Angler from Alaska needs some advice

Hello all,

First time to the forums here. I just moved to Albany after 4 years in Alaska. I pretty much taught myself how to fish up there, catching the lively pacific salmon. Even though my odds aren't quite as good here in NY, I don't want to stop fishing!

Most of my fishing experience is with salmon on flowing water with a spinning reel, from tiny sight-fishing creeks up to large rivers. Although I've fished for kings a couple times (on charters) I've mostly fished for red salmon, which have a unique, drift and bottom bounce cast. In short, I don't know if any of my skills so far are transferable to NY waters.

I'd like to continue fishing streams (large or small). Sight fishing is certainly a plus, but not necessary. Should I take up fly fishing, or can I continue to use my spinning rods? I'd like start fishing for trout, which I've caught incidentally a few times in Alaska but never targeted.

Also, if you have any links to general seasons, fishing weir counters (if such a thing exists here), and the like for the Salmon river, that would be nice to have. It would also be nice to know of good trout streams in the Albany area (Catskills-Adirondacks, I've heard the Esopus might be good?) or are Lake Ontario tributaries much better for fishing compared to eastern NY?

Sorry, lots of questions, but I'd like to get up to speed before the summer. Although even that might be wrong---whereas I typically did a lot of stream fishing in July-August in AK, here it sounds like spring and fall are best.

Thanks,

Bill

p.s. here's a salmon pic from last summer---I miss it! http://flic.kr/p/a5nXmw

Bill, first of all welcome. I'm not the best for advise as I'm in my second year of fishing/catching salmon and steelhead. All I use right now is spin gear although I wish to move to the fly gear. If I can catch them on some days you will do even better as you have a head start. Bottom bouncing and drifting through the column is perfect. I use a 10' rod in the Salmon River and an 8 1/2' in smaller tribs. They seem to work fine. Plenty of good water all around and I'm sure advise will pour in. You're in the right spot as there are many helpful members here and some have become friends. They have shortened my learning curve and I'm sure they will do the same for you. I know some live right around you. Good luck and make sure to check out regs and special regs as I'm sure they will be different than AK. Post a photo of your first one !

Bill, welcome aboard. You will find this fishery to be much different than Alaska I suppose. Never been there myself but I have gotten a fair amount of first hand info from my father who's been there 3 times to various different regions. It looks like you fished a lot of big water by viewing the pics you posted. There is a tributary called oswego which would be the closest you'd get to that. There are many tribs that host runs but we like to leave non publicized trib names unmentioned here. You should do just fine with your spin rig and as others mentioned, a local guide will help you out in shortening the learning curve. Adirondacks and Catskills have phenomenal trout fishing. For rivers and areas you can check the stocking schedule by county at the nysdec website. This will be able to give you a basis of rivers and areas of them to fish. From there, you can search and explore on your own. Delaware county and northern sullivan counties
Have some great streams as the Delaware system and its upper head waters tribs host great brown and rainbow fishing with the occasional brookie. Good luck and have fun with your adventures.

water level is very important to the rivers/fish
there are places you can safely wade across in 5oo cfs or less on the salmon river...there are those who will do it in much higher flows, but thats my safe limit
i would say its fishable in any flow, but personally i don't like flows over 1200 because i fish with lighter lines and if a fish gets into the flow they tend to spool you ....flows under 300 tend to lend themselves to the snagging population (illegal, but still done on an alarmingly frequent basis)
there are dam release dates listed on the website as well as current flows
the bank is fishable for all of the river you can get access to, there is alot of great fishing, you just have to put the time in to learn it
the jetty and mouth are alot of fun from small boats in august ;)
the salmon river guide, shane will do shore trips, as will most of the guides...but if you can team up with someone from the boards here you may get a similar jump on the learning curve for a few beers :)
good luck

nuke4u, again welcome to the forum.. good legit questions . Hope the above advice gave you a little head start on your future fishing adventures here in NY..
Being located in the Capital district (Albany) area you could not be in a better position for some great opportunities within minutes or only a few hrs away..
What can I say, there are state record stripers that run the hudson river very (soon), record brook trout in the ADK's and record trout and salmon on the Ontario tribs less then 3 hrs away.. Add to that the local scene is tops..

I strongly suggest doing a lot of research of the http://www.dec.ny.gov/ NY Department of Environmental Conservation website.. It lists public fishing rights, stocking lists, hiking trails and TONS of helpful info for any outdoors enthusiast.. I use that site DAILY..

That being said: Plenty of help form folks here as well..
Without a doubt If you want to catch stripers they are coming in about 3 weeks, If you want to play with stream trout then May is prime time, If you want to hike into secluded ponds for brook trout, again May>July is tops.. It's really endless as I fish YEAR round and basically every week.. I am a NYS licensed Camping, Hunting, Fishing & Hiking guide..
Wish you well and feel free to contact me for advice or direction.. Main thing, get out there explore and enjoy..

Hi Bill- welcome- Sounds like you were chuckin and duckin in Alaska. Its probably the norm here in Pulaski on the SR for most fishermen- Although a lot of guys here are fly guys it seems the majority on the river are spin fishermen duriing the peak seasons.

Fished with a relative on the SR for a number of years who had also fished Alaska many times- He always said there more fish here than there. Also a lot more fishermen but the point is that you are NOT gonna find yourself downgrading much if at all in fish.
    They dont call the SR the poor mans Alaska for nothin. Just watch for when the peak runs occur for  your first few trips though - nothin worse than being in the right place at the wrong time.
  If your in Albany anyplace near the highway your only bout 2 1/2 hours out.