My Pulaski adventure

Hey Cartist,

 I never really got to know the Pulaski area till buying my place in Richland. Now I'm up there about every 2 weeks( 280 mi. each way) just to cut the grass and play some golf or just to hang out or do winter stuff. The people up there are some of the friendliest and nicest you could find anywhere.
 It was always a swoop for a couple of days just to fall fish for salmon or early spring for steelies. That went on for 30 years. Never knew much but the river.
  Its kind of like going someplace for vacation and then moving there--its a big difference. Yes its a bit depressed because of the economy but then it was never Hollywood or NYC anyway (thank god). Also the clear slowdown in the number of fishermen may well have had a negative impact as well. Lots of the old places are gone now, but thats only relative to when you started there. A new guy will always remember it as it is today and compare the future to now.
   Once you get around and meet the folks outside the fishing  service places its really nice. Remember those folks we meet at tackle shops and motels are having their busy season now and  are dealing with fisherman full time for a month or 2 then going back to their normal stuff when we leave.

One less guy casting over my drift.

I did spend some time in a restaurant near the dollar store, can't remember the name....The food was very good and cheap given it was all you can eat....I talked to some very nice folks at the bar.  We discussed non-fishing things like the local economy, the affect outlawing snagging had on the economy, etc.....I talked to nice people on the streams and in the parking lots as well....I saw some snaggers, at least one anyway, at the tressel hole....I drove 600 miles each way to visit and my take away is the DSR is a nice stretch of water and worth $45 a day.  The town of Pulaski is the biggest dump I've ever seen.....It's far worse than Erie, PA, and that's saying something.  But if you want to catch giant salmon in a really nice river and don't mind spending your non-fishing time in a place something well short of paradise, then Pulaski is worth a visit.....(one visit).

I would recommend anyone going to Pulaski, if you can swing it, stay at one of the DSR properties....They seemed really nice.  I would say the SR is the nicest river I've fished in the great lakes region.....I just wish the atmosphere away from the river was more like Vermillion, Ohio or Ludington Michigan.....Fat Nancy's was a well stocked tackle shop and if you're looking for high end, there's an Orvis affiliated store.....

You should see downtown Pulaski in summer. Every weekend on the green there is a craft sale complete with bar-b=q and wild meat(elk). There is always a specialty show in the center like some kind of music or a kids show and the Amish are there with the horses and wagons  selling their goods. Just like an old time center of town get together. Every weekend, all summer.
 No fighting, no gangs, no pushing, no loud screaming, no crime and yelling just polite families having a nice time.
 On weekends they also raise the water level in the river and the tubers and kayakers are out in force.
  In Winter the snowmobilers pack the hotels and motels and eateries-not to mention brave snowshoeing steelheaders.
 Depressed- maybe fiscally-but not in spirit .

i have been fishing the salmon river for twenty years now,and i love it.i have traveled from new orleans and florida to fish there many times.iwas born in upstate ny and got my first taste of salmon fishing in pulaski when i was 10 years old.Back then you were allowed to snag,and if you thought the river is crowed now you should of seen it then.It was a free for all and also very dangerous.I have had some bad times there because of a few rude people but all in all its been good times.You have to remember people are coming from all over the united states and some from all over the world to catch these monster salmon. Alot of the people have traveled for days and have spent alot of money to get to pulaski.My point is most of the people are sleep deprived and cranky to begin with so they tend to be the people who cause the trouble,alot of people have never fished like this and get discouraged easily when they see someone who nows what they are doing and is catching fish after fish right next to them.These new fisherman tend to be the ones who jump in the spot that you have been fishing,cross your line and just cause problems because they have traveled from afar and want to take a trophy of there own.If i see someone who is new to this kind of fishing i stop what i am doing and give them a quick lesson session.Nine times out of ten they will be gratefull>I have found once i do this they stay put and they understand how the unwritten rules of the river goes,and once they hook up for the first time,they really are greatfull and often try and find there own spot instead of muscling in on you area.TRY it

I've been to the SR about 6 times only in Oct.  Like everywhere else I've been, I have run into many great people and a few A holes. It's a spectacular river, and a great place to let go of lifes busy schedule and pressures.  Depressed or not, We enjoyed every trip there.   Not directed at you Chartist just a general response.