Pulaski, NY. Reports and Ramblings:

Sept. through April

 I hope you find my reports, humor and articles entertainingly informative and mildly educational

                 Phil Leonardi                                                                Bill Cody                          

                                                           
 
  Jeff Pierce                                                        Capt. Bill - 20 lb'r!

                                                                                                                                                                 

                     

The smile says it all. Nice colored up male Steelhead.

Fishing Report's for the Salmon River in Pulaski NY. Drift boat guide has steelhead and salmon fishing reports on the Salmon River NY. Enjoy the drift boat guide spin fly fishing report's.

NEW Phone #315-963-2065

Welcome Back to Your Salmon River, NY Fishing Report - May 14 Tuesday


      Compliments of Randy Jones

May devoted anglers read these words and relive the simple pleasures of finding and landing - the big one.(The fisherman's book of wisdom)



As a Full Time Drift Boat Salmon and Steelhead Fishing Guide here on the Salmon River, Pulaski, NY - Vermont for 15 years and Cape Cod, totaling 30 plus years, I highly endorse all of the below gentleman to provide you with a fun day of catching!
Randy Jones
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Randy McGuiness - Vermont Orvis Endorsed Fly-Fishing Guide

My name is Randy McGuiness and I am an Orvis endorsed guide. I specialize in fly fishing trips with instruction on the beautiful mountain streams of Vermont.
Fly fishing instruction and guiding in the Rutland, Killington, and Manchester areas of Vermont. A diversity of water to accommodate all abilities. Beginners are encouraged. Half- and full-day trips. All equipment provided.
Please give me a call anytime to discuss a fly fishing trip or for more information.
Thanks!
Randy
http://www.mcguinessguideservice.com
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Vermont Trout Bum Fly Fishing Drift Boat Guide Service
Matt and myself started off Guiding in Vt. many flies ago. I cant say enouph about Vt's. quality fishery. My good friend and Drift Boat Fly Fishing Guide Matt Stedina is one of the finest Vt. Fly Fishing Drift Boat Guides around. Ive known him personally for over 20 years and started off guiding with him on foot in the pristine waters of Vt. Please stop into Matt's website and pay him a visit.
 
Matt with a trophy Brown Tout taken while fly fishing off his driftboat in the pristine water's of Vt. I highly recommend and endorse his Fly Fishing Drift Boat Guide service.
ESPN Great Outdoor Games competitor Matt Stedina and several other professional Vermont guides combine to bring you Troutbum Guide Service. Whether you want to cast from a driftboat or explore a mountain stream, we have the trip just for you. Troutbum's premier guide service is located in the heart of the Killington region, enabling us to guide as far North as the Winooski River, South to the Battenkill and all points in-between.
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Just a short drive from Boston, New York, and Montreal, Vermont as a fly fishing destination has it all; A long list of quality trout streams, and a variety of lodging
accommodations. Vermont is also known for it's incredible scenery, and there's no better way to see it than from the water. When you plan your next trip, give us a call and let a Troutbum take you fly fishing. http://www.vttroutbum.com
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Bass Angling at it's finest! Give Mark a call or see his web site below,  to see all the fun you can have with a guided day of fishing with him.

These are 2 of the many 5 pound plus smallies taken on tubes throughout the fall feeding period.
Advanced Bassin' Plus- Mark Currie
http://www.advancedbassin.com/
For any of you who enjoy Bass fishing, whether spin or fly. You can find Mark working Lakes and Rivers in the Quebec part of Canada. He has a great bass boat and all the fix'ns to make your guided fishing trip with him a grand success in many ways.
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Silver Hook Fishing Charters - Sodus Bay, NY
Fishing on Lake Ontario for Salmon, Steelhead and Browns.
JERRY ZALUCKI
Website: http://www.silverhookcharters.com
I highly recommend and endorse Capt. Jerry and his son Matt for all of your fishing interest's on Lake Ontario.
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River Excitement  http://www.riverexcitement.com Specializes in Safe and Comfortable Guided Scenic & Fishing Float Trips for Smallmouth Bass on the Beautiful Connecticut River Between New Hampshire and Vermont
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May 7 Steelhead Fishing Report:
Lot's of drop back's top to bottom of the Salmon River NY. If I were to go Steelhead fishing presently, I would try fishing as low as possible on the Salmon River. This allows you the greatest chance of playing with the most Steelhead as they empty back into the Lake. All presentational techniques are working along with all of the normal bait, lures and flies. Ever try to catch a Steelhead on the surface? Now would be the perfect time to try, before the water temp. hit's 60 degrees.
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Guest's Steelhead Fishing Report:
Ira and Dan joined me for a complementary drift boat Steelhead fishing adventure. They were representatives of Project Healing Waters, out of Fort Drum and from around the world. I didn't know that they have chapters at all the bases around the world for this great healing project. It's a great way for us folks to give something back to those that risk there lives for our freedoms. We spent all day fishing off the drift boat within a 500 foot area. The Steelhead were loaded in and were happy to play with my guest's. We played with approx. 20 or so Steelhead and enjoyed there (100 to 200 foot) speeding bullet torpedo runs, 4 foot high aerial jump's, somersaults galore and 20-40 foot long tail walks! Dam, I love my job!!
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Optional area's to fish for Spring Steelhead - A great place to target Spring Steelhead would be at the mouth's of any Lake Ontario Tributary. Just stand on the shoreline and cast into the out flow or around the mouth of the Tributary.
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Water Level's - It's down to there summer flow's of 185 cfs. Water temp. is approx. 57 - 60 degrees. Great time to use an inflatable raft or tube. They draw very little water and allow you to comfortably and safely float the river when it is at this low flow. The lower in the river you fish the greater opportunity for more drop back steelhead holding and or passing you by. They are after all, headed to the Lake.
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Another optional way to fish for Steelhead in the Spring time that few anglers utilize is to swing a streamer on the surface or surface film, or skate a large bomber type fly on the surface. You need the correct temp. of water, not to deep or fast and lastly it's helps a lot if you are the only angler fishing that specific spot. This type of angling is one of the most challenging. If you can play with 2-3 Steelhead in a day, you have had an incredible day. Even if you only have 1 steelhead come up and take a swipe at it, completely missing it, you've still had a good day. Some folks equate it to Atlantic Salmon fishing.
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A HONK'A of an approx. 16 lb. Steelhead. Congrats Ron!
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Ramblings from this Salmon River Steelhead Drift Boat Guide:
This well be my final fishing report for this 2013 Spring Steelhead Salmon River NY season. I'd like to sincerely thank you all for making my fishing report page the TOP guide site to visit for this area, over our 8 month fishing season. It has been my pleasure to share my 30 years of Salmon River NY insight with you all. I'll be officially starting back up next Fall, so please stop back. I'll leave a light on for ya!
Until then, I'll update things here from time to time as I find something worth sharing.
Again, thank you for spending your valuable virtual fishing time here with me! :)
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After all, this is Your Salmon River NY Fishing Report:
If any of you have a nice Steelhead or Salmon picture in a jpg format that you would like me to post here, please send it over. I'd also enjoy publicly answering any questions you might have on this amazing fishery, whether it be habitat, rigging or presentational related, Salmon or Steelhead. Also Saltwater fly fishing either blind or sight fishing the flats for Blues or Bass. I'm also happy to refer to you and give my endorsement of other guides from around the world and also charter boat Capt.'s. here on the Lake. If you have any comments, constructive criticism's, suggestions or helpful tips on how I can do a better job for YOU, please email me.
E-mail : RandyJones@YankeeAngler.com
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Maybe you can help me out?
I'm looking for a freelance writer who has some saltwater fly fishing flats experience to edit my notes on my "Top 5 Flats Flies" article. It will end up in one of the top national fishing magazine's. Who knows, maybe a cover shot or feature article. My professional photographer and I have the connections, we just need a writer to put it all together.
There is no pay involved for any of us, just your name attached to the article as the writer. If your intrested, or know someone who might be intrested, please email me to apply and include your resume. (If your a college student, new to publishing or would like to add on to your credentials, this would look nice on your resume.)
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I'm presently getting all of my 2013/14 Salmon and Steelhead business odds and ends finished up.
I have about 20 rods in my living room waiting for some break down and re-setting up for next Falls Salmon and Steelhead season.
I have about 3,000 flies to tie up this summer. I'm working on my drift boat to make minor repairs and prepare it for next season.
I'm getting all of my State required guide license credentials updated to include CPR, AED and 1'st aid.
Ordering comp. fishing supplies from all of my 15 or so product sponsor's. I just finished up making a boat load of slinkies to fill my box's.
I have about 50 or so reels in all styles that will get cleaned, lubed and checked for any minor work. Then I'll set them all up with the proper lines, etc...and finish off by setting up all of my fishing rods. Be it spin or fly, Salmon or
steelhead, traditional fly or high sticking, float rods, drift fishing, etc...
Lot's of prep work to do to make sure everything run's smoothly next season.
The big reason Im busy getting all of this done is so that this summer I can relax and concentrate solely on the superb fishing that N.Y. and Vt. have to offer for Bass and Trout. Who knows, maybe Ill take a trip back out to Monomoy Island on Cape Cod for a lil sight fishing on those crystal clear water, light colored sand bottom flats for some Blues and Bass action.
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When the water warms up a lil more, I plan to float the Salmon River in a float tube. It's always important to check for any habitat changes in the river that we sometimes see after a flood.
Small Mouth Bass fishing is superb in the summer here on the Salmon River and other local streams. I'm usually not here during the summer, so I plan to enjoy this quality summer time fishery.
I havent fly fished my old home waters of Vermont in about 20 years. Vt. is where I got my start guiding. I'm planning on spending a day or two fishing some of my favorite trout stream's. It's only about a 2-1/2 hour drive from here in Pulaski NY. It will be interesting to see what changes have happened over the last 20 years and also how the floods changed the habitat and also how the bug's are doing. All wild trout, smart and challenging is just how I like it. The water's of Vt. are some of the most productive and beautiful in the entire world. I can't wait!!
I might even look into and play around with a lil Carp fishing with a fly rod. Never done it, heard a lot about it. Sounds like some big fish with incredible fight's!
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Rick with a beauty of a Steelhead. Congrats!
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Client House for sale in Pulaski:
Randy, I have had to move to the west coast and my Pulaski cottage at ---- Bridge street is available for sale.  3 bed, 1 bath, updated kitchen, 200 amp service, vinyl windows and siding, full unfinished basement, detached garage.  Just finishing up spring Chinook here in SW Washington.  Keep having more fun,  Thanks,  Bill  (If your intrested, please contact me, Randy Jones 315-963-2065 or email addy above)
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Thank you all for your words of encouragement, kind words and continued support. Ill continue to do my best in sharing what I've learned through experience, experimentation, borrowed ideas and taught techniques.
Stay tuned for more entertainingly informative and mildly educational reports and articles on this never-ending virtual fishing trip with your host Randy "The Yankee Angler" and friends.
I sincerely hope that what little I've been able to share with you will help you along the path to more enjoyable, safe, knowledgeable fishing.
Thanks for stopping in and spending your valuable internet fishing time here :)
Hope your all enjoying this great fishing!

May all your door knobs smell of fish!

                     Randy Jones                      (Photo courtesy of Orvis)
The fishing of your dreams......  ..... we'll make it reeeel.
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April 27 Salmon River Pulaski NY Steelhead Fishing Report:
The steelhead fishing has been just ridiculous, just insane, just crazy- stupid, amazing, outstanding, incredible, superb !! (This is the first time in my 30 years guiding profession that I have EVER given a fishing report like this)
Crystal clear water, comfortable current's and comfortable depth's of water is where we found all of our steelhead off the drift boat this week. The water was teaming with steelhead! Loaded!!
My guest's and myself enjoyed the solitude that fishing at this time of the year affords you. We didn't have a single other angler around us all 4 days. It was like fishing the wilds of Alaska.
It was more like fishing your favorite trout stream, except the fish were all 8 to 16 lb's! Yikes, there were so MANY incredibly BIG steelhead, they scared me! yukyuk
This last week my clients hooked up and fought an amazing number of Steelhead. My guest's landed many of them and our two biggest steelhead for the week were 14 and 16 pound's!
All week incredible #'s of steelhead. Average approx. 20 Steelhead each day with either 1 or 2 anglers, spin or fly off the Drift Boat.
The steelhead fishing is on fire and its only going to get better over these next two weeks. I'd recommend coming up.
(P.S. As usual, some anglers are finding the steelhead fishing very challenging, while others are finding it ok, while the 10% that catch 90% of the steelhead are finding the fishing presently, Outstanding!!)
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The relationship between water temps and steelhead.
When the water temp. approach's 55-60 degree's you will see these steelhead finish up there spawning and turn into drop back steelhead. Slowly moving down the river, resting and eating along the way.
Yesterday's water temperature was approx. 45-46 degree's.
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How do you tell if its a drop back steelhead?
The females will be skinny and have a concave stomach. She has expelled all of her eggs.
If her stomach is convex, then she is still with eggs and has not finished spawning yet.
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Water Level is receding:
Pineville live 1,500 cfs
Water forecast 1,250 thru today, Sat.
If you subtract the forecasted flow from the live - actual water level flow at Pineville, you will see that we have approx. 250 cfs in what's mostly coming from Beaver Dam Brook and Orwell Creek.
Below Pineville your water levels will increase due to Trout brooks influence on the Salmon River.
***The water level will continue to drop, so please keep an eye on it***
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Two incredible reason's you should use Mustad Hook's, the brest there is!
SHARPEST Site on the Web - http://www.mustad.no
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Weather Forecast:
We are finally back to more normal temp's. The below normal temps and weather have really helped to extend our steelhead season, well into May! Loaded, is how I would describe the steelhead fishing presently! Ye-haa!!
With next weeks normal air temp's you will see the water temp. rise slowly.
With no snow or below freezing temps, water temp will rise.
With little to no rain in the forecast for next week, you will see the water level continue to drop.
With ALL of the above, we will soon see all of the steelhead finish up there spawning and all will then turn into drop backs, slowly sliding down the river, stopping and resting, eating along the way, until they have reached the Lake for there summer home. They will all put on a few more pounds and return next Fall, Winter and early Spring to continue this never ending superb steelhead fishing on the Salmon River, Pulaski NY.
The Salmon River, where memories are made.
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I have already had to schedule my days off for next year, as anglers are booking me now for the fishing next season,  believe it or not. 
As usual, my calendar is filling up for our next 8 month season for Salmon and Steelhead. So by booking now, you can still hire me for your preferred dates.
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Lake Ontario:
I'm receiving great fishing reports from the Lake, please let me know if you need a good Charter Capt. recommendation. I'd be happy to supply you with a referral.
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***Hatchery***:  
My guest last Monday went up to the fish hatchery here on the Salmon River to see what was up. What he witnessed was truly amazing!
He told me that all 5 tanks were LOADED and packed tightly with wall to wall steelhead.  You will see an increase of steelhead thru out the Salmon River on an almost daily basis as these steelhead leave the hatchery.
So the ones that are in the river now, plus the ones at the hatchery filtering up and down the Salmon River, will only increase your odds of finding some Trophy Steelhead to play with! Fish on and on and on!!
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Guest Steelhead Fishing Reports:
Day 1 - Allen used a Fly Rod off the drift boat and it couldn't get any better, everywhere we fished, it was fish on and on and on. The hardest decision of the day was do we fish this hole thats loaded or that hole thats loaded with steelhead.
Day 2 - Allen returned for a second day of wall to wall steelhead. He used the fly rod again off the drift boat. The steelhead fishing was truly amazing! "Loaded" would be the best word to describe these two days of steelhead fishing!
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Mike and Jack steelhead fished with me for two days in a row. They used fly rods off the drift boat while fishing the Salmon River.
We all found the steelhead fishing simply amazing!! Everywhere we went we found steelhead and then more steelhead!
All 4 days of steelhead fishing were all "Day's for KINGS!!"
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My good friend and client Dave Smith was fishing Friday on his own. Dave is retired and fish's the river a lot w/ great success. He went back to a "new" area (Pucker Brush Creek) I had shown him on our steelhead trip together the previous week.
He found a bunch of steelhead to play with. He fought 10 steelhead in a 3 hour period and he only hooked 1 tree the entire time :) Congrats Dave!! (Errrrr, I mean the fish, not the tree!)
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All of these steelhead are here, just waiting for YOU! Im open,  if your intrested in being guided on the Slam'n Salmon River, NY.
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If I'm not available to guide you, then you can request to be guided by Treasure  :)
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Ramblings from this Salmon River Steelhead Drift Boat Guide:
As I was drifting down the river in my drift boat I noticed that all the other drift boats were hooking up.
All presentational techniques are working and on fire!
Everyday, I am noticing less drift boats and shore anglers which is normal for this time of the year.
As a steelhead angler, this provides you with even greater opportunity, if you come up to fish now.
(This was originally posted on my April 13 report below.)
One of the best kept secret's:
One of the best times to fish the Salmon River is late April into May. Lot's of Steelhead around and VERY few shore anglers or drift boats. You can normally find many many steelhead and be all by yourself.
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Today's Steelhead Fishing Tip:
Please re-read all of the below fishing reports. They all have relevant info. that is still pertinent now :)
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A Steelhead for the smok'r! Congrats!!
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Guest Testimonial from my last steelhead guided fishing trip:
Hey Randy: If you twist my arm, I could be convinced for another foray!!
Spectacular 2 days of fly rod fishing for countless steelies in near isolation off the drift boat with tons of happy and willing fish. We landed a bunch and had some huge bucks make repeated water clearing jumps 3 feet in the air right in front of us. The fishing was extremely productive.
Really enjoyed your guidance again and plan on utilizing those tips in my trout nymph fishing. I just wish you weren't so humorless and would let loose once in while.........I never smiled and laughed so much in 2 days celebrating our successes and failures with equal gusto.
Attached are a few photos of the successes.
You take good care and hope to see you up in beautiful Pulaski sooner than later, Allen
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Thanks Allen! Thanks again for the pic's, your kindest of words and one hell of a fun time!!
Enjoyed the heck out of your company and the superb fishing!!
My guest's and I on Wed. went back to the area that you and I had fished off the drift boat. It was loaded!
We found even more fish. We didn't move more than 100 feet all day!
We must have played with over 30 steelhead, landing a 14 and 16 lb. brut.
No one around all day.
2nd day we took the drift boat again and did exactly the same trip you and I did.
Hit a few in the first hole. That area about 150 feet up river had about 15 steelhead in there.
We must have played with 12 or so in that one spot.
The two biggest fish we landed for the 2 days fishing were 14 and 16 lb's.
I have the next 2 weeks wide open if your interested.
Thanks again for an Outstanding 2 days!! Best Fish's, Randy
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Hey Randy just wanted to let you know that we had a fantastic time steelhead fishing with you off the drift boat. It was the most steelhead I have played with and landed in my entire life! Especially the first  day in (Pucker Brush Creek ) . Thanks for the effort to get Jack his very first steelhead in the net and all the time you took to teach Jack and myself . I also enjoyed all the friendly banter. It was like being around old friends. Your a professional and I would recommend you to anyone who wants to be part of the 10% who get to catch 90% of the fish ! Thanks again for the amazing  time. Mike and Jack
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Thanks Mike and Jack!
I had an amazing time, with both the fish and yourselves!
Can't wait to do it all over again.
Best Fish's, Randy


Today was Tom's first time ever fishing for steelhead. Tom with a 16 lb. Steelhead. Congrats!!
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Yup, time to schedule a fishing trip this Spring.
Creeks, Streams, Rivers - Winter into Spring

(Client - Dick Koelling photo credit)
               Bright fresh Spring Steelhead

Typically, the other “best time” to fish for steelhead is just around the corner. End of Feb., March and all of April can be “prime time” for steelhead as there is not only leftover winter steelhead, but also fresh runs of springtime fish. Winter thaws and early spring rains generate runs of steelhead. The water temperature will rise along with their metabolic rate, so they will be much more apt to move for a fly or bait. Normally, the whole river, creeks and streams are alive because you're fishing transitional areas and holding-resting points.

When the Salmon River is running high due to run-off, its prime time to walk the many miles of streams and creeks in the area. Ever try to land a 10-pound Steelie in a small creek? It’s not easy, but lots of fun! Once ice-out has happened in the smaller tributaries that run into Lake Ontario north and south of the Salmon River, it’s a great time to explore! These tribs will all have fresh chromers moving in.

Imagine walking up a small stream 20 feet wide, light colored bottom, crystal clear water, through the forest and seeing 10-20 Steelhead, 8-12 pound average in one to four feet of water and not seeing a single other person all day. Sound like Alaska? Nope, believe it or not there are several areas not far from here where this is possible. Many of the creeks and streams feeding into Lake Ontario have steelies in them, but only a few that I’ve found are hidden away in a beautiful pristine environment without any or many other anglers. Normally the Salmon River will flood at least once during the spring. Knowing the optional creeks and streams in the surrounding area to fish during this flooding can sometimes save your trip. Due to possible increasing angler pressure to these areas, (which they can not handle) names will not be printed. Let’s just call them, "Pucker Brush Creek.” Bottom line: Any month is a good month, providing the fish are there. Which they always are. Just depends on number's. And no one can forecast that.
Happy Hookin,
Randy Jones
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Send me an email if your interested in acquiring the skill's necessary to proficiently and consistently with confidence catch these fish.
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Thank you all for your words of encouragement, kind words and continued support. Ill continue to do my best in sharing what I've learned through experience, experimentation, borrowed ideas and taught techniques.
Stay tuned for more entertainingly informative and mildly educational reports and articles on this never-ending virtual fishing trip with your host Randy "The Yankee Angler" and friends.
I sincerely hope that what little I've been able to share with you will help you along the path to more enjoyable, safe, knowledgeable fishing.
Thanks for stopping in and spending your valuable internet fishing time here :)
Hope your all enjoying this great fishing!

May all your door knobs smell of fish!

                     Randy Jones                      (Photo courtesy of Orvis)
The fishing of your dreams......  ..... we'll make it reeeel.
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For more fishing stuff, please see:
http://www.yankeeangler.com/rsjDriftBoat.html
http://www.yankeeangler.com/TrophyCase.html
http://www.yankeeangler.com/testimonials.html
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The Author, Outfitter and Salmon River Pulaski NY Steelhead Salmon Drift Boat Spin Fly Fishing Report Guide:
Randy Jones is a full-time professional fly/spin fishing guide with over 25 years of experience. He has "in the past" represented the Orvis Corporation as a guide and chief instructor of their 2 1/2 day Cape Cod Saltwater Fly fishing Schools. Also guided VT. for Trout for 12 years.
    During the Fall, Winter, and Spring Randy runs drift boat and wade trips on the world class Salmon River, Pulaski N.Y. for Steelhead, Coho, Browns, Atlantic's and Kings.
NEW Phone #315-963-2065
E-mail : RandyJones@YankeeAngler.com
$225 for 1 angler - Full Day (7-8 hours)  Fly or Spin - I supply everything but the chest waders.
$300 for 2 anglers - Full Day (7-8 hours) Fly or Spin -  I supply everything but the chest waders.

Incredible Winter Steelhead fishing from the Drift Boat while being Guided on the Salmon River NY

First Mate Matt, dad Capt. Jerry and myself out on my 16 foot heated drift boat, enjoying a Steelhead filled day during the Winter on the Salmon River in Pulaski, NY. 35 minutes drive North of Syracuse off the Interstate. Approx. 5-1/2 hour drive from the Boston area, approx. 4-1/2 hour's from N.Y. City. Steelhead average 8 to 12 lb's. We fish for them from Nov. all Winter into the first week of May approx. My personal favorite time to fish for them in order of preference, April, Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. and Nov. I have a BIG propane heater on the drift boat that I use during the Winter to help take the chill off. :) Works great!
We also fish for (10-20 lb. average) King Salmon (8-12lb.average) Coho Salmon that run from Mid-Sept. until the end of Oct. Then we have Brown trout that average 3-5 lb's. with some reaching into the teens during Nov.
Very reasonable flight's into Syracuse, car rentals, very inexpensive lodging, food and guide rates. :) 
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Amazing Spring time Steelhead fishing from the Drift Boat while being Guided on the Salmon River NY
I cant guarantee 20'lb. Steelhead in the Spring time, but here are a couple that we found.
  This could be you! Ye-Haaaa!

A couple of Spring 20lb. Steelhead Bucks from the Salmon River, N.Y. - Ye-haa!
                                               (Released for your future fishing pleasure)

Enjoying a Superb Steelhead filled day in Nov. Fishing off the Drift Boat while being Guided on the Salmon River Pulaski NY

This heated fish catching machine awaits you!
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Welcome Back to Your Salmon River, NY Steelhead Fishing Report - April 20 Sat.

***The water level should continue to drop, so please keep an eye on it***
Updated Sunday at 8am.
I would guess that they are actually releasing 4,700 cfs with run-off around 800 cfs equaling the 5,500 cfs live reading at Pineville
Updated Sunday at 11:45am.
Forecast - Until 11:59 PM Mon APR 22, 3,500 CFS
5,300 cfs at live Pineville
Looks like the water is dropping as I type this.

Steelhead Fishing - Water Temp's and Weather Forecast:
Water temperature is a nice cold 38 degrees. Look for the water temp. to start to rise a little each week. (I'll save Spring temp. of water and its relationship to Steelhead for my next article, maybe next week, so please stop back) Almost all of the snow is gone, the ground is saturated with moisture, so any rain we get will be mostly run-off . We have a couple of cold nights coming up with morning lows around 30 degrees and daytime high's around 40ish.  This all helps to keep the water colder, guaranteeing some great steelhead fishing! We have a little of all types of weather coming up this week. Everything is setting up nicely for our Steelhead season to remain strong into at least the first 2 weeks of May and more than likely longer. Late April and May are great fishing steelhead days as few anglers will be fishing, which means more opportunity for you! I still have some open dates starting April 29- if your intrested in some Slam'n Salmon River fun!!


Nice example of a steelhead picture making the fish look as big as yourself :)

Guest Steelhead Fishing Reports:
Mike and I had an enjoyable day of walking around off the drift boat and finding some steelhead. Mike was intrested to learn how to fly fish. We started off with the basics of how to properly hold the rod and line control. Worked on the roll cast, mending, high sticking, dead drift's, the pick up and lay down, false casting, false casting while letting out small increments of line and then finally shooting the line. We also discussed our loop size, rod positions, proper arm, forearm, wrist, elbow movement or not. Timing and much more. I normally am hired to just put folks on fish so it was a nice change to go back to my past expertise of fly fishing - casting instruction. Now Mike has all summer to practice. I told Mike that I wont guide him again until he can throw it 80 feet with just the tip of his rod :) Another fine day of many!
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Dave and brother Bob:
What can we say about today, hmmm, were do I start? How about "A Day for KINGS!!" We hammered the Steelhead today. All spot's fished had numerous steelhead in them. More than the day before! Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, it did. It was 4 here, 1 there, 2 here, 3 there, last spot had about 7 or 8 in it with the next spot hold'n even more. Bob was new to this fishery, but not for long. He landed his first steelhead of the morning. I joked with Bob that since he landed his first steelhead of the day. That he was 1 for 1, 100% landing ratio. If he stopped fishing the Salmon River now, he would be the only Salmon River angler alive, that had a 100% landing ratio. Bob decided he would rather roll the dice then hold onto that esteemed notability. Bob played with something like 7-8 steelhead. His landing ratio declined thru out the day and he lost his title :) yukyuk
Now we come to Dave. He is a retired full-time Salmon River angler. He normally has some pretty amazing steelhead filled days all by himself. He has been out with me numerous times and its always been fun. Today Dave was honored to receive one of the highest honor's a fishing guide could ever bestow on their guest. Dave had several groves of trees named after him. These trees will always be known as Dave's trees. :) I wont go into how he was rewarded with this honor, but I bet you can all guess. yukyuk Why me lord :)
Dave sent me a flattering testimonial below.
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John and Mike:
"Loaded" would best describe each location fished today. High winds? No problem where I was at, not a whisper of wind. Crystal clear water teaming with Steelhead. No, I was not in the fly zones. I was useing the drift boat to access Pucker Brush Creek, NY. You all know the one, behind the old Ames in Pulaski ?
Fish On and on and on was the most used phrase today by my guest's. I simply could not go anywhere and not find large numbers of Steelhead! All Steelhead released,  all week long,  for you and your children's future fishing enjoyment.
Lee Wolf once said something like - The fish you catch today may have been a gift from another angler.
Thanks to all of you who are releasing your catch! I know it has helped me in my line of work.
John had the biggest, hottest,  bright silver steelhead on today. It jumped and then screamed down river in a flash. I'd guess 300 feet or more in a blink of an eye. I had instructed John to walk down the bank and then enter the water so as not to spook any of the fish in the hole.  Instead of walking, he scrambled down the edge of the river bank and didn't look where he was stepping. The bank gave way and John did a picture perfect "Superman" dive into the water below. He was ok, fish was lost and a good laugh was had by all. John was more upset at loosing that steelhead then getting a Salmon River Baptism. Its funny how these fish can have that effect on you. Thats why we lov'm! Both Mike and myself awarded John a perfect  "10" on his diving expertise. I have a feeling he would do it all over again just to have the opportunity to tangle with that steelhead again and experience the adrenaline racing up his spine :) The Salmon River, where memories are made.
I was 100% on my spots. We fished 5 spot's,  finding numerous fish in each! I'd guess that they fought 10 steelhead each today! The laugh's were many and the B.S. was deeper than the river, glad we all had our waders on :)


Anthony with a large Male Steelhead. Notice the bump on the lower jaw and the red stripe. That tells you its a male.
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Surf's UP:
The water level had been at a nice 1,250 cfs plus approx. 4-500 cfs in run-off. Thursday night they bumped it to 2,100 cfs plus, then Friday to 3,500 cfs, plus.... Today Sat. they bumped it to 5,500 cfs plus...
This is all very normal and is to be expected at sometime during the Spring. No biggy, in my opinion. :)
(The below is being posted from the water line website.)
Extremely high flows are now passing through the spill gates at the Dam. Severe flooding conditions are present. Please stay away from the river and any flooded areas. Please be alert for, and follow, all local warnings and emergency notifications.
Until 11:58 PM today, Fri, 3,500 CFS
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This just in:
Until 9:00 PM today, 3,500 CFS
From 9:00 PM today until 11:59 PM tomorrow, Sat, 5,500 CFS
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As of today Sat. @ 8am.
Pineville is reading an actual live flow of 7,610 cfs
The Salmon River NY forecast page is saying 5,500 cfs
I doubt we have 2,000 cfs in run off, I'd guess they are releasing approx. 6,500 cfs with approx. 1,000 cfs in run-off.
This is just between the Dam and Pineville. The lower in the river you go, the higher the water.

We now have Steelhead moving around, looking for safe harbor. It's not an issue for the fish ( just the angler :) as they are used to it and will become readjusted to this new flow shortly, as they always do.

One of the funny aspects of being a fishing guide is you enjoy it when you have a ton of fish around, your guest's are having a blast catching a bunch. Enjoying the adrenaline racing up there spines on every steelhead played with. But then there is change. I used to get nervous when this happened as I was new, didn't have an intimate understanding and knowledge of all of the habitat for all the different water flows, seasons, species. After many many years of ever changing water levels, season's, species (change) you get used to it and welcome it. Many of us guides and seasoned Salmon River anglers have our high water spots, mid water places and low water locations to fish.
For me, this new and exciting flow is as easy as spread'n soft but'a on a warm muf'n. Most anglers do not know how or where to fish these higher water flows or also, safely. They are intimidated by this change, as I used to be. That means Ill have most of the river to myself. Which means more opportunity for my guest's, intrested?  :)  My guest's will be safe and happy finding and playing with BIG numbers of Steelhead! Happens every time we have our normal high water releases in the Spring.
"Fish On" and on and on! Ye-Haa - Surf up!! Sign me up, Randy!

Please be careful as NO fish is worth taking any risk's.


Garry with another nice male steelhead. Notice the red rosy cheeks and bump on lower jaw?
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Ramblings from this Salmon River Steelhead Drift Boat Guide:
The interesting part about this last week was how the number of Steelhead in all the spots I was guiding on grew by the day.
Todays Test:
Lets see how well you pay attention to my fishing reports.
What 1 "secret" thing happens each Spring during the middle of April that is the reason for this drastic increase of Steelhead in the Salmon River, NY?
For the correct answer, please re- read the below April 13 fishing report, Dam I'm good!!! yukyuk!
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It started off as 1 here - 1 there, then a few here and a few there, then all of a sudden it blew up with 7-8 here, a dozen there, etc...
Thursday I saw something I've never seen before. As I was drifting down the river with my guest's in the boat. I noticed every single drift boat that I passed was tight to a steelhead! That's about 6-7 boats that were playing Steelhead as I passed them by. Ye-Haa!
All the places they were fighting there steelhead were all area's that any shore angler could fish. All easily accessible from the bank. Presently, I would NOT stand on the bank with this new flow, as sometimes the bank can give away, as it happened to my guest on Thursday. Actually, he wasn't paying attention to where he was stepping - walking fast as he was fighting a steelhead.  Isn't it amazing how these steelhead can make you lose all concentration and throw caution to the wind? I always ask my guest's to remember that there safety comes first and no fish is worth it.
Do they listen? Hell NO!! yukyuk! Especially when you have a silver bullet (steelhead) on thats racing up and down the river, tail walks for 20-30 feet, 4 foot jump's into somersaults in the air with a big ol loud belly flop's with water splashing in all directions. Just ask my guest's from Thursday :)
Nothing new to ramble on about. All is good, lot's of happy fish, and even happier guest's that have been enjoying this incredible fishery! The Salmon River, where memories are made.
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Mickey with another large Male Steelhead. Cowabunga!

Today's Steelhead Fishing Tip:
Please re-read all of the below fishing reports. They all have tips, articles, my weak attempts at humor, ramblings, reports and much much more that is relevant now. No sense in re-writing what has already written that is pertinent now. :)
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Guest Testimonial's from my last steelhead guided fishing trip's:
Hi Randy,
It was a very great day. Thanks for all of the teaching, knowledge and fun. We learned a lot and I loved it when you picked on John - I will certainly make sure that his wife knows that he needs to go on the "Melba Toast and Salad" diet so we can keep our guide from breaking his back rowing his fat ass around. Also - that must have been some BIG fish to be able to drag John from the shore to the water!!
The lake trip was 99% off when we went to bed but at 5 AM it was back on with a 50% chance of lasting a ride out to check the water. Capt Ernie was great - he said that since we made the trip and spent the night that it was worth a "peek". Well the water was a little choppy and the wind was up but not the predicted 25 to 35 mph and associated 5 - 9 ft water.
John struck first while he was working on getting the lure out to 100 feet. 15 or so minutes later he landed a beautiful 26.5 inch 8 lb brownie with a real nice girth. This fish absolutely hated the boat and kept running away when it got close - John did a great job landing it!!! Next up Capt Ernie saw a rod bend and 10 minutes later I landed a 27" laker. Real nice but John's was definitely heavier. Then John landed another brownie that made Ernie smile because he said that would be the best tasting fish of the bunch - a 18 inch beauty. Those brownies are really something to behold. When it was almost time to head back in John let out another lure and said I should hold the rod since it was going to catch a fish. I said he should just put it in the holder. A few minutes later - BAM - the rods bowing and losing line. I grabbed the pole and 20 minutes later and numerous runs I landed a 31.5 inch 10 pound plus lake trout.
So we had 2 great days of fishing and look forward to seeing you and the area again.
Thanks, Mike and John
Hi Mike and John, Super! Two nice days of fishing, 1 on the Salmon River and 1 on the Lake.
Thanks again for your kind words. What an incredible day!
I couldn't believe all of the new fish that had just arrived in those spots we fished! It was a day for KINGS!!!!
Best Fish's, Randy
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Hey Guy,
Thanks for a great steelhead fishing filled day.  Brother Bob had the time of his life. Bob called last night and he said it was a once in a lifetime experience. He was most impressed with the Yankee Angler. 
I had one of the worst days ever---not because of our awesome, very patient guide. I think I was over tired----couldn't land a fish, in the trees, fell on dry land twice. You were most patient and it was appreciated. 
Thank You, Dave
Thanks Dave and brother Bob,
I had a blast also and am very happy that everyone had a fun, enjoyable, memorable steelhead filled day!
Best Fish's, Randy
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Another testimonial from Dave from another Steelhead trip we did:
To quote a Drift Boat Guide that I know, our trip yesterday was O U T S T A N D I N G, in every sense of the word.  Although I live just an hour away from the Salmon River NY, I have only fished the Salmon River in Pulaski NY for four years.  I feel very comfortable with my Salmon "catching" expertise, but the elusive Steelhead is a different story.  I am still at the low end of the learning curve when it comes to chromers.  Yesterday we made some major progress on the learning curve, correcting some things I was doing wrong, and fine tuned some other points. PLUS we hit ten Steelhead and landed two.When "out of staters" come to the Salmon River NY, they have to pack a whole season into two or three days---well, yesterday, I packed a whole season of experiences, thrills of victory and the agony of losing a 16# Steelhead at the net in one very enjoyable, eight hour Guide Drift Boat trip down the Salmon River Pulaski NY.
I appreciate your patience, guidance, and sense of humor.
Thank you for an outstanding day.
Dave, tired and sore, in Oneida.

Dave with a reeeel nice Steelhead!
(If any of you are fishing the Salmon River and you see Dave fly fishing, make sure you give him plenty of room, I've seen how he cast's.) yukyuk

A coupl'a fishing picture tips is to always have the angler holding the fish face the sun. Makes for a much nicer picture when you have the sun shinning off the fish, like the above one of Dave.
Also, when I take a fish pic. I normally always instruct my guest to hold the fish under his chin and out a lil. Makes the fish look much nicer.
I also always try to only include head, shoulders and fish. Little to no background. Makes the fish look nicer.
The other reason I personally and professionally do NOT want a lot of back ground is to protect your favorite fishing hole (in most normal cases)
I do NOT want to advertise YOUR favorite fishing location on here. If I did, then the next time you show up to the hole that took you many hours or days or seasons of T.O.W. to learn and decipher its secrets. And you find 10 guys surrounding it, then you might blame me.
The only time I will leave a large back ground, where you can plainly see the spot Im fishing, is if the picture is of exceptional quality, which doesn't happen that often, just ask any pro. photographer.
If you look around on here you will see where I blur, white out or have no background in most pictures as Im purposely trying to NOT advertise (spot burner) your favorite fishing hole.
It takes me extra time to do it but I do feel a responsibility when I have 1,000's of individual viewer's on here each day. Your welcome!
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April 13 Steelhead Fishing Report for the Salmon River Pulaski NY

Fishing Forecast:
The Steelhead fishing on the Salmon River, NY will remain strong into at least the first 2 weeks in May. I surprisingly still have a few open dates left for guiding if your interested. Lot's of fish top to bottom of the Salmon River with more to come.
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One of the best kept secret's:
One of the best times to fish the Salmon River is late April into May. Lot's of Steelhead around and VERY few shore anglers or drift boats. You can normally find many many steelhead and be all by yourself.
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Lil talked about (Ssssshhhh:) Salmon River secret:
Shortly, we will see an increase of Steelhead as the ones they milked at the hatchery will start to filter back into the river from the tanks. Some will go up river and some will go down river. What's interesting about these steelhead is even though they have been milked for their egg's and sperm, some will actually go thru the spawning ritual due to its naturally engrained genetically instinctive behavior pattern. The rest will turn into drop backs and feed while resting as they slowly drop back down the river until they have reached the lake.
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Please re-read the below 3-4 fishing reports as each report covers almost everything as it is presently.
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Nice Male Brown Trout. Notice the bump on the lower jaw and the white mouth? This tells you its a male and its a Trout. On my last guided trip I was looking into some dark fast fishy looking water and I was only looking for the white mouth. That's a lil guide trick that works sometimes.
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Thought for the day - Another way to look at it:
With the present Spring higher water flow we are experiencing now and will continue too for awhile. ( hopefully :) I find the below thought to be an interesting spin and makes a lot of sense. I may be the only angler that looks at it this way?

If the normal flow was 2,100 cfs plus run-off, than you would have become adjusted to it many many years ago. You would be fishing now and catching a lot of fish. You would be saying how great the fishing is, as I am. :) Then, if the flow dropped to 335 cfs, we would all be scratching our heads, posting on the internet how the river is not fishable, leaving town early, canceling our reservations. The lodges would be calling you and suggesting that maybe you should cancel or re-schedule your trip here until we are back to a more normal flow of 2,100 cfs plus run off, your inexperienced guide would be trying to re-schedule you for when the water was at a more fishable normal flow of 2,100 cfs plus.....We would not know what to do with ourselves if we had not figured out how to fish a lower flow of 335 cfs, except those that have learned to adapt. Makes sense to me. :)
I've always felt that (within reason) you should never - ever allow mother nature to control you. To stop you from enjoying one of your great passions in life. It's simply a matter of adapting to this higher flow and putting a lil T.O.W. in. (Time on the Water)
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Guest Steelhead Fishing Reports:
Steve, Tom, Charlie and Jimmy enjoyed a coupl'a Steelhead filled day's! The group of 4 anglers all played with Steelhead each day, numerous times. We fished off the drift boat using spin with natural aquatic insect's, beads and egg sacks, all with success. The fishing humor was at an all time high!
The first day my 2 guest's played with 7-8 Steelhead in the second spot of the day. The first spot we found 0, zilch, nada, ouch! I saw 2 fish role in the hole twice. What had happened in this spot is something you will find happening at this time of the year. The last several times I had guided on this spot recently, we had been averaging 10-12 Steelhead each day. With all the Steelhead paired up and moving onto the gravel, the majority of them that WERE there had done exactly what they were supposed to do. That's why we didn't find any players in this (no gravel influenced) spot. Glad the second spot produced nicely for us! Pheeeew!!
The second day all the guy's got to fish next to each other with numerous Steelhead happily putting a nice bend in our rods, reeeeel screaming run's and a few nice jump's. I'd guess approx. 15-16 Steelhead played with in this one spot, shared by all. Congrats gentleman!
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Tony (spin fishing)  and girlfriend Ginny (fly fishing) had a "Day for Kings and Queens!" This was there first time fishing for Steelhead on the Salmon River, NY. I accidentally hooked up a coupl'a Steelhead while I was demonstrating. Ginny worked all morning on getting the correct presentation and was rewarded with 2 steelhead! Tony had the hot rod for the day as he found 7-8 Steelhead! Beautiful sunny day, warm temp's, great company and the steelhead were biting. Outstanding!!
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Allen joined me for a coupl'a days off the drift boat using a fly rod. We found Steelhead each day. The first spot was a small hole that had a major gravel influence. Also, my favorite part of the hole is that where the Steelhead lay is as exact as fitting a key into a lock. Concentrated! Allen played with 5 Steelhead in this hole the first day and 1 on the next. Both days we traveled around and found more Steelhead in all area's to play with. Congrats Allen!
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Rich did a drift boat wading trip with me using a fly rod. First hole we played with 3 Steelhead, the next spot Rich played with 6 or 7 Steelhead, The last spot we found a couple of Steelhead each holding in a deep dark pocket the size of a trash can lid. Talk about as "exact as fitting a key into a lock". The drift was really neat. The main current was compressed and concentrated over a 2 foot wide channel. The pockets were 5-6 feet apart. One was directly above the other. So you could present your offering to both fish on the same drift.
It wasn't long before Rich's fly reel drag was singing the "Fisherman's National Anthem"! Fish on and on and on! Congrats again Rich!
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DARN!! - I didn't catch any fish today-Sat. I had to do something more important than catching a fish for myself. I enjoyed sitting here and typing out, edit, etc... a fishing report for all of you! Feel guilty? Didn't think so- yukyuk.
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What a Trophy Male steelhead! Congrats!!
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Weather Snap Shot:
Our forecasted weather is a lil of everything this coming week. Chance of snow, more rain, etc... Temp's a lil above the freezing mark in the morning to lower 40's with high's in the upper 40's to upper 60's.
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Water Level Forecast and Actual Water Level Flow at Pineville links:

http://www.h2oline.com/365123.asp
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/uv/?site_no=04250200

Some of the links on these pages have some interesting data. You can subscribe or view "water alert link". It shows you the highest level we have had recently and also some of the record high's.
Some of these record high's are at 23,000 cfs. Some in the Spring, 1 in the Fall and a couple in Dec.

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I always check both gauges (links) in the early morning before any of my guided fishing trips. The forecast gives me an approx. idea of water level. The Pineville bridge gauge gives me what is really being released, plus additional run-off (Beaver Dam Brook- Orwell Creek influence)
By the above flows it allows me to pre plan my fishing day. What spots and where in each spot the most fish will be holding.

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Today Sat. it is forecast to run 2,100 cfs. (plus run-off) until Monday. (This can and often does change, so please keep an eye on it)
At Pineville the actual "live" flow is  2,700 cfs. So above Pineville we have approx. 600 cfs in run-off. The further you go down river the more run-off and higher water levels.
Please be careful -No fish is worth it.
All published flows are approximate and forecasts are estimates only. Actual flows will vary and can change quickly at any time.
Always be alert and wear an approved flotation device.
Never go in or near the water until you know and accept the risks you are assuming by being in this area!
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Sad sad story we can all learn from:
A couple of anglers unfortunately lost there lives years ago when crossing the river when it was to high. I doubt they checked the water forecast or actual flow and maybe didn't even know it had come up and or that this was not a safe place to cross or in the dark didn't notice the depth or speed of water before it was to late. 1 gentleman was found under a log and the other floated into an angler who was fishing down river. (This is what I was told, cant confirm.)
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What a beauty of a Steelhead! Congrats!!
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Ramblings from this Salmon River Steelhead Drift Boat Guide:
Yesterday we received 3/4 of an inch in about 6 hours. The local creeks are chocolate, out of their banks and rip'n! We have received a lot of rain lately and have more in the forecast. With all the snow left in the woods (saturated with moisture), warmer temp's and rain. the water level managers are releasing lots of water to make room for all of the run-off. Better to try to stay ahead of it all, instead of waiting and then having to flood the river out.
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Having the correct presentation for the method you choose to fish, rigging properly for your presentation method and being exactly in the correct spot (habitat - current break - determined by your current water flow level) will mean numerous fish. Being off just a lil on any one of these can mean far fewer fish or none at all, unfortunately, which is very normal.
Also, by moving around to another spot, that fish's good under your current water flow level. Once you have covered your present location though orally, will increase your odds greatly. That's what some seasoned anglers do and what I find to work the best.
By covering all of your base's thoroughly and running 100% drift can turn your day into fish filled! I find that by knowing all of the pieces of the puzzle related to the above, what causes what to happen, both positive and negatively and then knowing how to correct it or keep it, per drift. Is the key.
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Today's Steelhead Fishing Tip's:
1. My #1 place to fish presently would be any hole, any size, that has a gravel influence above, even with and below it. This tip comes with a money back guarantee! :)
2. Chub's - Suckers got ya down? No biggy, just move to another stream, river or creek. In the Spring time if I find myself catching nothing but suckers, then I figure it's time to try someplace else. They come into our local waters to spawn. If the water is loaded with Chub's, then your a lil late on Steelhead. (There exceptions to this)
3. Any and all deep water spots that have slow water moving over them will have Steelhead in them.
4. Any and all deep water spots that have a seam running over the middle of the hole will have Steelhead in them. (A seam is where the fast water meets the slow water)
5. Almost every inside corner whether deep or shallow will have Steelhead on them. The seam on the inside of the corner would be a good place to start.
6. The VERY best place to fish for steelhead presently is anywhere Im not! yukyuk
7. This is a great time to learn how to fish these higher flows, they happen every Spring. Im seeing VERY few shore anglers. More opportunity for you! Go get'm!
8. All presentational techniques are working, some better than others, care to learn? Please send me an email or call :)
9. Garden worm's are a bait fisherman's best friend in the Spring time on this river for Steelhead. Need I say more?
10. Try a Berkeley Pink rubber Trout worm.
11. Try a 5 inch long marabou jig under a float to imitate the par's and smolts. Try a smaller one to imitate small bait fish.
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The smile says it all. Great looking Steelhead caught on the Salmon River in Pulaski NY.
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Testimonials from my last few Drift Boat Steelhead Trips:
Randy, I was looking for a few relaxing days fishing the Salmon River, and you helped deliver. While the bucks had hens on their minds, we all did very good and were 100% satisfied. I never would had even considered fishing the very productive presentational techniques you shared with us.......mums the word. Your patience, generosity and kindness was appreciated. Hope you have a great season. Tom Hock (from the group of Steve, Charlie and Jimmy)
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Good Evening Randy, Hope you had a "warm" day today without too much precip. Really enjoyed our 2 days on the "other river" and am curious what you found today (if the high flows were maintained)?
I'm trying to round up another bud for a return trip this season and it looks like April 29 & 30 may work. Let's stay in touch, Allen
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Hi Allen,
Snow, sleet, rain were are travel companion's :)
My guest hit 3 in the first hole you had fished - all in the (current break) tail.
Played with about 8 steelhead in the first flats area you had fished, there were more fresh steelhead than the day before.
Approx. 7 steelhead above that, that were new arrivals. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, never know:)
We then walked down to those 2 pockets that you hit those 2 BIG Steelhead in. Both pockets produced steelhead again today!
Im open on your dates, want me to hold them? Best Fish's, Randy
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Hi Randy, I just wanted to extend my thanks for the great day on the water. Even more I really wanted to thank you for all the knowledge and instruction you provided. As much fun as it was to hook up with all those fish I was more excited about all the education. I really learned a lot about technique, reading water, finding fish, presentation, fly selection, and so on and on and on....  I know I still have a lot to learn about steelhead fishing, but I now feel confident I can head out on my own and catch a few fish. Thank you for the great fishing experience and you will definitely be seeing me on a future trip. Rich
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Hi Rich, I'm very happy you enjoyed the day, me too!
I sincerely appreciate your more than kind and generous words.
Best Fish's, Randy
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April 4 Steelhead Fishing Report
Wow! There are literally Steelhead from one side of the Salmon River, NY to the other (within reason). From the top of the Salmon River to the bottom!
Every single small, medium, large pool or hole has'm. Every run has'm. Every special rock has'm. There literally is no bad place to fish presently.
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April 1 was the first time all season that when I arrived to launch my boat in Altmar that there wasn't a single car in the Lower Fly Zone lot. The upper fly zone opened and that's where everyone was at.
My client recently asked me where he should fish before we go out. I told him I always recommend to fish the water you know the best. When we go out you'll learn some new and exciting water you can then return too and fish with success and confidence on your own!
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Nice Fall Steelhead taken in the cow pasture.
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Weather snap shot:
Winter is still trying to hold on with below freezing temps at night and above during the day. As this week progress's we will have more normal temp's staying above freezing. We might even hit 70 degree's on one of these days. We are forecast to get a lil of every type of weather over the next 7 days.
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Water is forecast to stay at 500 cfs thru Monday. This can change so please keep an eye on it if your coming up.
The water is up and running hard in all the local creeks as we had some rain earlier in the week. Still plenty of snow pack in the woods.
Boy, you should have been on the river when they dropped it to 285 cfs. Every guide in there drift boats were all shaking there heads as they floated by me, banging one rock after another. It was the main topic of conversation for the day as they floated by us.
Talk about grumpy. One rather healthy drift boat guide even threatened to sue somebody. He said he didn't where waders and if he gets stuck and has to get his feet wet, somebody's going to pay for this low flow during the Spring!
I politely listened and then chuckled to my skinny self, under my breath :)
As my good past guide friend Joey Kominsky (may he rest in peace) would always say, it is what it is.
I personally cant ever remember a 285 cfs flow during this time of the season. Higher flows are the norm.
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Nice colors on this Steelhead!
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Fishing Forecast:
Looks like the Steelhead fishing will remain strong into May!
As predicted and forecast, the fishing has remained STRONG and will remain strong until the last week of April - first week of May (maybe longer depending on mother nature), as usual. I'd recommend coming over to fish.
I'm seeing most shore anglers hit'm pretty good, some not so good and clients with guides doing great.
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Guest Steelhead Fishing Reports:
Cory and his Dad Karl had a "Day for Kings". Playing with around a dozen steelhead with spin rods off the drift boat! We fished 2 spots and hit'm in both! 100% on my spots! Ye-haaa!
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Nancy and husband Charlie enjoyed a fun day on the water with me. Charlie played with 5-6 Steelhead using a fly rod off the drift boat. Nancy kept the seats in the drift boat warm :)
Charles fishing goals were planned out ahead of time.
Randy, lets try to bang out a few fish to start the day and then teach me all the chrome holding spots the rest of the way down the river with the emphasis on knowledge of habitat and current breaks.
Charles goals became mine.
We talked about where to park, how to access these new and exciting places, where to cross the river safely and in what flow, where the fish lay exactly, where to stand.
What spots were Winter holding, transitional holding and also Fall holding.
We succeeded in all aspects of Charles fishing Steelhead goals!
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Joe and Tim enjoyed a Steelhead filled day with coming tight to approx. 12 fish! We hit them in 2 out of 3 spots. We fed the duck in the lower trestle as we drifted by. She swam out to greet us and beg for some food.
Great company, sunny skies prevailed and a lot of laugh's and jokes abounded.
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BIG bright fresh Steelhead!
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GRumblings from this Steelhead Drift Boat Guide:
New computer - $700
Recovering over 8,000 files, etc.. from fried hard drive, etc.. $300.
My old computer was 12 years old and I fried the hard drive to ash's. I treated myself to a large desk top screen as a B-day present to myself. Cool stuff!
(Im late on this report due to the above)
I'm getting used to this new computer so if any of my web site pages look messed up, please send me an email so I can fix it, thanks!
Fuel pump broke at 4 am. as I was ready to leave for my trip. Canceled trip- parts, gratuity and labor $600.
Misc. expenses $500
Flight to visit my rents this summer $400.
That's about $2,500 bucks spent in less than a weeks time.
Time for you all to get out your lil violin's and play me a sad-sad song - yukyuk :)
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The D.E.C. has been out several times recently which is always nice to see. Sometimes wading and sometimes in the drift boat.
I got checked twice for the usual stuff.
Heard some fly guys in the lower fly zone got busted for using to much weight. Please check the reg's.
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When the water was at a low 285 cfs recently and it was sunny outside I could see Steelhead off the drift boat in all the usual spots.
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Each day I've been guiding while blind casting. I've noticed that most of the Steelhead are paired up in the holes. Where we hit one, we always find a few more players on the exact same drift. (Normal for this time of year :)
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16 year ol' Matt with one for the smok'r!
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Mail Bag:
How important is color, shape, size, silhouette, action, density of your fly? Sometimes its the most important!
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Randy,
My girlfriend gave me 2 days fishing in late Dec for my Christmas present. You weren’t avail so I fished with another guide for two days and floated the river both days. The first morning was VERY slow, one hit on a chartreuse egg pattern, that’s it. After exhausting his choices of flies, and having no hits in the last two hours, I pulled out a nymph patterned after one you had used on a previous trip together. FIRST CAST – bam!!!! And using this fly the rest of the day – BAM 7 times!!!!!!!!!!!!!   A day when it appeared that the 10% pattern variable was 100% necessary for success using the dead drift nymphing technique you taught me 2 years ago.  
Cheers Don
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Randy,
I am always amazed on the numbers, especially noticeable "Mark was 4 for 7 today."  The number of fish hooked is great, but Mark landing 4 is fantastic.
This is always were I end of falling short.   "Hook, pull, re-tie"  This seems to be my current mode of operation. Some pulls make it to the word fight, but not to the word land.  At least for the bigger fish.
What do you think?  Any advice you can give to a loyal subscriber?
Chris

Hi Chris,
A few questions. Is you rod real flexible? If not, it should be. It's weight should be in the 5-7 area.  For fly rods I use, Orvis 5, 6, 7 weight 10 footer's. In mid to full flex rod. All my Steelhead spinning rods are noodle rods.

Do you set you drag just light enough so if you pull on it hard and fast it does not turn into a birds nest? If not you should.
Most fish are lost in the first 10 seconds by their acrobatic nature and initial pulling power. I like to let them get it out of there system before I turn up the drag to fight them. I personally kind'a like to still have them on after this initial run.

Do you own an anti reverse reel? If not you may consider it. Ive been using the Orvis, Vortex, anti reverse this year for the first time and love it. Less chance of angler error = more fish being landed.

Do you keep your tip up when your line is entering into the fast water? Remember the more line that is in the water at an angle creates more drag (bow) on your line causing more pressure on tippets . This causes many break off's.

If no fast currents or big rock's, try fighting your fish with the tip about a foot off the water's surface. This act's as a way to control the fish's attitude. Keeps them from shaking there head and violently snapping your line or cutting it with there teeth. It also tends to keep them in the hole and not racing down stream. Keeping the fish's head subsurface helps to control it as they dont breath air and is the reason many fish are lost when you pull up on them while fighting them.

Many, many anglers stand above the fish and try to pull the fish upriver and to shore. Many things are wrong with this idea, although it seams logical to most. By standing above the fish you are simply holding the fish in the current with no pressure to bring it in. It can also rest while in this down stream position. I also see many fish broken off when people try to not only pull the fish up river but also against the current.
The answer is to stay even or get below the fish and pull in. This creates 3 times more pressure on the fish and accomplice's what you after much quicker.
By standing above the fish you are actually helping - hurting the fish.  :)

One of the best things you can do to increase the odds of landing fish is to have a friend along with running shoes on. He will also need to have a big net with a very long handle. Have him stand around all day waiting for you to hook-up so he can then run down river like a mad man and pounce upon your fish with the net. That's what I do.

Hope this helps,
Randy
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Scenic shot of the river, fish, guest and the .com drift boat in background.
I think I was the first guide on this river to have there url plastered on the boat?

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New Steelhead'rs with Q's:
One of my favorite locally owned and operated friendly Salmon River Steelhead sites is: http://forums.fishusa.com/FishSalmonRivercom-Discussion-Board-f5.aspx
Folks are happy to answer Q's, fishing reports and share tip's, etc...
They even have some great products for sale.
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Mustad Hooks: 
If you are looking for a great hook, look no further. Many guides, Seasoned Salmon River Steelhead Anglers, my Two expert Fly Tier's and Myself, all use the Mustad Signature Series Ultra Point CO68 for all of our Salmon and Steelhead flies. I use exclusively the Mustad Signature Series Ultra Point CO68 for every fly that I use for steelhead. Matter of fact, Im having about 1,400 flies tied up for my business as we speak, all on those amazing Mustad CO68's.
All of my favorite Salmon Flies are tied on the CO68.
The reason Mustad went to a Signature Series Ultra Point was to be more competitive with the other high end foreign hook manufacture's. They have succeeded!
If you'd like to visit there web site for more info. or get some great Salmon - Steelhead fly recipes, here it is.
SHARPEST Site on the Web - http://www.mustad.no
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Seaguar - like nothing you'll ever see:
Sea. gets its strength and flexibility from two exclusive unique floro. resin's in patented double structure technology.
Enough of that tecno stuff. (Boooorrrinnngggg, snooze :) If you want to use the exact same leader - tippet material that I do for steelhead, then this is the exclusive floro. I use in the Winter time. I think it is also the most expensive? I get paid to guide anglers like yourself and feel its my responsibility to offer you the best shot at catching fish. That's why I only use the best materials, etc.. made, simple. It is not brittle in the Winter time like some other really good floro.'s are. The diameter beat's ALL other's. As Ive always said, anytime you can disguise what your fly, bait, etc.. is tied too, any species of fish, anywhere in the world, the odds are pretty good that you will play with a few more. If you want to use the same floro. as many of the world's TOP guides, then Seaguar is the ticket.
I could type all day long on the advantages you'll have over all other angler's, type all day long about all of the experiment's Ive run. All day long about, well, you get my drift. I only use the best materials, etc.. in my guide business. In many many cases, this one product can make the difference between no fish and a dozen. Been there, done that, I've bought the T-shirt. I like my side of the fence better than the other side. We have all been on the other side, but no more, with Seaguar Fluorocarbon :)
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Hi John,
Thanks again for your sponsorship!
I only use your Seaguar Grand Max for leader/spin and tippet/fly in both the Salmon River (mostly blind casting with some sight fishing) in Pulaski, NY for Salmon and Steelhead and Salt/Cape Cod/Monomoy Island Flats/Sight fishing/Striped Bass and Bluefish.
In both locations I am normally dealing with very smart/educated (pressured and big) fish. Water is crystal clear and the fish are ultra spooky.
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The top five things I enjoy about your Leader/Tippet attributes are:
1. Invisibility
2. Strength
3. Invisibility
4. Knot Strength
5. Invisibility
Thanks again for your continued support!
Best Fish's,
Randy Jones
http://www.seaguar.com
Seaguar - like nothing you'll ever see.
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Now that's its getting warmer outside, also try the Orvis Mirage for comparable lb. test and diameter.
http://www.ORVIS.com
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Another beauty Steelhead of many!
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March 25 Steelhead Fishing Report
Steelhead are top to bottom of the Salmon River, NY. Sound like a broken record? There really is no bad place to fish presently, providing you have the correct Habitat - (there is a lot of empty water out there), Rigging and Presentation. These steelhead are spread out from one side of the river to the other (within reason:) and in most of the diversions that have the correct amount of water. Many are pared up in the holes waiting to go on the gravel, some have finished spawning and are in the holes dropping back down the river. Some Steelhead are actively spawning over the entire Salmon River, NY area.
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They are eating all the usual stuff. All presentational techniques are working. Some better than others. Care to learn?
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Weather has finally gotten back to more normal for this time of year. Around freezing in the morning and upper 30's to lower 40's in the afternoon. Still some snow, lil wind, sunny, clouds, etc... forecast here and there for the remainder of the week.
The water is presently forecast to remain at 500 cfs until Thurs. (This could easily change, so please keep an eye on it if your coming up to fish)
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Most of us guides and regular anglers up here are figuring that our season will run into May. With the past 2 weeks of below normal temp's = below normal water temp's. Some fish delayed there move to the gravel. Still plenty of water saturated snow around. This should all keep the river running at a nice flow while keeping it cold. Fishing should remain good into May.
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My guest Clint with a nice fresh Fall Steelhead, ready for the smok'r.
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Lil known fact:
Around the middle of April is when most of the Steelhead leave the tank's from the hatchery after egg taking. Creating a very nice flow of even more Steelhead into the river dropping back for your fishing enjoyment.
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W.C. Fields Quote on Death:
Remember, a dead fish can float downstream, but it takes a live one to swim upstream.
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    Another happy guided steelhead client!
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Ramblings from this Drift Boat Guide:
Boy, its nice to have a day off the water so I can sleep in until 4am, catch up on errands and do a lil writing here.
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There is a female duck that is still around in the lower trestle area that is happy to see anglers or drift boats in which to beg food from. The other day the guys had a tub of pretzels. That duck paddled along side us for a 1/2 mile as we slowly drifted down the river while feeding her pretzels at my guest's amusement. A drift boat guide friend said she swam along side him and his daughter for over a 1/4 mile. She made them feel so guilty that they finally gave her part of there sandwiches.
She likes granola bars in all flavors, bagels, sandwich crust's and pretzels in case your in the area. :)
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We have a resident blue heron with an approx. 4 foot or more wing span that we are seeing hunting or flying around the river on a daily basis. It has become used to anglers and boats and is the only one that Ive seen that is comfortable fishing in close proximity to other fisherman.
Lesson for the day and on a funny note:
We could all learn something from how this bird hunts its prey. Blending in, becoming part of our environment, being quite and still, stalking our prey. Figuring out our prey's weaknesses and then exploiting them. This is what it takes to become a proficient hunter.
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My client Bill enjoys a bright freshie. Congrats!
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Guest Steelhead Fishing Reports:
Lately, off the drift boat while spin fishing or using a fly rod. I had 1 skunk, 1 day w/ 2 fish played with, 1 day with 5-6 Steelhead played.
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On another day my 2 guest's experienced their first time Steelhead fishing. They came back amazed at the numbers of fish we played with but most importantly, the knowledge they gained. For them, the fish were second to achieving a rock solid Steelhead fishing foundation on which to build. That was their main goal, to which we succeeded! I think we played with about 10-11 Steelies for the day. Just icing on the cake. :)
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The other day we hit Steelhead in 3 out of 5 spots. Played with about 8 total for the day. The 2 spots we didn't hit any fish in were only fished for about 5-10 minutes. Im sure there were fish there, and we would have found some if we had stayed longer, but we were only looking for some McDonald's fish. (Fast and easy:)
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My guest today had 4-5 goals that we wanted to achieve. A better, complete, expert analysis and understanding of flies, tying flies, reading water, presentation, Steelhead strategies, rigging, how does the lower and higher water effect the fish, were do the fish lay in all the holes, high water current breaks, where to stand in every hole, how to access each hole, advanced rigging and presentation, stream etiquette, where to cross the river safely, how to rig and present a fly-bait while sight fishing to the Bucks in the Spring, Spring strategies, Winter strategies, where to find the Bucks in the Spring and lastly, least important were catching fish.
Ken only had 4-5 goals but I covered all of the above and much more. This is a normal day for me. We hit some fish while completely and thoroughly achieving all of Kens goals plus some! :)
We spent time in each and every hole over a 3 mile distance. Approx. 40 or more spot's.
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My guest lands one for the dinner table. Congrats!
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Mail Bag:

Hi Randy,
I just read your entertaining fishing reports/blogs on the salmon river, Pulaski. I am just heading there on the week-end and wanted to ask you some tips before my trip. First off, let me begin to tell you I am a beginner at fly fishing and looking foward to learn whatever I can in the hope of getting better, thus catching more fish! I here it is kind of crowded on the week-ends and because of the bushes and trees it is hard to overhead cast. Would you suggest using more a roll cast or spey technique in casting? How do people fly fish on that river? Fly-wise, I was thinking in large black wooly buggers and or egg sack patterns. What would you suggest to keep it simple and effective? Thanks in advance for these kind advices.
Max

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HI Max, Im happy you enjoyed my fishing reports.

Most fly anglers do both - spey and roll cast combined. Or a simple roll cast.

There are 100 ways to utilize a fly rod (tool) on this river.

Start off rigging like you were going trout fishing.

Helps to have your fly close to the bottom. That's where most of the fish are at.

Black or purple woolly buggers are a popular streamer.

Black stones, caddis and peasant tail nymphs are reeel good.
I catch Steelhead all the time on these.

Don't use your trout flies as they will bend out.

Please see my FAQ page and link to Mustad for the hooks I use. Mustad CO 68's.
Also, my fly page has some interesting stuff.

A glow bug in the color cream is one of the best!
Caught a steelhead yesterday on that fly.

Good luck!  Randy

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My client lands a good sized Steelhead off the drift boat. The Salmon River, where memories are made!
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Hello Randy,
My name is Garrett Finch and I have recently become hooked on steelhead fishing.  I have been up to the Salmon river a couple times with friends but have had no success.  I have been relying on them to show me how and where to fish, but to be honest they have no clue.  I just want to be able to go up there and have a little confidence where I am fishing and what tactics are productive.  I would really appreciate and be grateful for some advice on where there is some places to get started.  I have very little money so I cant afford to pay for a guide to show me around as much as I would like to.  If you have any places and tactics you would like to share, then that would be very appreciated. 
Thank you, Garrett

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HI Garrett,
Thanks for your Q's.
I'm always happy to help others who have the same passion for these fish as I do! (That's why Im a guide :)
The first thing I would do is find some new friends (yukyuk)

To get started you need 3 things, rigging, habitat and presentation.
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1,000 ways to rig and fish up here.

Pick one and then the next time you are in a tackle shop up here spending a couple buck's, ask them about rigging, what's working etc...

Presentation is the most important. This depends on the manner in which you plan to fish.

Once again, ask someone in a tackle shop how to fish the rig they suggest you use.
Another way to learn is to ask any angler that you see catching fish. Introduce yourself and explain your new and was wonder if you might ask them a couple questions. A lil flattery may help you get a lil extra info. - yukyuk. Most anglers will be happy to help you out.

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Habitat -

Presently, if you simple follow the snow trails along the river, you'll end up in a normally productive area.
Another way to learn your habitat is to try goggle earth on the net. Also, try doing a search for Salmon River Pulaski NY Maps or SRPNY fishing spots, holes, fishing holes, or something along those lines. I've found a few of these sites around that would be helpful to a new angler.
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Many years ago when I was new I actually walked all 12 miles of the river during the summer time when the water was low. I carried a pen and pad of paper. Marking all the holes, holes within the holes, Heads of pools, tails, the deepest part of the river that the fish would use to navigate it, transitional lye's, etc... I also would mark these spots with a tree or something I could use if the water was at a higher level to know exactly where the sweet spot was at.

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I'd also recommend stopping back here from time to time as I have around 30 years of "full-time - year round" experience, that I write about.
Helpful tips, ramblings, articles, my weak attempts at humor and etc...
Good luck!

Randy

Male Spring Steelhead. Notice the bump on the lower jaw, red rosy cheeks and red stripe? That's the easiest way to tell if its a buck. The white mouth tells you its a steelhead or a trout. A gray or blackish mouth tells you its from the Salmon family.
First mate Matt with a nice big male Brown Trout caught here on the Slam'n Salmon River, NY.
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Welcome Back to Your Salmon River, NY Steelhead Fishing Report - March 19, Tuesday - 9 am.
Anglers are finding Steelhead top to bottom of the Salmon River, NY. All the usual spots for this water flow, temp. of water, time of the Steelheads life cycle. The other optional creeks and streams to our North and South have some Steelhead in them.
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Dave hamming it up on a Lake Enhanced snowy day. The rewards were many, big fresh running steelhead! Just a couple pic's of many! Congrats Dave!
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Guest Guided Steelhead Fishing Report off the Drift Boat on the Salmon River, Pulaski NY.
Pat and Steve
Today's trip was slooooooooooow! Tuff, tuff, tuff. Worked hard all day with lil to show for our effort's. Guess we zigged when we should have zagged.
My guest's allowed me to discount there trip fee a lil, which made me feel a lil better. I think this may have been my slowest day all Steelhead season?
Sal and George
The following day we zagged instead of zigging. The fishing was amazing with 10 Steelhead played with. This was Sals first time and he was very surprised when he hooked up his first Steelhead of the morning of many. Fish was landed and Sal was (just like the Steelhead) hooked for life! The adrenaline was flowing!
Jesse and Gary
Another "Day for Kings"!
My guest's played with over 12 Steelhead today! We even left Steelhead to find Steelhead. Hot-hot hot!!
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Stan was 5 Steelhead landed out of 6 hooked up off the drift boat. All coming from one prime lye. We found Steelhead in 1 out of 4 spots. The temp. was 17 degrees in the morning. A guide told me that while they were landing a Skipper Steelhead (12 inch'r) it touched the side of his drift boat and stuck to the side of it!
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Next day the weather was much nicer. We moved around in the drift boat and found a few players. Joe was 3 steelhead landed out of 4 Steelhead played with. We found Steelhead in 2 out of 3 spots fished. Joe landed a 10 and 12 lb. Steelhead!
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Mack and Josh fished two spots today and hit Steelhead in both. First spot we worked it and then re worked it again. There were enough fish to warrant a second pass. The key was to cover this prime lye thoroughly before moving. Mack and Josh played with 10 steelhead total! Ye-haaaa! I was 100% on my spots!
The second spot we fished was on FIRE! Loaded!
I joked with my guest's that instead of me politely reminding them ALL day to keep their tip's up, I should have made a tape recording and just hit play and rewind all day.
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                                            A few Steelhead pic's from years past.


                                          Jan hollered "Fish ON!"

                                                Nice Steelhead Jan!

Jan with another Steelhead of many! Congrats again Jan!
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Ramblings from the Drift Boat:
Some of the shore anglers are having success, which is always nice to see. This last weekend the weather caused a lot of cold feet amongst my guest's. At my suggestion, they took several quick and brisk walk's on our trails that run along the Salmon River to warm up. Worked like a charm. Temp's were more like middle of Winter. 15-17 degree's to start off with. Some breezy, windy, snowy days made it uncomfortable with the wind chill. The heater on the drift boat was kept on most of these days. One of my guest's said that he should have re-read my cold feet tips article posted below. Except for my first trip we found Steelhead in most spot's fished.
Thought for the day:
In my opinion, if you had 2 anglers standing side by side. One was using a fly rod and the other a spin rod. The spin angler would get in 5 cast's out of every 4 that the fly angler makes. Over an entire day, the spin angler's bait, fly or lure would be in the water a substantial amount more than the fly angler. There by causing the spin angler a hirer percentage of opportunity because he is spending more time in the water. Lately with the water level flow being at 900 cfs, my fly anglers have been flexible to use a spin rod for this reason and more. It's paid off!
The other reason's I find a spin rod more productive when the water is up, is a spinning rod can throw it further and faster. Many of the present prime lye's Im guiding on off the drift boat are 100 feet or more casting distance to hit and cover. Many of our fishing drift's cover 100 to 200 feet of the bottom. Due to the mechanical nature of a spin rod, it can retrieve the line faster than a fly angler can strip in in. Also, the mono draws less water so the guides dont freeze up as fast. These and more are all reason's that at times, a spinning rod can allow you greater opportunity, in my opinion.
( Now I just pissed off all the fly guy's - yukyuk :)
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Last week I saw my first Geese flying North for the Spring. My guest's said they saw thousands of snow geese the other day.
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Spawning activity:
Few on the gravel, but not many yet. My guest's and I did a little look about in several high percentage spots and really didn't see that many. The normal spots were almost barren. I'd guess that with these below normal temp's (cold water temp's) It may have delayed many of them for a tad.
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Seeing some drop backs with more to come. All the normal pools are with Steelhead. I'd guess 85% in the pools, 10% on the gravel and 5% drop backs. These %'s will change by the day as we get closer to April.
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Weather Snap Shot:
At 3am. this morning as I write this its snowing and blowing pretty hard outside. I can see several 2 1/2 foot snow drift's on the porch and driveway, while the front yard is almost all grass.
Winter is still trying to hang on with below normal temp's and snow. Next week it should get somewhat back to more normal, end of March temp's.
Presently @ 4am Tuesday
The weather man just said that between today and Thursday morning East of Lake Ontario (that's us) we are forecast to get a "dusting" (yukyuk) of 1 to 2 feet of snow. High winds will cause snow drift's and the wind chill temp's will be at an uncomfortable level. (For me anywaaaaays ;)
Thankfully, my guest's for Wed. are flexible, so Im hoping we can push there fishing day with me to Friday.
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Water:
900 cfs forecast thru Friday.
Wow! All this run-off (hint) and the water is still at a below normal flow for the Spring time. Its usually higher.
It may still go higher once this snow melts? Maybe not? (Darn, where did I put that crystal ball of mine :)
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Much of the week was about learning, studying, becoming the 10% that catch's 90% of the fish consistently. Listening to the fish. When we listened, we were rewarded. :) I know we succeeded in many more ways than to simply catch a fish. It's this knowledge (fishing a number of different good spots - habitat, changing your rigging, changing your drift according to the spot) that builds confidence and allows you to consistently return to this river, without a guide. And catch more fish than you have ever dreamt of before and for the rest of your life. It's this knowledge that helps you to pick up fish all day long.
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We moved around a lot and hit fish in almost all spot's fished. Transitional and holding.
Holding produced better, 100%, more consistent. Transitional produced about 50-50.
Best Fish's,
Randy
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March 11, Monday Drift Boat Steelhead Fishing Report:
Fast Client Fishing Report - More next week:
Stan was 5 for 6. Found Steelhead in 1 out of 4 spots.
Joe was 3 for 4. Found Steelhead in 2 out of 3 spots. Landed a 10 and 12 lb. Steelhead!
Mack and Josh played with 10 Steelhead total! Fished 2 spots and hit Steelhead in both.
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Anglers are finding Steelhead top to bottom of the Salmon River, NY. All the usual spots for this water flow, temp. of water, time of the Steelhead life cycle. The other optional creeks and streams to our North and South have some Steelhead in them.
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You will notice the fish starting to pair up now. It's very normal at this time of the year to find them paired up. When you hit a fish in particular spot, make sure to cover that area thoroughly because their will normally be the mate (and more) in the same exact area. Have seen and done this a million times. Sometimes you will have 4 or 5 Buck's in this same area. Remember to always release any females asap (no pictures) if you want to keep catching. She is the bait and the ONLY reason all of those buck's are there. Once she is gone then the bucks have no reason to hang around. Kind'a like last call at the bar. Once that last ugly girl leaves, you have no reason to hang around any longer - yukyuk :)
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Picked up our first drop back Steelhead of the season. A drop back is a Steelhead that has Spawned successfully and is now dropping back down the Salmon River NY. Eating and resting along the way to regain its strength until it has re-entered Lake Ontario. Ton's more to come!
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This last week's guiding for me was to interpret the ever changing water levels and its relationship to the current breaks. And how the fish would react and where they would hold. I think I did pretty good by last weeks guest fishing report below.
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As usual, anglers will find their fishing tuff, ok to outstanding, normally dependent of your previous experience on the water targeting this very special, challenging, magnificent and exciting species of fish.
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March and April is when the fish will start to spread out over the entire river and beyond. You will have different % in different parts of the river. Drop back's are starting to appear and I'm seeing more digging everyday. This Spring season looks super! All of these Steelhead are in your favorite fishing holes and transitional resting points,  just waiting for your perfectly (aheeem, I've seen how you cast :) cast fly or bait.. See you on the water! (save me a rock :)
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Water level and flows:
Please check the flows as they can change by the day in the Spring. 900 cfs forecast thru Tuesday presently. Not much run-off presently, but we still have a far amount of snow left that has a high water content in it yet to melt. We always hope for a slooooow melt. Keeps the water up and cool. Extending our season into early May sometimes. Also, cutting down on the river flooding, which it usually does each Spring at some point. Looks like they may (?) keep running 900 cfs in preparation for the eventual run-off? Where's that crystal ball of mine :)
**This just in at 9am Monday.** We are forecast to maybe get an inch of rain tonight and another 1/4 inch Tuesday. I'd guess that higher water flow's are just around the corner. Ye-haa!
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Weather snap shot:
Spring has finally arrived with perfect temp's. Lows around freezing with highs in the upper 30's to 40's!
Mixed bag of everything coming up this week. Some Winter temp's and weather and some Spring temp's and weather.
Later this week, lil snow and more like Winter temps. I'd hold off on taking your Hawaiian shirt out just yet. :)
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Ramblings from the Row'rs Seat:
Saw a coupla bald eagles the other day and also one of those woodpeckers that looked to be about 2 feet tall, working on his breakfast tree. On the drive home I counted about 100 deer eating what lil grass was around, where the sun had melted the snow. My guest came close to hitting a deer the other morning, so please be careful. As we were driving to the river in the dark to prepare to go fishing a truck in the opposite lane of the road clipped my guest's rear view mirror, shattering it to pieces. The road was covered in snow and I dont think the driver knew where his lane was? I had to actually swerve out of my lane onto the shoulder with the drift boat in tow so he wouldn't hit me! We were all a little shaken up, but all were fine. The local folks who have some Maple tree's have there buckets out, collecting their syrup. For the last few weeks we have had a few duck's hanging around the lower Trestle. Each day that us drift boat guides row by or stop to fish, they paddle over and beg to be fed. The other day we came by in the drift boat and I had some bread for them, but they weren't around.
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The funniest part of the week was as I was launching my drift boat in the dark into the inky waters of the Salmon River. I noticed an angler sitting in his chair out in the river. His chair was in about 1 foot of water. He must have really wanted that specific spot as it was still dark. The funniest part was he had attached a lil red light to his chair. It was shinning brightly. Im not sure why, either there is a new "red light district", or so he could find his chair in the dark?
Never a dull moment!
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Now back to our regular scheduled programing :)
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Last few trips report:
The anglers I spoke with today were either having no luck or having to work for'm. Spoke with another guide who concurred.
Justin and Dad Ronald were my guest's aboard the heated Drift Boat today. It never got out of the lower 20's all day. Brrr!
We were what we call the "frozen chosen" :)
We  had a slow day (for me anyways:) and played with 3 Steelhead. We played with them in 1 spot, while the other 3 did not produce for us.  The ones we fought gave us some reeeeel smoken runs. One jumped into overhanging tree branch's and was lost.
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When I remarked, we were having a slower day than normal. I was pleasantly reminded that fishing is like a box of chocolates. Sometimes it’s filled with the ones you like and sometimes there is only a few. It’s not always a #’s game.
To others it’s companionship with friends and loved ones. Camaraderie, laughs, enjoying the beauty ,sites, sounds that surround you. And an occasional pull on the line is a bonus. This is what it's all about.
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Justin explained to me that this trip was more about giving back to his father some of the memories they shared when he was a child and they went fishing together . Sharing what might be one of the last few outings together
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Justin and Ronald were with me the next day also, and it was much better. We changed our strategy a lil, we zagged instead of zigging. We played with around 10, landing some beauty's! We fished 2 spots and hit them in all. I was 100% on my spots! We ended the day a lil early due to a strong wind that was putting the wind chill temp's into the upper teens.
I think they'll be back. Congrats again gentleman! Ye-haa!
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Frank and Tom were my guest's for some fun steelhead action the other day. We fished off the Drift Boat in 3 spots and played with Steelhead in all. I was 100% on my spots! My guest's played with 15 Steelhead and landed some nice ones! The one Steelhead that really stood out was a 10 lb. female or what we call a hen. She was dime bright and had only arrived into the river about a week earlier.
The laughs were many, glad I had my chest waders on as Tom's B.S. was deep!
The highlight of the day, besides the camaraderie we shared, was what waited below
Funniest part of the day was when they both told me that the last time they were out with a guide they fished the xyz spot. Catching Steelhead on almost every drift. They asked if we could hit that special spot again today. We did and it produced our best, steadiest action for the day for the time we were there!
Looked at my watch and I was late hitting the ramp. Tom started whining that he wanted to fish some more. I stated that tomorrow was another day, we had stayed out longer than normal which had allowed us to enjoy these incredible Steelhead a lil longer and "how does it feel to want" :) He politely grumbled his reply under his breath with a smile :)
Lil late hitting the ramp, but it didn't matter as the sun was shinning, it was above freezing, there rods were bent with a boat load of adrenaline, the company was superb and the Steelhead were biting.
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Mail Bag:

Hi Randy,

Do you have these dates available? Have been entertained by your web site this winter and we are ready to fish. Thanks.

Gary
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Randy,

Just wanted to write you a thanks for your commitment to keeping us informed on the Salmon River situation. It is an asset to people like myself who have a couple hour drive to get up there... SO thank you and safe fishing to you all.                                                                                       
Pritch

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Hi Gary and Pritch,
Im very happy you enjoy and trust my reports. I receive 100's of emails a year stating basically what you have. I am very appreciative, and very flattered by the kindness of everyone's words of support and encouragement.
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Here is a link my "funny and sarcastic ;) client Warren sent to me. 
http://www.netknots.com/html/fishing_knots.html
He said that I might be able to use it. :O
Warren, I just started tying knots last week, so Im still learn'n how to tie a good one. :)
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The life and Colors of the Magical Silver Bullet
This one species of fish gives us all the largest over abundance of adrenaline racing up our spines than most others. If you have a bad heart, I would not recommend fishing for them. They are addicting and have caused many an angler to stand out in sub freezing temperatures, blizzards, pouring rain, day in and day out. I know I do. They are smart and challenging to catch, but also very predictable in their ways. Due to this challenge the rewards are substantial upon landing one. Within seconds of hooking one up your odds of landing it have already begun to decrease. That's why the S.R. angler count's hook-ups. :)
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Tip!
For your best fishing opportunities, fish the area's that have a gravel influence above, equal too and below your fishing location - hole - transitional or prime holding water's. It's what I do every Spring and Fall when we have fish on and around the gravel laying and eating egg's.
This TIP, comes with a money back guarantee :)
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Guide Fly Reel Trick for Steelhead:
Another trick I use is I put my 9/10 reels on my 5 and 7 wgt 10-ft. steelhead rods. Whenever you are fishing for fish that tend to run at you very fast, and retrieving line quickly is the game then the larger diameter reels will recover line faster. A 5 or 7 reel (unless a large arbor) will not work as good. It also saves me considerable $$$. Obviously the rod and reel will not be perfectly balanced but if your only coming up a couple of times a season----well........
A multiplier will also do the trick but as my equipment is in use almost everyday of the season for salt and fresh. I like to keep them as simple as possible. I feel a direct drive large arbor reel is the ticket. Its more of a 1 on 1 fight, less bolts- springs- screws-washers, less that can go wrong with it. Less parts to clean and when in Belize the lodge is surly not going to have spare parts
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(Yup, it's time for a commercial break ;)
Guest Testimonial:
Randy, I just wanted to thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge to make our trip an unbelievable experience for us. With me having 8 to 9 hookups, and my friend Tim with somewhere between 5 to 6 - that is more fish on in a single day than some people have for an entire season. I'm a true believer in that hot spot on "Pucker Brush Creek" :)

 

As a matter of fact Tim and I went back on our own the next day - and the fish were there waiting for us just like you said they would be.  Again we had a combined count of over 10 hookups - and Tim had the hot hand that day with his 6 weight fly rod.  Our only regret was that we did not have enough days left to explore some of the other high percentage areas you showed us - we had to go back to work sometime.

Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks?:)?:)  Me and Tim have been coming up there for over 15 years, and yet we still learned a few valuable lessons from you - thanks again.  I'm just sorry that the season is almost winding down - definitely want to get back up there for another trip.

 

I would highly recommend you to anyone - beginner or experienced steelheader - it's the combination of little things and techniques that make all the difference in the world.  Feel free to pass on my contact information if you need any references for anglers - I would be more than happy to vouch for your professionalism, knowledge, and stream courtesy to fellow anglers anytime.

Thank You, Ted
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Thanks Ted!
My head almost didn't fit thru the front door after that one :)
Randy
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March 1 - Friday Drift Boat Steelhead Fishing Report:
The Steelhead are (as usual) top to bottom of the Salmon River, NY. We have some fresher Steelhead around that came in with the higher water flows. And who are also preparing to find a mate and reproduce. Its that time of the year.
Lil Tip: Something I always mention to my guest's is that at this time of year. If you hit a fish, there is normally 1 or 2 more on that exact drift. These Steelhead have already started to pare up.
All the normal spots for this water flow, time of year, Steelhead life cycle, etc.. are all producing. We are starting to see a few on that special rock. We will start to see our first drop back's (Steelhead) shortly, with a continuation into May.
The wade fishing for steelhead continues to remain excellent for some, ok for others and slow for smoothers. This is normal and I dont foresee any changes. All fishing techniques are working, all with different success rates, which again is normal.
Egg sack's, hot shooting (plugging w/ drift boat), beads, jigs and flies are all producing daily. Dead drifting, swinging streamers, float fishing all producing.
There are a number of spot's where they are stacked up! Other's that are void.
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I have some good Steelhead articles below if your a new viewer. Ramblings galore if you like to read.
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Old Fly Trick:
One of the tricks I sometimes do, that was taught to me by Jim Rusher is to tie a size 10 Stone on a size 8 hook. It makes no difference to the fish, and gives you a bigger hook gap. All the better to hold them.

Lil stone that hatched on the snow. This is one of mother natures signature clues for you. Normally, when it gets around freezing, you'll see millions of these along the rivers snowy edge hatching. I wonder what the fish are eating?
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Tip: Ice in your guides?
The best stuff to use is either silicone spray or Ice Off Paste (Simm's? it what I sometimes use), sold at most tackle shops. Works on both fly and spin rods. The paste works the best if you put it on the night before. Re-apply as needed while fishing.
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Last coupl'a trips report:
Over last weekend the weather was superb! The water level was at a comfortable 500 cfs. Lots of shore anglers and guides out having fun! Heard a few guys got into some nice BIG Steelhead middle of river with spey rods, swinging streamers. Noticed some shore anglers having success, which is always nice to see. Also, saw several nice Steelhead caught from some of the other drift boat guides clients.
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Lance and son Josh (17 years old- fishing machine!)
Lance said that they fish the river normally on there own, w/ success. So today, in the boat w/ a guide was a special treat for them both.
Today my guest's learned some new and exciting chrome hold'n spots to return too on there own to fish.
I was 2 for 3 on spots. (Meaning we hit Steelhead in 2 out of 3 spots fished) The 1 spot we didn't play with any wasn't hit hard or for long.
Lately, its been hit your spot and then move, repeating this sequence everyday. It's worked!
First spot, 12 Steelhead played with.
2nd spot nada.
3rd spot 4 or so Steelhead tangled with. Looked at my watch and it was time to hit the ramp.
Played with 16 Steelhead total approx. Not bad! Congrats gentleman!
The most interesting thing to me was when Josh told me that it was NOT until he had his presentation down, that he started to catch fish.
It warmed my heart to see father and son sharing a rewarding, memorable day on the river.
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Anton
Earlier in the season Anton played with 18 Steelhead from the driftboat useing a fly rod.
Next trip, only had 2 on all day. Slowest day of the season. The one we landed was a skipper. (12 inch 1 year ol) The larger steelhead spanked him and was lost to the river.
Todays trip would land us in the middle of his previous 2 trips with me.
Anton played with 5 or so Steelhead in the first spot and another 5 or so in the second spot. Nothing in the 3rd? Hmm, water was perfect, had  the entire run to ourselves. Hmmm, guess I zigged when I should have zagged :)
We landed a big female that had only been in the river for about a week. Lost the big fish of the day at the net. Big'ol Male, all colored up. (We blamed the guide w/ the net for losing that HOG! yukyuk)
I was once again, 2 for 3 on spots.
Anton had some amazing reeeeel smoken run's, the drag was singing the fisherman's national anthem. Saw there colors on a few jump's.
The laughs were many and all enjoyed a fun day of fishing.
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Funny how it never really changes much
March archived Fishing Report from the basement, which hold's true today:
I'm noticing more angler's out on the river, which is always nice to see. Less down, more up. Most folks are tangling with a few. Sometimes more and sometimes less, as usual.
The lower in the river you fish the easier the fish are to catch, in my opinion.
We have "a number" of fresh Steelhead making their way up river as well as a lot that have been in the river for awhile. Both transitional (hint:) and Winter holding spot's are producing. Starting to see some spawning activity which is normal. We call these our early spawners. Within the next few weeks we will see approx. 80% of the Steelhead in the river turning their attention to a specific type of rock and current break. Within the next few weeks we will also start to see the early drop backs. These are fish that have spawned and are now on there way back to the lake. Stopping along the way down river in all the normal spot's to feed and regain their strength.
I've seen a fair number of fish that were in a transitional state, moving up the river and briefly holding in the transitional lyes. Presently, all of the fish in the river are starting to feel their biological clock ticking, making them think and behave a lil differently.
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This Coming Week Weather Snap Shot:
A lil chilly this weekend. Then back to more normal temp's for this time of year. Around freezing to a lil below for night time lows and around freezing to a lil above for day time high's. We are forecast to have a lil of everything this coming week.
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Water Level:
Today - Sunday - March 3 @ 3:21 am.
Until 9:00 PM today, 1,200 CFS
From 9:00 PM today until 11:59 PM 1,500 CFS
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Ramblings from the Row'rs Seat:
We recieved some rain the other day and I noticed the creeks were up with run-off. (hint) With Spring just around the corner, be prepared for higher water flows.
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Would you believe I wrote this many flies ago in 99? Boy, how time flies!
Stalling tactic's:
80% of the time these additional fish fighting techniques and tactics will help. So don't blame me if you hit the 20%!
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Throwing Slack:
We all love to see the somersaults, jumps; tail walks and torpedo runs they make. But, 50% of the time the show ends with no curtain call or encore performance. I prefer, after hooking-up, if it decides to show its colors to throw it slack. (Pull line off the reel A.S.A.P.) If hook set is good, it won't throw it and they normally quite down. The action it takes is due to the pressure it feel's. So by releasing the pressure it no longer feel's threatened and will tend to stop on a dime. This allows you to regroup and take control. (With spinning rods, this has the same effect by opening the bail) Throwing it slack is also a great way to stop it's screaming run downstream into snags, deep water, (where you can't go) or at least slow it down so you can catch up.
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Walking the dog:
Here's another technique that has worked for me. If I'm working a piece of fast, deep water that is not easily waded. Upon hooking-up, I immediately lighten up and only bend the tip of the rod slightly. Remember what I said earlier about pressure? With only a slight bend in the rod the fish feels little to no pressure and maintains its position in the river. I then slowly move to a safer area and believe it or not normally it will follow. Once I'm in a safe position, I give it to'em.         
It's miller time! 
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New World Record Fish caught in the Salmon River! :O  

Very rare! Only a few run the river every 50 years or so.............
They migrate up through the N.Y. Thruway using an easy pass. ;)
State police are looking for the above individual's for leg pulling offenses.
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Just another day at the office
The Moon lit our travels to the hopeful honey hole under the cover of dark. The sun rose to an inspiring orange and pink sky with an encore of Geese trumpeting over head. The thunder shouted, fish on! A rainbow the color of our quarry, shown majestically over the meadow. The pouring rain, sleet, hail, sun, snow and a bone chilling west wind off the lake were are travel companions today.

5 Below 0 when this pic. was taken. It's funny how a "Fish ON" can warm you right up! My guest's played with over 20 Steelies this day.
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Well, how about a nice clean religious fishing joke for all you sinners out there. This one was sent to me by Greg Hooper. Thanks

There was a priest that loved to stream fish. One year there was
a problem every time he had a chance to go fishing the weather was
bad or it was on Sunday, when he had to work. All year he was unable
to go. Finally it was the last week before the streams closed. The
weather was bad all week until Sunday, when the weather was perfect.
The priest could not resist, he called a fellow priest claiming to be
very sick and asked if he could take over his sermon.

The fly-fishing priest drove over 200 miles, not wishing to see
anyone he knew. An angel seeing the priest playing hooky went to
God and said "You're not going to let him get away with this are
you?". God agreed he should do something. The first cast the priest
made was perfect. The fly floated past a log and a huge mouth gulped
the fly down. For 45 minutes the priest ran up and down the stream
fighting the mighty fish. At the end he held a 50" world record rainbow
trout. Confused the angel asked God, "What are you doing?". God replied
"Think about it, who's he going to tell?"

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Guest Fishing Report:
Thanks again for taking the time and putting in the awesome effort with Chris and I these past 2 days. I learned more about Steelheading in a day and a half than I had in prior years. I'm convinced what happened 10 minutes after you left would have never happened if it weren't for you. In the spot you left me in I hooked and fought a 12 lb hen. Fought her all the way down the rapids. Headed back to my spot. First cast, fish on!! Back to my spot again, second cast, fish on. Short fight. By now you can imagine the talk around the area. I'm not their favorite angler. Only to get worse when next cast, another fish on. Other anglers could not believe their eyes. Randy I basically fought 4 fish for forty straight minutes. Hearing people talk about me was very strange. I'm usually wondering and wishing "how come I'm not that guy". What a special place and thanks again for all your help and knowledge. I called Chris at the airport and he couldn't believe it. I think you might be seeing us again before golf season. Take care, Kevin
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Archived Fish Story
On of the things that I rarely talk about is the helpful hand I sometimes offer to those fishing around us that should be hooking up, but are not. Monday was a good example of that. I noticed an older gentleman fishing very hard with no results to show for his hard efforts. He was running a prefect 100 % drift, just not finding any players. I asked him kindly if he might not mind letting me take a look at what he was throwing. I made 2 suggestions. After several cast's into the same water he had been beating to a froth, a dime bright Steelhead ate his offering and he was off to the races. My guest's and myself all gave out a cheer of encouragement and it made us all feel good. Fish was landed, a bright silver freshie! Everyone loudly congratulated him and before long he was into another one. The one thing that satisfied me the most was after the release of his fish as he passed me by he said "Thank you". I have a feeling the few suggestions I made well continue to help him play with even more metal heads along this incredible path we all enjoy so much. The funny part of the story was after he landed his second fish he was giddy with excitement and ran right over to me and showed me the fly he had used. It was one he had tied himself which gave him an even higher degree of self satisfaction.
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Mail Bag:
Randy,
Another techie question, any thought on what to do when the fish just goes to the bottom and sits there?   I had one that started a run and then decided to sit in the bottom of a pool, since I am using 10-lb. leader you cannot horse it. Jay
Hi Jay.
Briefly, If the Salmon or Steelhead gave you a good head shake when first hooked, normally it’s in the mouth and it’s a waiting game. I always get even or below the fish and bend my rod down stream (The down and dirty) This puts the maximum amt. of side pressure on fish and helps tire it sooner. If the fish is accidentally hooked in the dorsal fin it will sit there forever and not move. It’s like your hooked to a rock. These fish are big so if its in the mouth its a waiting game.
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Randy, Nice web pages. What is an Oregon Cheese Egg Fly?
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You roll a piece of oregon cheese into a ball and place it on a hook and wing it out there. If you don't catch anything on it, then you can always eat the cheese!

Just kidding. It’s a color that a manufacture of glow bug yarn has used to imitate the natural color of Salmon, steelhead etc.. eggs. We tie small egg flies to imitate the naturals. Its like matching the hatch???

When the salmon start laying eggs the steelhead come into the river to specifically eat them, so its one of the best flies in the fall. Another trick I sometimes use when my client isn't looking (ha) is to dip the egg fly into some crushed up Salmon eggs. This covers my scent and also milks as it floats down stream. That’s what you call REALLY matching the hatch!
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Fishing Reports page archived testimonials:
Randy, Thank you for your courtesy, sportsmanship, wit and wisdom, and your willingness to help others learning about fishing in all its forms.
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Your knowledge and willingness to share it without condition is simply marvelous for everyone, but mostly for the fish. You should be commended for helping make this magnificent fishery what it is. Hopefully, we can educate more and more people so the Salmon and other tribs get the respect they so much deserve.
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Boy, after those..... Im having trouble getting my head thru the front door! yukyuk


If we had "only" held the fish out a little further, it would have made it look a lot bigger. :)
Congrats on that fine Steelie! I can't tell who is smiling more, the fish or my guest.
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Complementary steelhead Salmon River Pulaski NY guide driftboat fishing report:
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The Steelhead are (as usual) top to bottom of the Salmon River, NY. All the normal spots for this water flow, time of year, Steelhead life cycle, etc.. are all producing. We are starting to see a few on that special rock. We will start to see our first drop back's (Steelhead) shortly, with a continuation into May. We received over a foot of snow recently. Roads are in great shape!
As usual, some are finding the Steelhead fishing slow, while others are finding it ok. Then there is the 10% that catch 90% of the fish that are finding the Steelhead fishing "Amazing!"
Sat. Feb. 23 - Approx. 16 Steelhead w/ 2 experienced guest's. (Fly rods - Drift boat)
Sunday Feb. 24 - Approx. 10 Steelhead w/ 1 experienced guest. (Fly rods - Drift boat - I dont discriminate, I also enjoy doing lots of Spinning rod trips :)
Having an intimate understanding of fish migration, water temperature and flow, species of fish, habitat (Current Breaks), bait, entomology, rigging and presentation will put you into the 10% that catch's 90% of the Steelhead.
Intrested? (I just so happen to know a pretty good guide - yukyuk)
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This Coming Week Weather Snap Shot:
Looks great! Starting Sunday, around the freezing mark at night and above freezing during the day, all week. We are forecast to have a lil snow, rain, sun and cloud's over this coming week.
You can start to legally fish at approx. 6:20. Sunrise is approx. 6:50. Its getting early almost everyday. Spring is just around the corner! 
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Water Level:
Today - Friday 900 cfs. Super!
At 8 pm tonight they are forecasting a drop to 500 cfs.
 I cant forecast what they will do this week with the water as I misplaced my crystal ball. (yukyuk)
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Ramblings from the Row'rs Seat:
I was looking at the Pineville water level gauge (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/uv/?site_no=04250200) for the last coupl'a month's. I noticed that they are stepping down the water slowly. On the graph it looks like stairs. This is better for the fish, less stress and keeps them from getting stranded. (Thats another story :)
They used to just crank it up and down all at once. This practice also contributed to erosion.
I also noticed that they seem to be waiting until the last second to raise the water. For years you could almost set your watch to when they would raise it. Normally, any "forecasted" sign of warm temps, wind, rain, run-off, they would raise the water level to be ready for the increased flow that would happen. To keep any "surprises" from happening. (Flooding)
Now, it seems, that even with the above weather forecast's, they are waiting until after we have had a large amount of run-off to raise the water level.
Im not complaining, Im happy with the way they are managing the flows this year.
Hmmm, I could be wrong, but thats what it looks like from the row'rs seat.
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  Tight to a Steelhead!                                       (John Halnon photo credit)
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Mail Bag:
Hi Randy
Could you list the typical winter holding water in DSR and in upper part of the river?
( upstream from Pineville)?
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Sure, that's an easy one.
Any water that is moving slowly and is deep.
Any and ALL of the larger pools on the Salmon River are with Winter Steelhead presently.
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They won’t move out of these locations until there is an influx of water which can and does cause them to move further up river or deeper into the tail. Or when the water temperature starts to warm in the late winter or early spring.  This sends them searching for the gravel area's of the river. Looking for a place to spawn or a mate.
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The main thing I stress with my guest's are to look for current breaks. These come in many forms.
Some of my past reports and articles (below)  have some interesting stuff related to this. Enjoy!
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HI Randy:
Carl and I are scheduled to fish with you , and we wanted to get some tippet-leader to fish the day after guiding with you ahead of time.   What tippet would you suggest. Thanks! Steve
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HI Steve,
Great Question and one that I find many angler's don't fully understand and or understand the incredible importance of it all. It took me many years to understand and "implement with success" all of the below. One of the simplest part's of rigging can sometimes be the most overlooked (important) which can easily cause no fish or very few. :) The average angler never ever realizes this because they do not see what the fish are doing under the water. Or, they never experiment when they are ON fish or have a presence of fish to determine the correct answer. I've written many times about this subject due to the importance of it all.
You can use mono or floro. I normally use mono for Salmon and Floro. for Steel.
Mono tippet - 8, 10, 12 and 15. Pound test used is determined by many factors. Since I like to be prepared for any and all variables or factors, I like to carry all of these pound test's. :) If I knew exactly where you were going to fish, the speed, depth, clarity of water, # of fish present, major run, lil run or just the odd fish here and there, weather, education level of fish during all hours of the day, # of anglers fishing around you, etc.. I would know better what pound test to recommend to you. Since I dont and you may not either than I'd get a lil of all.
Floro - I like Seaguar Grand Max (expensive, but worth every penny concerning Steelhead) in the same pound test.
Most anglers dont realize all of the factors I use to determine the proper pd. test. We can go into this much further on our day out to simplify it all. :)
Being off by just a pound can make a BIG difference. Believe it or not. :)
*****
Anytime you can disguise what your fly/bait or lure is tied too, any species of fish, anywhere in the world, the fish are normally easier to fool and catch. This can be done in many ways. But first, I ask myself about 10 questions to determine tippet (leader) strength. By this one single incorrect or correct determining factor it could mean no fish, 1 fish or a dozen fish. :)
Thanks,
Randy
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Just to pump a little info from you with out paying,,,What do you think the best floro carbon line would be? I mean one that is strong and holds a good knot,,,thanks Mr. Jones
Hi Paul, Seaguar Fluorocarbon - http://www.seaguar.com/home.html Any time..... Best Fish's, Randy

Seaguar Fluorocarbon - http://www.seaguar.com/ Most of my friends who guide on the Salmon River NY (Including myself) use their Fluorocarbon during our 8 month Steelhead and Salmon Fishing season. Most of the TOP Fishing Guides in the World use this. Tuff, strong, almost invisible and hard to beat in the Floro. market. Their Grand Max is, if not the BEST, at the very top of the line for top shelf fluorocarbon lines. This is not my opinion, but comes from scientific study, research from laboratories who have compared it with all of the other top fluorocarbons in the market place concerning breaking strength, visibility in the water and more. (Compare Seaguar's diameter and breaking point  (pound test) with your favorite Floro. and you will see what I mean)

Ande Monofilment  -  Summer or Winter, fresh or saltwater, Ande has a superior line of mono to satisfy all my spin fishing needs.
Please visit http://www.andemonofilament.com
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Randy,
Your insight to the Salmon River is excellent. Take care and keep up the good work. The area needs more guides like you. You give the area a good name. Thanks and Tightlines. Bob
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Boy, after that..... Im having trouble getting my head thru the front door! yukyuk
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Hi Bob,
Thanks very much for your kind words. It makes me very happy that you enjoy my website. It's a fun hobby and marketing tool. I enjoy doing it, so it's normally not to much like work.  Also, when I was just starting to (fly-spin)  fish, I never hired a guide due to always being short of cash and always being on a tight budget. I pretty much was self taught and would have shaved 2 years off the learning curve by  hiring one. So I think it's a nice way to offer suggestion's and tip's to those that can use them, without the cost. I wish when I was new to the sport that I had been able to access something like what I do. It also provides folks with a virtual link to one of their great passions in life along with a little hopeful entertainment. Randy
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Salmon River  - Boring knowledge stuff - Steve and Vinny :)
Presentation was and normally always will be the most important. First thing in the morning I worked with them to try to help bring their fishing (presentational) ability level up to the point where we could hopefully start to realize the expectations and goals that we had all set for ourselves. This is probably the most normal and consistent part of my work day. Once this level of proficiency (and not before) is hopefully :) achieved, we always create our best chances of successfully accomplishing our mutual goals while working as a team, anywhere in the world.
For the first hour of the morning it was the normal building of the house, starting with foundational drift fishing techniques needed to achieve a basic 100% drift. This is very normal and called the learning curve. We could have a pool loaded with fish and none would be caught until some of the most basic fundamentals were consistently achieved, unless we got lucky. (The same thing happens in the saltwater, especially if sight fishing)
We did have a pool filled with fish, but as normal, none were played with until after the first hour or so of getting our presentation down. Once we started to put it together with consistency, we started to hook up. :) Ye-Haa!! This is a very normal occurrence while guiding. It's this presentation, rigging and habitat information that will last you a lifetime of future fishing fun, when you are on your own.
My professional goal has and always will be (besides having fun) to help my guest's to become self-sufficient. To the point where they will never need me again.
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Steve was the first to holler "Fish ON". Off to the races we went! He hooked up 5 more that caused the adrenaline to race up our spines as the fish ran hard and jumped. I accidentally found a couple Steelhead that picked up our bait as I was running a couple of demonstration cast's into the pool to help Vinny understand how to run a 100% drift consistently and with confidence. Soon after Vinny had it down and was playing with his own couple of fish! Congrats Vinny. This was his first time ever fishing the river. I might add that Steve had fished the river several times on his own with out a nibble. (Very normal) Today was like night and day. Steve and Vinny left the river with a new sense of confidence and a solid understanding of all aspect's of what it takes to be consistently successful on this river. :)
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Time for a commercial break ;)

Randy,
Every time I go fishing, the optimist in me says "This might be the day."  Athletes pray for days like this, hoping they play in "the zone." I think fishermen do too. Surely, this is what keeps many of us thrashing the water with a piece of string. I can count on one hand the number of days when this has happened. Two of them have been with you. The first was two years ago today, Oct. 8, when I hooked 40 or 50 fish, including a 35 lb male king that now sits above my fireplace as an reminder of that one remarkable day of fishing. The other was last Friday. Not only did I land a pair of nice Kings, I also caught my first Cohos, a beautiful male brown and three fall-run steelhead -- my first grand slam on the Salmon River. All told, I had maybe 20 hookups, while my buddy Myles had almost as many and landed cohos, a brown and several steelhead. It wasn't as if this was a great day on the river. I saw many long faces and shaking heads as other anglers came up empty, lost lead and flies to the river bottom and called it quits by midday. The credit for my experience is all yours. I know there are many fishermen who can work the Salmon River and catch plenty of fish, especially when a run is on. I can do it on my own sometimes. But putting it all together when the fishing is slow as you did is a testimony to your skill, knowledge and hard work. Looking forward to my next trip with you and the chance to yell "Fish On"!
Regards, Jim

The Silver Bullet, Chromer, Metal Head, are all names we use for the Steelhead we catch all Fall, Winter and Spring on the Salmon River in Pulaski, N.Y., 30 miles North of Syracuse. (Interested?)
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Randy, had another great fishing trip with you recently. Your knowledge, patience, and professional attitude gave us everything we had hoped for and more. We had a great time, and we are both still so impressed!  We learn something new every time we fish with you.  4 years and 7 trips....and you still have the same drive and desire we saw the first time you took us out!  You are a true professional, and you have customers for life.
Until the next fish bites, Garry
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Complementary steelhead Salmon River Pulaski NY guide driftboat fishing report:
The Steelhead are happy and content and waiting for you! All the normal spots for this water flow, time of year, Steelhead life cycle, etc.. are all producing, top to bottom of the Salmon River, NY. Weather forecast looks incredibly nice!
It's time to call in "sick" to work! :)
I've actually had fishing clients call in sick to work from the drift boat while we are waiting for first light!
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Here is a nice picture I dug up from my Trophy Page w/ a lil added Winter Fishing Tip.
Warming trend middle of this week. (Hint)

This picture is to remind everyone that one of the best times to fish on the Salmon River NY is after we have had a bone chilling week of freezing cold temp's.
Very very few anglers are out in these temperatures. This means ALL of your favorite Winter and Transitional spots "could" have VERY good numbers of fresh steelhead in them, that have recently moved in.
Thats what happened in above picture. Kyle and his friend were my guest's for one of those memorable Salmon River Drift Boat Guide "Day for Kings!"
Today was the first decent weather temperature fishing day after some abnormal below zero temp's for the week.
We had pulled the Drift Boat over in a lil spot. You could spit and almost hit the other side of the hole. :) It was a small Winter and Transitional lye.
Figured it was worth a quick shot after a week of bone chilling temperatures w/ very few anglers out and about.
We were rewarded with no less than 16 Steelhead! A nice pod of Chromers had moved in here after a weeks worth of freezing cold temp's.
Just like a box of chocolates, never know :)
Warming trend middle of this week. (Hint)
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A brightly colored up Male Coho Salmon (ready to eat an angler :) caught on the Salmon River Pulaski NY.
This is one of my favorite pictures from my Trophy page.
Isn't the kype (sp?) and color markings incredible? We call it a Jimmy Duranty nose. You youngster's may not recognize the name, so google it :)
This angler accidentally just happened to end up in its mouth when I took the photo. My client actually ended up submitting it in a magazine photo contest and won first prize!
He kept the BMW and all I got was this picture. Dam!
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Another pic. from the Trophy page that makes me smile :)

Teresa (what a smile) with her FIRST fish EVER in her entire life she had caught! (A Honk'a of 16lb.approx. steelhead.) You can tell its her first (and big) by the way she is giving it a bear hug.
Never a dull moment!
The Salmon River, where memories are made.
I especially like the Lake Effect snow on her head. A women that Steelhead fish's in the Winter time. Now THATS a Keeper!
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For the new'bees - Fish have a protective slim coating on them. We should all try to remember to wet our hands before touching them. Anything dry that touch's them removes this protective coating.

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Daily Report
On Sunday we had another cold start to the day, but with blue skies and plenty of sunshine the temperature did reach near 20 degrees in the afternoon. The temperature is expected to improve over the next couple of days with a warming trend. Yesterday slush ice was a factor in the lower end of the river

I just found this ad in Captain Troy Creasy's ol' Magazine:

Thermacell Remote Controlled Heated Insoles. Ive heard of similar products, but this one has a wireless remote control. Looks like a small car garage opener remote. I've never tried them, so I cant offer this company my personal endorsement.
Rechargeable, Wireless Heat Comfort Insoles @ http://www.thermacell.com
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Hmm, what well they think of next? I heard someone once made a fishing rod with heated guides so they wouldn't freeze up with ice when fishing in the Winter time. Heard it was somewhat cumbersome and didn't really work. Time well tell :)
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Mail Bag Testimonial:
Hi Randy,
I just wanted to thank you for the trip on Monday. I learned a lot about the tactics required to be successful on educated fish. I fished for a couple of hours on Tuesday morning and was 1 for 2 using your tips. I fished that spot you showed me and had it all to myself for two hours…Very nice!
Thanks again and I am sure we will fish together again in the future,
John
Thanks for your kind words John, it was a reeeeeel pleasure! Randy
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All of us (the local economy) who benefit from this fine fishing would like to "Thank you all" for spending your valuable fishing dollar's here.
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Thats it for this week's Steelhead Salmon River Pulaski NY Drift Boat Guide Spin Fly Fishing Report, Etc... I think I covered all the important stuff.
I'll be updating things next week and will be adding my normal Articles, Tips, Pics, Humor, Ramblings and Mail Bag stuff. So please stop back.
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I hope all of my complementary past, present and future reports, tips, articles, pictures and ramblings entertains and keeps you safe while helping you on your Steelhead quest! Sharing this complementary info. with you has and always will be my personal pleasure.
Thanks to all of you who have used my guide services in the past, refer trips to me and to anyone who stops by and spends their valuable internet fishing time here.
Happy Hook'n,
Randy
For more exciting Fishing Pictures, please see:
http://www.yankeeangler.com/rsjDriftBoat.html
http://www.yankeeangler.com/TrophyCase.html
http://www.yankeeangler.com/testimonials.html
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A Brown Trout and a Steelhead caught while fishing the Salmon River in Pulaski NY during the Holidays
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Ken with a Bright Chrome Freshie, Congrats!

Enjoy amazing Fishing  on the Salmon River Pulaski NY w/ Drift Boat Guide Randy Jones
for Steelhead or Salmon Spin or Fly on the Salmon River NY
Hope your enjoying the Fishing Reports

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Salmon River NY Drift Boat
Steelhead Drift Boat Guide Spin Fly Fishing Reports for the Salmon River in Pulaski NY:
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Fresh and older Steelhead are top to bottom of the Salmon River in Pulaski NY. All spots producing. Winter holding and Transitional holding. You will find some spots 'HOT" one day and cold the very next day. Some spots will be neither, but instead, normally consistent. Over my last 3 trips we have found this to be true. Water level has dropped to 335 cfs. More rain and snow in the forecast, so we may see the water come back up?
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As of today the water is forecast to be 900 cfs plus run-off. We did get some rain and am forecast to get possibly 1/2 inch tonight into Friday. Turning to all snow later on Friday. Windy and temp's in the mid. 30's. Sounds like a cold soaking rain with wind chills in the 20's. More snow, some lake effect in the forecast. Fishing should be reeeel good! We might even see a higher water flow with the forecast? Sounds like reeel Steelhead weather!
Best of Holiday Luck to you all!
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On my last several Drift Boat Trips:
This was Stans first time fishing for Steelhead on the Salmon River NY. Stan was 4 (landed)  for 9 (Steelhead on) off the drift boat. We fished 2 different spots and found Steelhead in both. As a drift boat-wade guide, I love it when I'm 100% on my spots! Congrats Stan!
Skip was with me the next 2 days. He played with 9 Steelhead the first day. We found Steelhead in 3 out of 5 spots fished. Both Transitional and Winter holding locations. The hot spot today was a lil hole in the middle of the river that most drift boats and anglers walk past. We found a pod of Steelhead! We played with 7 total in this one lil place over a short period of time! Ye-haa!
The second day while slower,  we still were consistent on finding a Steelhead, two or even 3 in each spot fished. We were once again 100% on finding Steelhead in each location fished off the drift boat. I think we played with 6. Had to work for'm. We fished the same hole as the day previous where we had hit 7 Steelhead. Today we could only manage 1. Guess the fish heard about Skip's superior angler ability level and headed for the hills! Skip was one of those anglers who could land it on a dime. I'd suggest casting side arm, land it a couple feet off the far bank at around 11:30, so we could land our offering under the over hanging tree branch's. Each time it was perfectly placed and fished. We were rewarded with 3 Steelhead from this one fishing location without moving the boat.
Each day of the above 3 was a combined team effort. All striving for the same fun, enjoyment and rewards of hitting all 3 of the most important key parts of fishing consistently. I'd have to say we succeeded! Outstanding!! Congrats again gentleman!
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All of the above fish were released for your, your friends and your children's future fishing fun!
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Guess who was fishing for Steelhead in old farts pool this weekend on the river? Yup, even Santa takes time off to wet a line and tangle with some Silver Bullets on the Salmon River. Ol' Saint Nick was 1 for 3 using a combination of glow bugs and Stones. Santa was last seen chasing a rocketing, somersaulting, speeding bullet, tail walking Steelhead down the river steady on his feet, bellowing Ho-ho-ho.
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Hello to all the armed forces that read my reports from around the world. We will try to save a few fish for you all appon your safe return. Thanks for your service!
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Thats it for this week's Steelhead Salmon River Pulaski NY Drift Boat Guide Fishing Report, Etc... I think I covered all the important stuff.
I'll be updating things next week and will be adding my normal educational articles, Tips, Pics, Humor, Mail Bag stuff. So stop back.
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Stay tuned for more entertainingly informative and mildly educational reports and articles on this never-ending virtual fishing trip with your host Randy "The Yankee Angler" and friends.
I sincerely hope that what little I've been able to share with you will help you along the path to more enjoyable, safe, knowledgeable fishing.
Thanks for stopping in and spending your valuable internet fishing time here :)
Hope your all enjoying this great fishing!
Best Holiday Fish's,
Randy Jones
www.yankeeangler.com - Steelhead Salmon River Pulaski NY Drift Boat Guide Fishing Report (More Tips, Articles, Pic's and my usual Ramblings :)
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Salmon River Guide Pulaski NY Drift Boat Steelhead Guide Fishing Report Salmon River NY Fly Spin Fish:
2,000 to 4,000 Steelhead over 12 miles of the Salmon River Pulaski NY with more arriving daily.
Complementary Tips:
Steelhead top to bottom of river with fresh Chrome entering daily. Running the river spreading out. All Fall Spots still producing.
With the water temperature around 40 degrees, we are seeing some of the residents transferring into their Winter lyes.
It's approx. 30% Fall spots, 30% Winter spots and 30% inbetween. All Transitional holding, resting and Prime holding water is hold'n.
Every type of habitat is producing. The entire river is producing. You can find them almost anywhere presently.
Even heard reports of a few fresh Kings and Coho Salmon in the river.
Best of luck to you all!
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This last week we played with on average 10 to 14 Steelhead daily. On 1 day, my one guest w/ a fly rod hit 18 Steelhead!
Another day my 2 very experienced spin clients played w/ over 20!! Ye-Haa! First Mate Matt and his Lake Ontario Charter Boat Capt. Dad, Jerry,
Had what I call a DAY for KINGS!
Silver Hook Fishing Charters - Sodus Bay, NY
Fishing on Lake Ontario for Salmon, Steelhead and Browns.
JERRY ZALUCKI - Website: http://www.silverhookcharters.com
I highly recommend and endorse Capt. Jerry and his son First Mate Matt for all of your fishing interest's on the lake.
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For the first 2 hour's skunk, nothing,  nada, not even a sucker in a spot where they had been loaded the day before. I started to chain smoke, chew tobacco and put on a nicotine patch. Glad I gave up drinking. (har-har) I was getting nervous. I knew that most of these Steelhead were residents who had set up shop in this prime lye. But, where were they? I pulled anchor and guessed with the water temperature dropping they were all just a lil lower in the deeper, less current habitat. I was right!
We HAMMERED over 20 Steelhead with my 2 very experienced Steelhead guest's! One after the other in a short 4 hour period! Dam, I love this job!
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For anyone who is wondering, I am taking reservations for 2012-13-14. Most of this years Salmon and Steelhead guest's are re-booking their same day for next year. Email if intrested. :)
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Anyone with any heart problems will not be allowed to fish for steelhead w/ me :) With there acrobatic nature, speeding bullet runs, they have been know to stop and or jump start a few hearts, including mine on an almost daily basis. (Im kidding, of course!) Someone thought I was serious :) Randy 
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The previous day I had the luxury to be able to move the driftboat around freely and fish different prime area's. We had approx. 18 Steelhead on that day with 1 guest useing a fly rod!
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From the Mail Bag:

Randy I would appreciate your thoughts regarding what is the appropriate "line" to use for the butt section of the fly leader when fishing for steelhead. I use 12 pound clear mono between the floating fly line and barrel swivel and then fluorocarbon for a tippet. But I also observe others using a dark brown line for this section and referred to as "chameleon". Not sure if it makes a difference, but the darker color leader is claimed to be an advantage during bright sunny days; less reflection off the line. Thus the late day activity I experienced Wednesday may not be the result of warmer water temperature, but less sunlight to reduce the reflection (or it could have been a push of steelhead entering the tailout). Thanks. Dick.

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HI Dick,

The brown mono is Maxima. Some guides use it exclusively, even for leaders or tippets to fly, bait.

It breaks approx. 1 -1/2 lb/s more than what it is rated for. (Please see my Links-The Very Best page for the best in Mono and Fluorocarbon, it all breaks at what its rated for and is also what most of the tournament anglers use around the world for all species. Its also used by many for any local, regional, national, world record hold'rs)

Blends in with a dark bottom river. Never thought about reflective qualities, hmmm.

For traditional fly casting a tapered leader transfer's the energy the best.

I just use clear 10-12 lb. straight mono for butt.

An 8 lb. mono straight butt is less current - water resistance than heavier - Diameter, so you will get into the strike zone quick'r and stay longer. Also feel the bottom better.

But, a good snag will sometimes break it, so keep an eye on it. Thats why I use a 10-12 lb. Less knot tying and lost total rig's.

Clients spend more time fishing and less time waiting on me to tie all those knots. Also, my hands stay warmer when its cold :)

Best Fish's,

Randy

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Thats it for this week's Steelhead Salmon River Pulaski NY Drift Boat Guide Fishing Report, Etc... I think I covered all the important stuff.
I'll be updating things next week and will be adding my normal educational articles, Tips, Pics, Humor, Mail Bag stuff. So stop back!
-
Stay tuned for more entertainingly informative and mildly educational reports and articles on this never-ending virtual fishing trip with your host Randy "The Yankee Angler" and friends.
I sincerely hope that what little I've been able to share with you will help you along the path to more enjoyable, safe, knowledgeable fishing.
Thanks for stopping in and spending your valuable internet fishing time here :)
Hope your all enjoying this great fishing!
Best Fish's,
Randy
(See all Photo's - www.yankeeangler.com - Fishing Reports -More Tips, Articles, Pic's, Mail Bag and my usual Ramblings :)
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Monday Guide Drift Boat Steelhead Fishing Report Salmon River Pulaski NY:
We were rewarded w/ numerous fish! Lots of jump's, somersaults and silver bullet torpedo runs.
My 2 brand new, inexperienced guest's played with over 10 steelhead while useing a combination of fly rod's and spin.
I even "accidentally" (hehe) hooked up 3 while demonstrating. All anglers I spoke with over a 3 mile stretch (that had experience). Had early success in the morning, then it slowed to a crawl by mid-day. We experienced the same.
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A guide friend w/ 1 client hit approx. 8 Steelhead useing Eggs. My other guide friends 2 clients played w/ approx. 10 Steelhead useing fly rods. I also noticed Steelhead being played with above and below where we were. I'd guess approx. 50 or more Steelhead in our general area. Also saw numerous Steelhead in certain high viz. transitional resting area's mid-afternoon as we slowly drifted by them in the drift boat.
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Tues. Guide Drift Boat Steelhead Fishing Report Salmon River Pulaski NY:
You can only turn your underwear inside out, so many times, before you HAVE to do your laundry. :)
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Wed. Guide Drift Boat Steelhead Fishing Report Salmon River Pulaski NY:
Over 20 Steelhead played with! Ye-Haaa! I can count on 1 hand how many of these days with these incredible #'s my guest's have thru out our 6 month Steelhead season each year. It's HAMMER TIME!

Thursday Guide Drift Boat Steelhead Fishing Report Salmon River Pulaski NY:
Slooowed down. Only a dozen hook'd up thru out the day ;). Hit'm in all Prime Fall Steelhead Holding and Transitional spot's.
Myself and other guides noticed a decrease in the number of fresh Chrome today. Almost all the fish played with were what I call the resident's. They were darker in color and had been in the river a short while. Takes them a couple - few weeks to get a lil dark'r. The males have rosy checks and the females will be a silvery grayish. They have taken up residence in the prime holding water. I call these "happy fish". They have all 3 things they need to be happy and survive. Just like us!
1. Protection from predator's.
2. A food source
3. Comfort equals current breaks. This conserves there energy for the long Winter.
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Friday Guide Drift Boat Steelhead Fishing Report Salmon River Pulaski NY:
Only a dozen or so played with ;), thru out the day. Hit'm in all spot's. Every single Fall Steelhead holding and transitional holding Habitat are with Steelhead. Intrested?
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All presentational techniques are producing. Some better than other's. Care to learn?
Egg's and egg imitations. Aquatics and bait fish imitations are all producing.
We used a combination of fly rods and spinning rods with incredible results.
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Humor
Today started as one of those relaxing, enjoyable, peaceful rainy days. The only thing that was irritating was when the tranquility of the day was interrupted by that darn whining sound of my guest's drag's. Then people would yell, Fish On. Come on folks, can't a guide get a lil rest,  peace and quite around here? The nerve of some people! Then I was expected to chase after this 16 lb. Steelhead that kept doing these darn 25 foot tail walks across the pool, then these obnoxious somersault's 4 feet into the air with a big ol loud belly flop with water splashing 20 feet in all directions. I would  have reeeeelly been upset if my hair had gotten wet. Then more speeding bullet run's until that bright orange stringy stuff (backing) would appear behind the fly line.
I just could not win today. Every spot I stopped to fish, my guest's would continually hook more fish. Out of 3 spot's my guest's fished, we hit them in all. I got so fed up that I finally stopped in a spot where no fish has been hooked in over 100 years, and my guest's were still able to hook some up. So much for a nice relaxing day on the water. I think I need to find a new, less stressful job, where a person can get a lil R and R. ;)
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Enjoy amazing Fishing on the Salmon River Pulaski NY w/ Drift Boat Guide Randy Jones
for Steelhead or Salmon Spin or Fly on the Salmon River NY
Hope your enjoying the Fishing Reports

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My guest, Stan the man with a Trophy 30lb. plus King Salmon. Caught while wade fishing with a fly rod.
2nd Tip for the day: (This has NEVER been published) See the rock's out of the water over Stan's right shoulder? We call those Flinestone chairs. I build them to be able to sit down and be close to the action. Any place you see these chair's would be a good - guaranteed place to fish. Why would anyone take the time or energy to build them in a bad spot? Some of us have been known to kick them over at day's end so as not to give away a prime spot. (Sneaky lil devils aren't we)
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Hello Guys!
A few years ago I was fly-fishing the Salmon River in Pulaski, NY with Geir Sivertzen and Bob Funk. We had a tremendous day catching 50 of the 85 salmon and trout that we hooked. It was truly the fishing outing of a lifetime. The river was filled with fresh lake-run Chinook and Coho salmon, brown trout and steelhead.

I was fishing with 8 pound tippet when I hooked into the Coho salmon of a lif e time. After a 25 minute battle, I managed to grab its tail as our guide Randy Jones, was busy chasing fish that Bob and Geir were fighting. My Coho salmon measured 35 inches (88.9 cm) and weighed 22 pounds (9.98 kg). After weighing and measuring it, I quickly released it back into the river. It was by far the largest Coho Salmon I had ever landed in nearly 20 years of fishing for them. The next day, I looked at the International Game Fish Association, IGFA, Record Book and saw that the 8 pound tippet class Fly Rod record was 19lb 9oz. My fish beat the World Record by well over 2 pounds. I felt sick, because I did not go through all the necessary steps to register the fish as a record. So, the old record stands, but we all know that I beat it.

 The fish was caught on one of my special flies I came up with, called Jeff's Coho Candy. It is tied on a Mustad 80500BL size 10. Recently I have started tying the same fly on a Partridge SINGLE SALMON SALAR BLACK in size 9 as well. On the left, you can see me holding the "would-have-been-a-record" Coho. From now on I'll carry a copy of the IGFA Record Book in the back of my fishing vest.

 Best fishes
 Jeff Pierce - Mustad US Sales Co-ordinator










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Moffit Angling:
This new and innovative rigging will guarantee all of your fish are hooked in the mouth. (0% mortality rate, 0% foul hooked) I would have not believed it unless I had seen it with my own eyes in the saltwater. Pat has caught 100's if not 1,000's of Steelhead useing this method and I think only 1 was hooked in the tongue. His lost rate is equal to any other method. His method will actually increase your odds of hooking up with flies as they will have more action. You can use this with bait also.
http://www.moffittangling.com

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(What a honk'a! Approx. 16 lb'r. Great way to end the day!)
Good fishing,  John
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                       Congrats!!
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There's no Nookie like Chinookie

A BIG male King Salmon. Nice underwater head shot. Dont know if Ive ever seen one of these before. Unique view!
Photo complement's of my client, Karl A. Mueller, III (All fish released for you, your friends and or your children's future fishing pleasure.)

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Steelhead Nov. - May

Steelhead Open Dates:
Lots of openings for Fall, Early, Mid, Late Winter and Spring.


Good stuff Les, Congrats again! Mustad Hooks, the best their is! - http://www.mustad.no
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Ron with a Reeel Steel Hum Dinger!  
                                        I'm often asked, "What was your best day on the water?” After 20 plus years of guiding in Vermont, Cape Cod and the Salmon River in New York, many best days tend to flash across my mind. As I search deep for one of my best fish stories, it suddenly hit's me. It wasn't my fish, my day or even my story that gave me one of the most rewarding experiences!
Just look at that young man's smile!    Congrats on that 16lb'r Tom!

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Steve and Vinny had a "Day for Kings".
Biggest Steelhead was approx. 15lb's as it catapulted itself skyward toward the heavens, somersaulting several times before splash down! I could see angler heads turning as it sounded like a big brick being thrown into the water. Then a tail walk for about 20 feet. Dam..... I love this job.
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Chris with a nice 10 lb'r. Final tally for the day was 9 total Steelhead, fly and spin rods. Congrats Gentleman!
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Congrats everyone, on those fine "Holiday Cheer" Steelhead! I can't tell who is smiling more, the fish or my guest's.

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Wow, so silver. Now you know why we call them the silver bullet. This one is almost translucent and you can't buy a fresher looking fish on this river. :) Congrats!
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We've been targeting Salmon lately due to the incredible numbers around. We have been picking up the occasional Steelie almost everyday, sometimes 2 or 3, different area's, while fishing for salmon. :)
The above picture was the last spot of the day. Planned on making just a few cast's on our way back to the parking lot. I knew this spot had remained unfished for the last hour before we got there. The odds were very good that at least a couple of fish had moved into it, as they often do. First cast, fish on, it's a steelie! Then another Chromer, then a couple Salmon in just 20 minutes or so. Out of the 4 fish, this was the only one landed. How sweet it is! Congrats on that beautiful Silver Bullet!
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Enjoy amazing Fishing on the Salmon River Pulaski NY w/ Drift Boat Guide Randy Jones
for Steelhead or Salmon Spin or Fly on the Salmon River NY
Hope your enjoying the Fishing Reports

Skip is tied into another 10 lb. Fresh Magical Silver Bullet (Landed). I'm hamming it up, ready with the net and my goofy looking hat!          
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John's reward! One out of many. An incredible colored up Spring Steelhead. What a Trophy!
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Countless people have been guided by me and most have gone on to live normal lives.
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  Tight to a Chromer!                                       (John Halnon photo credit)

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Feel free to contact my references regarding my presentations and experience:
     Trout Unlimited Chapters:  

     Finger Lakes TU, NY
     Iroquois TU, NY
     Chenango Valley TU, NY
     Scranton TU, PA
     Catskill Mt. TU, NY
     Tug Hill TU, NY
     Southeast TU, MA
     Greater Boston TU, MA
     Northeast TU, MA
     Croton Watershed TU, NY
     Clearwater TU, NY
     Mid-Hudson TU, NY
     Iron Furnace TU, PA
     Stan Cooper TU, PA
     Thames Valley TU, CT
     Hammonasset TU, CT
     Chittenango TU, NY
Also:
     Orvis-Manhattan, NY
     Orvis-Boston, MA
     Green Mt. Fly Tiers Assoc. VT
     Rivers Edge Trading Co.(Orvis)
     Central NY Fly Fishers, NY
     Oysterville Yacht Club, MA
 Also:
     Rochester Sportsman Show, NY  (2 ½ day show, paid featured guest speaker and fly casting demo’s.)
     Albany Outdoors Show, NY  (2 ½ day show, paid featured guest speaker and fly casting demo’s.)
     Wilmington Sportsman Show MA.  (2 ½ day show, paid featured guest speaker and fly casting demo’s.)
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This was written about 8 years ago and I've forgotten some of the International, National, State and Local Publications  - (Books, Magazines, Internet and Newspapers) I've been involved with since this was posted. I've even been written up in several different languages around the world..
Books - Spey Casting - Simon Gawesworth - First and also Second Editions
Rich Murphy - Fly Fishing for Striped Bass.
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I was interviewed (along with Lefty K.) for an article on 2 handed fly rods (Spey Rods) in the surf and flats that appeared in Saltwater Fly Fishing Magazine. Once again, in the same magazine for my “go to saltwater striper fly”. Also in Fly Fishing in Saltwater. Additionally, I’ve also been featured in a few guide profile articles for the Albany, Syracuse, Utica and N.Y. Times Newspapers.  Some of my “How To” articles have also appeared in the N.Y. Sportsmen, N.Y. Fishing and Hunting, Salmon River Success Magazine’s. As will as many of the other major East Coast Internet Fishing Sites. 

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Gift certificates are available for Trips.

Gift Certificate good for 2 people,  complimentary day of fishing. Good anytime.

www.YANKEEANGLER.com 

            The fishing of your dreams...

     Come wade or drift boat the world-renowned Salmon River, NY, for hard fighting salmon and steelhead during the splendor of the fall, winter and spring seasons. This summer, if you feel you're up for the fun and challenge, master your technique of sight fishing! Wade fish the many crystal-clear flats teeming with bluefish and striped bass off Cape Cod (Chatham) beaches, bays and Monomoy Island.

      Whether it's steelhead, salmon, blues or stripers that you're after, I am dedicated to introducing both new anglers and experienced anglers to the exciting world of freshwater and or saltwater fly/spin fishing. For novices, I place emphasis on fly-spin  fishing skills and supplement the day with knots, fly-bait selection, fish habitats, and prey species. For the more experienced sportsman, I'll work with you to hone your skills. I guarantee a rewarding experience.  

                                                                                     ...  we'll make it reel.


                               

                                                       Randy Jones
                         (Photo courtesy of Orvis)     http://www.ORVIS.com        

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Randy Jones is a full-time professional fly/spin fishing guide with over 30 years of experience. He has represented the Orvis Corporation as a guide and chief instructor of their 2 1/2 day Saltwater Fly fishing schools.
    During the summer, Randy can be found wade guiding the S.E. (and beyond) Cape Cod area's,  where sight casting on the flats to trophy Striped Bass is his specialty. During the Fall, Winter, and Spring Randy runs drift boat and wade trips on the world class Salmon River, Pulaski N.Y. for Steelhead, Coho, Browns, Atlantic's and Kings.
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There's no Nookie like Chinookie  

"Salmon River, where Memories are Made"

RATES: SALMON RIVER Sept. to May - Wade or Drift Boat
One Angler:.....$225
Two Anglers:...$300
Orvis Fly Equipment - Spin rods provided (Flies included)
Pulaski Hm: 315-963-2065

RATES: CAPE COD May - August  - Wade flats, beaches, bays and ocean islands.
One angler -  $275
Two anglers -$350
Orvis equipment -Spin rods and flies, bait, lures provided

Cape Cod Hm: (508)  Pulaski Hm: 315-963-2065

Hamming it up while "sightfishing" to Stripers on the Monomoy flats while tight to a keep'a!
                                                 See ya ladder,
                                                            Randy

E-mail : RandyJones@YankeeAngler.com

NEW Phone #315-963-2065

Enjoy Incredible Fishing for Trophy Salmon, Steelhead and Brown Trout with Salmon River NY Drift Boat Guide Randy Jones useing Spin or Fly Rods
Enjoy wade or drift boat fishing on the world renowned Salmon River in Pulaski NY for hard fighting salmon or steelhead during the splendor of the fall, winter and spring seasons.
Whether it's trophy sized steelhead or salmon that you're after, I am dedicated to introducing both new and experienced anglers to the exciting world of freshwater fishing. For novices, I place emphasis on Fly/Spin fishing skill and supplement the day with knots, fly/bait selection, fish habitats, and prey species. For the more experienced sportsman, I'll work with you to hone your fishing skills. I guarantee a rewarding experience.
I have a firm belief 100 % of my energy and time should be focused on you and helping you attain your goals, during our time together and not fishing along side you during this time.
I am a thoroughly proficient and professional year-round fly/spin fishing guide with 25 + years of fresh and salt water experience.

Outstanding Guided Drift Boat Fishing on the Salmon River Pulaski NY for Steelhead, Brown Trout or Salmon
September through April
The Salmon River is located in Pulaski NY on Lake Ontario's eastern shore, 30 miles north of Syracuse. Its reputation for large runs of Salmon - Steelhead and incredible average size of all species is unsurpassed by any other fishery in New England.

September 1 - October 31 - Tackle busting King Salmon averaging 10-20 lbs. will amaze you with their freight train runs. Trying to harness the raw power of a 12 lb Coho Salmon running in 20 different directions in a blink of an eye will keep you on your toes (and hopefully not on your back!)

October 15 - November - Brown Trout. Like Salmon and Steelhead you measure these Fish by the pound and not by the inch. They have entered the river to spawn and will weight from 3-10 pounds. While they are not as numerous as the Salmon or the Steelhead, these are an optional trophy of a Fishing life time.

October 20 - May 1 - Steelhead 8-15 lbs. The Fall Steelhead is without a doubt, one of the hardest fighting Fish that swims in the Salmon River NY. They'll take you into your backing in seconds, then jump start your heart with tail walking antics that will live in your memory forever.
Winter - This is one of my favorite Drift Boat Guide Fishing times of the year. With colder temperatures the crowds disappear. Steelhead continue to come into the river from the lake. A winter Drift Boat trip aboard our heated Drift Boat is a great way to learn the river and experience it's beauty. The end of February, March and April are great Steelhead Fishing days as new Fish move into and out of the river on a daily basis. As the Salmon River temperatures rise, so does the aggressiveness of the Steelhead. Often, sight fishing is possible as they move into the shallows.
We can Spin or Fly Fish for Salmon or Steelhead either by wading or using the Drift Boat..  




Quality Fishing Testimonial for the Salmon River NY catching Steelhead or Salmon with Drift Boat Guide Randy Jones
I invite you to join me and enjoy what is an unquestionably one of the finest fresh water fisheries in the eastern United States.
It may be difficult to understand the term World Class Fishing until you have been there. But perhaps this will help!

Randy, Thank you for several memorable trips this year on the Salmon River NY. The highlight of the year was definitely the outing on the Salmon River during September with my son for salmon. Never have I experienced such numbers of large and aggressive Salmon in all my 45 years of fishing. I estimate we had over 60 hook-ups on King Salmon and caught and released 12, two of which were between 30 and 35 pounds. Close behind was the spring drift boat trip for Steelhead on the remote stretch of Pucker-brush Creek. Seeing over 2 dozen Steelhead off the drift boat in a one mile stretch, with no one else around, reminded me of Alaska. After those experiences, I decided traveling to the Northwest Territories for lake trout and grayling or to Labrador for brook trout are a thing of the past and I will concentrate on the quality of fishing available in New York State. If you ever need a recommendation, I would be pleased to provide one.
Dick Koelling
Note: If you don't recognize "Pucker-Brush Creek", that is one of my secret creeks where Steelhead abound in a beautiful , pristine environment without many or even any other anglers.

Enjoy superb trophy steelhead trout fishing off the drift boat with Salmon River Pulaski NY steelhead fishing guide Randy Jones
The Guide Drift Boat allows you to Spin or Fly Fish a great deal of water for Salmon or Steelhead on the Salmon River NY. Often when the Steelhead or Salmon are scattered this is a fabulous water chariot.

At 16 feet, this 285 pound guide drift boat is comfortable and a very stable platform . It is outfitted with a propane heater to keep you nice and toasty on even the coldest days. While you can Spin or Fly fish from the drift boat, I will often stop to let clients wade and fish a particularly productive run on the Salmon River NY.

When the Steelhead or Salmon are concentrated in particular locations wading is the preferred option. At other times a drift boat is the only way to get to the fish. While I will give booking anglers a recommendation, you may want to experience one method over another. All you have to do is ask.

A  Superb sampling of some of my past weekly edited Spin or Fly - Steelhead, Salmon and Brown Trout - Drift Boat Guide Fishing Reports from the Salmon River in Pulaski NY:
Mon. - 2 new anglers, averaged a doz. Steelhead off the guided drift boat.
Tues. - 2 very experienced expert S.R. anglers, hit 21, yes, that was 21 Steelhead off the drift boat!
Wed. - Over a dozen Steelhead played with off the guided drift boat.
Thurs. - Over 17 Steelhead hooked up off the drift boat!
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Another week - I had 2 clients who fished two days in a row off the guided drift boat.
Tues. they played with 18 Steelhead and Wed. they tangled with 15 Steelhead.
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My guest's have continued to find around a dozen Steelhead each day to play with, almost every trip. Sometimes, even a few more! Same as last year. These are VERY strong averages and not the norm if you look at the last 10-15 years :)
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Drift Boat Guide Steelhead Fishing Report
We continue to see reeeeel good Steelhead fishing on the Salmon River, NY. This past week we averaged between 12 and 16 Steelhead per day off the guided drift boat. Ye-haa! I'd obviously recommend coming up! Besides anglers with drift boat guides, Im also seeing plenty of shore angler's finding a good number of fish also. That's always nice to see! Every spot that myself and other's are fishing, are with Steelhead. We still have Steelhead in transition, so those spots are still producing nicely.
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Brown Trout Fishing Report
Wed. - My guest's from Tues. joined me again today for another incredible fishing experience. At times we had a dozen 2-4  lb. Browns within a 10 by 10 foot area of the water. Sighted over 75 - 85 Browns over the course of the day with not another sole around. LOADED!! :) Incredible opportunity ALL day.
I hope you all have the chance to some day experience this truly magnificent fishery! Today we felt as though we were in Alaska, and NOT around one of the most popular fishing area's in the country! The fish we played with and landed were WAY to many to try to keep track off. Don't ya just hate when THAT happens? :)
ALL of these fish are just waiting here for YOUR, perfectly cast bait or fly. :)
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Steelhead Drift Boat Guide Fly Fishing Report:
Wed. Dozen Steelhead played with off the guide drift boat!
Thurs. Another approx. Dozen Steelies played with off the guide drift boat!
Friday - 16 Steelhead off the guide drift boat!
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Drift Boat Guide Steelhead Fishing Report:
Monday - Played with about 12-13 steelhead off the guide drift boat. Good numbers all over the place. East to West, North to South. :)
Tuesday - Played with 7 or 8 Steelhead off the guide drift boat! Hit them in 2 out of 3 spots. Learned over 3 miles of some of the best chrome hold'n territory on the river.
Wednesday - 5 Steelies with one guest off the drift boat. Ye-haa! It's hammer time.
Thursday - 6 Steelies with my one guest off the drift boat. Same as yesterday. Did one more fish today and cemented in presentation, presentation, presentation! :)

Flattering Drift Boat Fishing Testimonial's for Steelhead and Salmon Guide Randy Jones on the Salmon River NY
To quote a Drift Boat Guide that I know, our trip yesterday was O U T S T A N D I N G, in every sense of the word.  Although I live just an hour away from the Salmon River NY, I have only fished the Salmon River in Pulaski NY for four years.  I feel very comfortable with my Salmon "catching" expertise, but the elusive Steelhead is a different story.  I am still at the low end of the learning curve when it comes to chromers.  Yesterday we made some major progress on the learning curve, correcting some things I was doing wrong, and fine tuned some other points. PLUS we hit ten Steelhead and landed two.When "out of staters" come to the Salmon River NY, they have to pack a whole season into two or three days---well, yesterday, I packed a whole season of experiences, thrills of victory and the agony of losing a 16# Steelhead at the net in one very enjoyable, eight hour Guide Drift Boat trip down the Salmon River Pulaski NY.
I appreciate your patience, guidance, and sense of humor.
Thank you for an outstanding day.  

Dave, tired and sore, in Oneida.

Randy,
What a great day, just when I thought I knew a little something about steelhead fishing I had to fish with you.  You really are a class act.  I really appreciate you sharing your expertise and patience as well as some of your "honey" holes with me.  I would encourage any steelhead fisherman, novice or expert, to fish with a guide even if it's just once, and if they can get Drift Boat Guide Randy Jones they're in for a great day.  There is so much to learn about this sport and you can trim years off the "learning curve" by fishing with a real pro such as yourself. Thanks again for the fun and truly a learning fishing experience.  And thanks for not mentioning that "hog" that snuck through the hole in your net.

 

 
(What a honk'a! Approx. 16 lb. Steelhead. Great way to end the Fishing Day!)
Good fishing,  John

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Enjoy Fishing the Salmon River Pulaski NY w/ Drift Boat Guide Randy Jones
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