Idaho ·
Salmon River Fly Fishing Report - January 1/4/2026
SALMON RIVER FLY FISHING REPORT
Pulaski, NY — Winter Steelhead Update
Report Date: January 4, 2026 | Next Update: January 11, 2026
Current River Conditions
Winter steelhead are present and moving — but conditions are winter‑tough. Expect cold air, snow on the banks in places, and variable clarity from local runoff. Pick your days and wading spots with access and safety in mind.
Flows & Clarity
Typical winter releases and spill adjustments keep flows moderate — many gauges reporting in the low thousands of CFS (check the DEC/current gauge before you go).
Water Clarity: variable — stained to off‑color in run sections after snowmelt/slush; pockets and tailouts commonly clearer.
Typical winter releases and spill adjustments keep flows moderate — many gauges reporting in the low thousands of CFS (check the DEC/current gauge before you go).
Water Clarity: variable — stained to off‑color in run sections after snowmelt/slush; pockets and tailouts commonly clearer.
Water Temperature
Current: near freezing to mid 30s °F (0–3°C).
Fish are slow to react in cold water; presentations must be subtle and properly weighted.
Current: near freezing to mid 30s °F (0–3°C).
Fish are slow to react in cold water; presentations must be subtle and properly weighted.
Weather & Access
Cold, periodic snow and icy banks; daytime highs often in the 20s–30s °F. Expect parking/road slush and occasional short closures — check local outfitters and NY DEC updates for access notes before heading out.
Cold, periodic snow and icy banks; daytime highs often in the 20s–30s °F. Expect parking/road slush and occasional short closures — check local outfitters and NY DEC updates for access notes before heading out.
Fishery Status
Winter steelhead are moving into the river — most action reported in mid–upper river pools and deeper tailouts. Angler success is typically low-to-moderate, but dedicated spots and correct tactics produce quality hookups.
Winter steelhead are moving into the river — most action reported in mid–upper river pools and deeper tailouts. Angler success is typically low-to-moderate, but dedicated spots and correct tactics produce quality hookups.
What the Fish Are Doing
In early January the Salmon River is dominated by winter steelhead (fresh and holdover fish). With low water temperatures the fish sit in the best oxygenated water — deep tails, current seams, and pool heads. They will often take slowly presented eggs, small nymphs, leeches and the occasional aggressively swung fly. Expect fewer insect hatches now; focus on subsurface offerings and careful presentations.
Tactics & Best Times
Primary approaches for January:
- Indicator/float rigs with bead eggs or soft, tungsten nymphs fished through pool tails and seams.
- Swinging traditional steelhead flies and streamers across current seams (low, slow speeds).
- Slow, deep retrieves on sculpin/leech streamers near boulders and undercut banks.
- Fish long leaders (6–9') and stout butt sections — cold fish often follow a fly before committing.
- Indicator/float rigs with bead eggs or soft, tungsten nymphs fished through pool tails and seams.
- Swinging traditional steelhead flies and streamers across current seams (low, slow speeds).
- Slow, deep retrieves on sculpin/leech streamers near boulders and undercut banks.
- Fish long leaders (6–9') and stout butt sections — cold fish often follow a fly before committing.
Essential Gear
Rods & Lines
7–9 wt rods for single‑handed swing/streamer work; sink-tip or full‑sinking for deep streamer lanes. Floating line + long leader for indicator and egg rigs.
7–9 wt rods for single‑handed swing/streamer work; sink-tip or full‑sinking for deep streamer lanes. Floating line + long leader for indicator and egg rigs.
Leaders & Tippet
Long, tapered leaders 9–12 ft and fluorocarbon 8–12 lb for main tippet; 15–20 lb shock tippet for heavy swings or streamers on big fish.
Long, tapered leaders 9–12 ft and fluorocarbon 8–12 lb for main tippet; 15–20 lb shock tippet for heavy swings or streamers on big fish.
Safety
Winter wading requires studded boots / ice cleats, layered dry garments, and always fish with a partner where possible. Watch for thin ice and marginal access.
Winter wading requires studded boots / ice cleats, layered dry garments, and always fish with a partner where possible. Watch for thin ice and marginal access.
Recommended Patterns — Winter Steelhead Focus
The list below groups flies by approach. Each pattern link goes to a trusted tier of flies from our supply sheet — I selected robust, proven choices for Salmon River winter conditions. All are sized or available in multiple sizes; match size to water and depth.
Egg Patterns (primary winter choice)
- Slush Egg — Apricot — compact, slightly weighted egg imitation that fishes well on a float or under an indicator.
- Sunny Side Up — Fl. Orange — highly visible, attractor egg that triggers hard follows in stained water.
- Sunny Side Up — Pink — a slightly subtler egg profile for clearer pockets; excellent as a dropper.
- EZ Egg — Apricot (barbless) — soft, realistic bead‑style egg for nymph rigs and strike indication setups.
Nymphs & Jigs (indicator / dead‑drift)
- Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig — Olive — compact, tungsten jig for tight dead‑drifts and indicator rigs.
- Tungsten Dart — Red — dart style nymph that slides into seams and triggers decisive takes.
- Olsen's Straggle Stone — Brown — stonefly/robust nymph profile that works when larger food is present.
- Egan's Frenchie — a go‑to beadhead attractor/nymph that fishes well as a trailer or lead fly.
Streamers & Leeches (swing, strip, or twitch)
- Egan's Poacher — Olive — a versatile jig/streamer useful for anchored swings and strip retrieves.
- Egan's Poacher — Black — darker contrast for low‑light or stained water streamer presentations.
- Coffey's Sparkle Minnow Sculpin — a sculpin profile that draws aggressive takes in deeper runs and near structure.
- Balanced Leech — Black — classic leech pattern for slow presentations and vertical swings in pools.
Swing / Traditional Steelhead Flies
- Egan's Poacher — Olive — also an excellent swing fly when skated or dead‑drifted in a broad arc.
- Balanced Leech — Bruised — for long, even swings; fishes well when steelhead want something bigger.
- Tungsten Jig Bugger — Olive (barbless) — jig streamer that doubles as a nymph/bugger on indicator rigs or swung on a short line.
- Mini Jig Leech — Black — smaller profile for pressured fish and tight lane work.
Rigging & Presentation Notes
- Egg rig: small foam or yarn egg beneath a small float/indicator with a short dropper (1–3') to a tungsten micro‑nymph works extremely well in winter. Keep depth tight to the target water column.
- Indicator nymphing: long leaders (9–12') with a lightly weighted jig or beadhead on the point; try a micro‑nymph or weighted Frenchie as an anchor and an egg or soft nymph trailer.
- Swinging: short casts across the seam, allow fly to swing across and down; slow hands and slight pauses imitate wounded bait — pace is everything in cold water.
- Streamer work: strip in short strips and hold in current pockets; fish the edges and deep tails where steelhead ambush.
Where to Focus
Target pool tails, inside seams, undercut banks, and deep slots near structure. In low to moderate flows concentrate on the middle and upper river pools where winter fish hold. If water is stained, fish the seams and tailouts where fish can hold out of the main surge.
Final Tips from the Guide
- Be patient: cold fish are deliberate. Small changes in weight or fly profile will often produce the difference between a follow and a hook‑up.
- Keep a selection of eggs in high‑visibility and natural colors — alternate until you find the trigger color for the day.
- Check local access, boat ramp status, and DEC advisories each morning. Snow and ice can change access quickly.
- Leave mature fish alone if running eggs in spawning gravels — practice selective catch & release and follow local regulations.
