had some shots at a few fish. Was too beat to fish Monday so just the boys went and they said that I missed a real show. I stayed back and broke camp...lucky me... For every three casts, they said they hooked up twice, but the water was so quick and there was little place to guide the fish to for beaching and netting was a ***** in the deep water behind them, however, they had a great time and got to play some real fresh fish for a while. I'm glad they didn't take any back, I caught one in the Little Salmon (water was perfect for me there) and that's all I really wanted for smoking.

gman. went by Earls will stop next time. We brought a big bucket of venison chilli for brews and chilli Sat night. Venison stew and venison spagetti sauce (red gravy for you Italian guys) also got polished off by the young guys. Christ, they're like bottomless pits. Or even a trash pail..step on their foot and their mouth opens. When anyone gets a deer among the guys that I hunt and fish with the first thing we do is put aside what we think we'll need for the salmon trip. I make up 20+ pounds of venison sausage also. After the weekend, we all (not me) can run faster after feasting on deer meat all weekend.

I am thinking about doing some lake fishing next year. I have a 20' center console. Dop I need all of that downrigger equipment to fish the lake? It can't be as much fun as the river.

Well, thanks again for all of your help. I'll check in from time to time to see how things are going.

Tight lines,
Fishdoc

[Anonymous]

FishDoc,
Early spring till May and fall (sept through the winter) you can catch all the fish trolling big streamers 4-5inches while the surface temps are cold. This goes for just about any lake in NY with salmon and trout. But when the surface temps go above 55 degrees you need the downrigger setup.

I fish the finger lakes this way. It's preety cool to see a salmon or trout shoot 10ft into the air as it raced up to your lure. you can see that you have a fish-on before your pole even registers a take. Also you have to use light lines because of the streamer, you want it to make a wake on the surface as it goes. so it's a bit of a challenge.

[fishdoc01]

jerman...
Tell me more! I went to the finger lakes a few years ago (quite a few)with the family and marveled at the lakes and how I would like to fish them. In my travels to Ft. Ticonderoga I saw signs indicating "fishermens parking". To say the least I was very interested in finding out more, but time and family constraints limited my investigations.

SOOOO...fill me in!