Pulaski, New York, has one of the most famous salmon runs in the world. Over one million salmon run up the Pulaski River, which empties into Lake Ontario, every year, and the run draws a lot of attention from anglers. There's plenty of room to fish along the protected river, whether you choose to fish near the town bridge or on part of the privately owned area that is open to anglers for a small fee. You will see crowds, but you will also have the chance to hook into 10- to 20-pound salmon consistently throughout the day.
The Pulaski River has long been a famous salmon river. From the earliest days of settlement, anglers have enjoyed these waters which boil with Coho, steelhead, rainbow trout, brown trout and other large fish. As other rivers became blocked by dams and hydroelectric plants, the Pulaski River remained open for salmon to make their annual runs from Lake Ontario back to their original spawning grounds. Today, it is one of the last remaining salmon rivers on the east coast, and arguably the most popular.
If you want to catch salmon during the spawn, the Pulaski River is the place to do it. You will find miles of river to fish, with several tight spaces with fast water where the salmon converge, as well as long and deep runs where they gather energy before continuing their pilgrimage upstream.
The best time to fish in Pulaski for salmon is from September to October; however, you can catch fish well into December. Typically, the peak season is early October when water temperatures are around 58 degrees, and water flows are moderate. During this time, the Coho salmon are most prominent. As the season progresses and water temperatures drop, the fishing can slow down. Steelhead enter the river later in the season, normally at the end of November. They fight a little harder and can be more exciting to catch.
The Pulaski River is relatively shallow from the mouth of the river to about a mile upstream. You can wade in most areas, except when the river flow is high. The protected area is about a half mile upstream and covers a pretty significant portion of the river. You can take a float boat or drift boat to fish the river, or drive along Route 5 and find a spot to fish. To fish in the Douglaston protected area, you need to buy a pass, and the office where you buy it is right on Route 5, in the parking lot near the river entrance. Passes can sell out, so go a day early to reserve one for the following day if you can.
If you want to fish the Douglaston salmon run you should book a room in one of the many angler-oriented hotels in the area. There is a Super 8 in town, a place called the 1880 House and many others. You can find out all the latest fish reports by stopping into one of the tackle stores in town. Generally anglers use salmon eggs, and fish near the bridge in the center of town, but others venture up or down river, and many opt to fish the protected area off of Route 5. Take a few days to get a lay of the land and try a few different spots. One day with a guide is definitely recommended for beginners or first timers.
