Fly-fishing Issues
You Carry it in You Carry it Out

Snagging at Oak Orchard River in Orleans county

I'm a fly fisherman, hunter and conservationist for some 30 years. I recently spent a day at Oak Orchard River in Orleans county fly fishing for Steelhead and Browns. This is something I usually do after bow hunting but we heard there was a good run. There was a good run .... of morons! Id have to take a picture to show you the idiot fisherman lined up side by side snagging anything they could. Then gutting them for the eggs, even the Steelies and Browns. They were using giant lures and eggs sacs with size 2/0 hooks and ripping there setup through the water. License plates from Maine, NJ, PA, Ohio and even Colorado ... this place was packed. My brother and I managed to find a place down stream to get in and fish, but after catching and releasing a couple of browns, they swooped in on us like locusts. Up by the dam the guys are as high as 70 feet off the water, when the foul snag one, everyone has to reel in or they end up with a huge mess, there was one guys down low that did all the netting for everyone ... maybe they paid him. Anyway, I called the DEC and left a message but nothing has changed. I haven't seen anything like this since the days when snagging was legal. I just hate to see the Browns and Steelies get snagged... and I didn't see one fish that was caught in the mouth.

Sincerely,
Sick in the Stream

Water Temperature Concerns on the Salmon River during the summer

I was reading your answer to Jason Kirk asking about fishing possibilities on the Salmon River during the summer. I wish you would inform these people that if you go to the river during the summer months you should to check the water temperature before fishing for the Atlantics Salmon and the Summer Run Steelhead. I have not been at the salmon river this summer due to the fact that I am currently in Panama City, Florida serving in the Air Force. But I have been living in the Ithaca, New York area for the last fifteen years and take many trips to the river during the summer to visit the area and I know the water temperature is normally in the 70 's by now. The DEC should close the river during this period to protect these fish due to the high water temperature. If you do hook one of these summer run steelhead during this time of year you will kill them for sure. If you are fishing to kill a fish then I guess that is OK. It is just a sham to do this to such a great fish. If you think you are going to practice catch and release, then forget it. The fish will be dead after the first jump out of the water.

Thank you,
Rainbow man

Matt,

I Fish the tributaries and I see a big problem. A lot of slob fisher-persons treat fishing access areas like garbage dumps!!! The stream banks are just as bad!!! It is very discouraging. I never realized what slobs a lot of fishing people must be? I wish more sites would stress this problem or there won’t be any-more access.

Thank you Matt. Great site.

I received this disturbing but true message through e-mail and wanted to follow up with a message of my own. Growing up in New York was a wonderful experience. There is so much water and natural beauty. Through my childhood my parents took my family on countless adventures in the outdoors, including fishing trips, hiking trips, and camping trips. One main reason to venture into the great outdoors is to get away from the “concrete jungle” and enjoy the scenic beauty of the outdoors. Seeing trash around public fishing areas and along riverbanks obviously left by fishermen is truly disturbing. We can all do our part by not leaving anything behind, even the smallest piece of monofilament. Keep nature unblemished. Just like the signs I remember from my childhood said,
“YOU CARRY IT IN, YOU CARRY IT OUT.”

Perverse Fishing Techniques on the Salmon River

Matt,
I just reviewed the site since my last question and I would like to applaud the great changes. Nice job. I would also like to relate a short story that occurred this past October.

I was driving up 81 to head to Harrisville/Star Lake area when I hit a wild thunderstorm and decided to pull off in Pulaski for the night. Just couldn't drive in the stuff anymore. As it ended up, it snowed the next morning and since I was in the area, I decided to try giving the Salmon River a try. I have never fished there, and have read of the salmon and trout populations that time of the year. Little did I know I would encounter so many so-called "fishermen." I was astounded by the number of fish in the river, but even more so by the number of guys on the river. Most of them were using the infamous J-Plug (what a joke) How they can call that fishing I don't know, but I'm told it was legal. I saw some really perverse fishing techniques that day.

I finally went to the fly-fishing only area and was the only person on the river for 3 hours. Granted it was snowing, but I loved it.

I think that NY State needs to change some of its policies on what is considered "fishing." A floating plug with a hole in it for line to pass thru with a treble hook to snag fish isn't fishing. Where I come from, that is called snagging and also poaching. I would like to see this outlawed, but that is just my opinion.

Sorry to vent to you like this, but that is definitely why people see the Salmon River spawn run fishermen as, and I quote, “assholes. ”

As I have said before, Nice site. Keep up the good work. I will be in the area in July/August 2000, and again in October 2000. May see you on the water.
Gordo

Hello Gordo,
Yes, it is very depressing to see these activities, which is precisely why I avoid the peek of the Chinook Salmon run. It would be nice to change some of those folks so those techniques are not passed on to the next generation. The laws are not strict enough. I agree this is not really sportsman like angling. November is a good time to fish the Salmon.

The bulk of the Chinooks are dead and the steelhead are usually up in good numbers and are eager to take flies. The crowds are a little thinner too. This year has been a better steelhead run than the last five. Hopefully this will continue into the spring and next fall. Thanks for the compliment on the site. May I post your story?

Have Fun Fly-fishing,
Matt C

The Sauquoit Creek and PCBs

Matt,
You have a great site. I visit it often during trout season. I haven't checked it out since Fall and learned that the Sauquoit Creek is year round now. That's good to hear. I'm from Cooperstown and work for the railroad which allows me to visit Clayville often. The only bad thing, is that the creek supposedly has carcinogens in it.
Have you heard that and if so, is anyone doing anything about it? It's a shame. As I'm writing this, Fly fishing America is on. I'm itching to get out on the stream. Just wanted to say thanks for your incredibly useful site. I check the stream conditions just before I head out and you seem to be right on the money.
Sincerely,
John J. Schemm

 

Hello John,
Glad you enjoy the site! The Sauquoit opened all year from Clayville to the Mohawk River (strictly catch and release artificial lures only) for the 1999-2000 season.

The Sauquoit Creek is not open all year anymore. It is now open only form April first to November 30th from Pinnacle Road in Sauquoit downstream to Mohawk River. It The rest on the creek is open from April 1st to October 15th.

Yes it has been found to contain PCB's (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) , which are carcinogens in lab animals. You should not eat any fish from the creek the PCB's will accumulate in the fat tissue of the fish and other animals in the creek, but it is safe to fish and practice catch and release.

I do not know what the DEC are doing about the contamination. They must locate the source first. PCB's where used as an insulator on things such as transformers. Maybe there are some barrels or old transformers buried up stream somewhere. It is a shame, but there is still some good fishing and some nice fish.

Have Fun Fly-fishing!
Matt C