Low water and high temperatures are forcing state officials to delay part of the annual salmon season on the Salmon River — a move aimed at protecting the fish population during the critical fall spawning run.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the popular lower fly fishing section near the Salmon River Fish Hatchery will remain closed through at least Oct. 31.
Why the delay matters
Usually packed with anglers by mid-September, the lower fly fishing section won’t open until enough Chinook salmon make it to the hatchery for egg collection. Without enough water in Beaverdam Brook — a key path for migrating fish — DEC officials say salmon could become stranded or die if allowed to run the river too early.
“Modified water releases and delayed opening of the lower fly fishing section are necessary to ensure a successful egg collection,” said Dereth Glance, DEC Region 7 Director. “This helps continue New York’s legacy of a thriving Lake Ontario salmonid fishery.”
This summer’s lack of rainfall left the Salmon River Reservoir below the threshold needed for normal water flow increases. A whitewater release scheduled over Labor Day weekend was canceled, and baseflows that typically rise Sept. 1 are on hold.
Other fishing spots still open
While the lower section remains closed, anglers can still fish in the Upper Fly Area and other Great Lakes tributaries. DEC recommends checking their HuntFishNY app or website for updated maps, fishing access, and current regulations.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].