Short trip-Low water

Tried to go in early to the UFZ N. side with my wife, but she couldn't find a way around the braids and swamp (no waders), and after going up river and climbing a very steep ridge, I decided it wasn't going to happen. She met Tuna coming in, a short while before  we met up again and decided to head out. We went to the Barrel and saw a few hooked up and maybe 3 or 4 brought to hand in the couple hours we got to fish. I went 2 for 6 on steel (one pretty bright, just starting to darken, one colored up) that were in the 30", 10 lb. range. I also got one dark Ho that took me for a walk, because I didn't want to snap it, thinking it was a brown. Guys I passed couldn't tell me what it was and noone complained. I finally corraled it at the head of Schoolhouse. Oh well. Noone laughed, guys said they would have done the same, so I guess there are  others as  inexperienced as me. I tried a few colors, but pink  worms (crappy fly version) were the only thing that worked for me. I would have stayed where I was the rest of the morning  and headed down river for the afternoon, but my wife got a call that her sister was passing away in Massachusetts. We don't get a signal in the UFZ, so we were lucky.  We left. With the low water, fish were in pockets behind boulders and didn't want to move much. They stayed low and took flies bounced near the bottom. Went through lots of flies and tackle, but lightening up produced  fishless drifts. It was pretty crowded, but the weather was sunny and no snow....   For all the driving and money spent for a few hours on the river, the couple of steel made it well worth it.
 
Charlie

Fichy - I'm curious - why do you try to access the UFZ on the north side of the river (opposite the parking lot on the county road).?

I know in the past, some folks would do so during high water conditions (since they could not cross the river) to achieve high numbers of landed fish from that diversion channel up top that ran a few inches deep)...

always wondered why they didn;t carry a spear -vs- a fishing rod. (a.k.a Puckerbrush Fish Prodder).

I hope conditions improve post Thanksgiving - increased water flows & decreased crowds.
At this point, that's the only way I will invest a couple tanks of gas for a so-called "World Class Experience"

later

Drake, I was supposed to meet Tuna. I wanted to see what it was like for high water purpose, not neccasarily to gain access with it only running 335. I missed fishing with HT, but hopefully another time. As I said, we were lucky. Thanks for the good wishes, much appreciated. Dime, I'll look at them, or maybe some hippers. Not the first time this has happened. I hope it's the last. Did you get out, or are you still  stuck trying to tin before the snow?
 
Charlie

Thanks, and good luck, Lee. Hope you slay 'em. 
 
Charlie

It's all good Fichy - just wondered why you decided to make that Death March when much easier access is available.

That's a walk I would never make - for several reasons.

The SR area needs a few blizzards to calm the crowds down.

I actually got to fish a couple times last week - the homeboy Pa trouts are quite hungry - PT nymnphs tied humpy style dredged up a few nice browns. Been so long since I fished that I was surprised I remembered how to use a fly rod.

later

Good deal, Lee. Thanks for the report and pic. No sense wasting all those chewed up dog toys. 
 
Drake, I was meeting HT, otherwise I would have wandered out to one of my favorite, below the zones , little seams at first light. It produced anyway. I may make it back to the UFZ next trip, I may not. I kinda like being  one of the few flyfishing amongst the floats and sacks. There were a lot of good guys where I was fishing. Sometimes company is OK.  Glad you found some local trout. Post a pick of the  humpy PT, sounds interesting.  
 
Charlie
 
 

haha Lucky,,

that is one of the several reasons why I would not access the UFZ from the dark side.. LOL

not to be a wise guy, but the only perspective you miss by entering the UFZ that way is easy access to the diversion channels for easy picking of da feeshes.

With the present low flow - such channels are not as evident as when the water flow is 750 or greater (that's when the high-water heros really crawl through the bushes).

dirty little secrets,,,,

Hey lucky; if its worth it to you; it may pay to do a little research on those posted signs of the north bank... to my knowledge that land was just recently sold and I do believe it has the conservation/ bank walking easement deeded in .... like I said though; to my knowledge....

My observations: it seems to me as if people are really starting to complain about the crowds and also numbers of fish... it was quite evident that there were many fish from early october until about a week ago.... with that being said; I've noticed through the years of my efforts that mid november through thanksgiving often produced less numbers of fish than late october and early november... and yes most fish are darker at this time... I've also found that most fresh fish coming in at this time of year are usually on the smaller side; most of the the large early fish are either stabilizing in the upper river or have been strung up already... give it til early december and some hot winter fish will be around....

On the other hand; anywheres from 2-12 hook ups in a short trip is a great time in my book... the only thing that can spoil it is the crowds and the false anticipation that people rely on from reports they've heard about in past weeks... I'm sick over the crowds that im hearing about right now; im also sick over hearing about people expecting more hook ups in a day; although trout fishing the salmon river is currently on the end of my list of things to do; for once in my 22 years of doing it I can honestly say im not blood thirsty for it as I used to always be.... I've grown to accept it for what it is and when im there I will take it for what it is with no expectations... the influx of hype and crowds and expectations during steelhead season has turned me off... you'll most likely catch me hitting areas like lucky 13 did; but im sure in a few years time even the lower river will be getting just as much pressure...time will tell...

I don't know when my next trip will be but i'll let you guys know and it would be a pleasure to share water with any of you gentlemen... and thanks for the reports and pics guys...

Tight lines....

Trevor: my friend john told me you stopped by; maybe next time...

well Lucky, at least you did the complete nickel tour of the UFZ.

It is nice scenic water. I recall fishing there with not another soul around - but I guess those days are gone. I was always leary about crossing up top - where the path from the parking lot meets the water. It is indeed one long chute there and the water flows really humm past. The addition of that rip-rap rock bank did wonders for the river bank stabilization, but it took away a few good standing spots - no longer able to arze-slide down the bank into the water.

Looks like I won't be fishing it this year - since the UFZ closes Nov 30.

Best of luck to you. Hopefully we will run into each other mid-river this winter. That is about the only section of the river that I would fish anymore - with or without catching fish. I simply cannot tolerate the Walmart/Wireshole crowds anymore...

DB - can't believe the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce is downplaying the fishing potential of the Mighty Salmon River!!
But I give you kudos about being honest regarding all the hype laid down.
The up-river crowds will remain until the temps drop to the teens, and perhaps later.

Well, I'm off to the tire store for new skins for two vehicles. That will set any SR trips back a month or so later in the DT budget. (I just might start eating some of them crows I blast with the 12ga..)

later

doods.

Funny stuff drake... in reality though im not down playing the river itself; im rather referring to the instant gratification/stream side reports that are **** everything up... its taking the fun out of it for me... and salmon crowds in late fall and early winter.... not fun.... and its not gonna get any better; I've always been opposed to what internet and modern technology has done to the world in the past ten years; Its recently taken my disgust to a higher level; and im not just referring to fishing... nuff said;

Kumbay effin yahhh.... lol

sad but true
even the little redneck bar down the road is getting to be that way

ORIGINAL: metalslayer

Instant report as of Tues----still a blue tarp roof  LOL

instant??? Todays Wednesday... that's old news...lol

I better watch myself at this point though; SALMO may get enticed to roll out from under the log he's been sleeping under if i keep it up...lol

ORIGINAL: retired guy

Agree Dime--
  The two I landed and released last week in two days made my whole trip. It shouldnt have to be fish after fish.
  Unfortunately some reports make it sound like you wil get a hookup  every hour or so and we all know that simply isnt the norm---nice when it happens but not the norm.
Its called FISHING not CATCHING and its GREAT.

RG that is exactly what it was for me.
A bright fiah just about 1 per hour.
Might have been able to tune that number up but to many people so instead of moving from pocket to pocket looking for them I let them come to me.
They were most definately running.
Just not very thick.

Rather than starting a new thread I'll just hijack this one.
Has anyone else noticed all the smushed porkypines this year.I have seen 7 so far.
2 within a hundred yards or so of Dimes's place.
Never seen more than 2 or 3 in a year before and mostly none.

Wader, for years I have seen dead porkypines on rt 13 once i get on the other side of camden. Never seen a dead one back my way and live in the boonies, always wondered why they choose that area, do porkypine fish?

Porky's like to eat the cambium layer of pine trees, more of them near the river, I think?  They introduced fishers to Vermont to control  porky's destructiveness  to  the logging industry. Course, the fishers rather eat someones cat or pekinese first. Maybe they're chewing Dime's siding, it's kinda common for that to happen in the Catskills.
 
Charlie