Salmon River in Pulaski, NY is experiencing its annual salmon run

​For those Lehigh Valley anglers planning a late trip to Pulaski, New York to fish the famed Salmon River for big salmon, here’s what a friend reported to me form his recent trip there. 
Tom Marchetto, avid angler from Easton, recently returned from Pulaski and the following is what he experienced:  

“Our annual salmon fishing trip started Sept. 23 and we managed a few hours of  fishing at Ellis Cove. We quickly learned that the run was very sparse up river, indicating, we surmised, the annual run had not begun. Since we had no hook-ups and saw only a few salmon passing through, we moved to the popular Staircase Hole location which is down river from the estuary. The weekend gave us some excitement but fishing was marginal at best. A bit of rain and small drop in temperature gave us a satisfactory day on Monday where we found small pods of mixed Coho and Kings that led to several fish being landed. Late Tuesday afternoon was the best as lots of Coho and a few steelhead came though that found our plastic eggs and black flies baited hooks.

As the air and water temperatures were increasing, we decided to head home. Our trip was marginal at best due to low water flow, warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine which was not favorable fishing conditions. However, this Columbus Day week with forecasted cooler temps could be the peak of fishing up there. But until the temperatures drop considerably, the fish will stay circling in the estuary. Every year appears different and this year we were too early.” 

At the conclusion of the trip, Marchetto said he managed to land two kings. He released one and gave one to another angler. Better luck next year Tommy.

SOME SMALL and BIG GAME HUNTING SEASONS SET TO OPEN

This upcoming weekend (Oct. 14) is the start of the rabbit, grouse and muzzleloader bear hunting seasons statewide. The latter runs from Oct. 14-21 and during the same dates the Special Firearms season for Junior and Senior license holders and active duty military and disabled persons permit holders is open. Arms and ammo permitted for the special season is the same as during the regular firearms bear season. 

As for the muzzleloader season, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Cory Bennett, a non-resident hunter from Toms River, NJ, took a 755-pound bear with a muzzleloader Oct. 15 in Middle Smithfield, Township, Monroe County. It was the largest bear harvested in 2022, although the heaviest bear ever taken in Pennsylvania was an 875-pounder taken in 2010 in Pike County. 

Already in progress is the lengthy (seven openers including two Sundays) squirrel season which is a great time to introduce a youngster to hunting. As a junior hunter, instead of a hard-kicking shotgun for squirrel, a .22LR rifle is easier to shoot and handle and it doesn’t require picking out shot shell pellets while enjoying them as table fare. Squirrel meat is sweet as they are primarily nut eaters. It can be considered “Meals that Grow on Trees.” 

Ruffed Grouse, Pennsylvania’s state bird whose numbers vary from year to year, are a cherished gamebird that’s why there is a 2 daily limit if you’re so lucky to even flush one. They’re not easy to hunt as they prefer dense woodland cover and are super-fast flyers when flushed. 
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Upland hunters can also look forward to the upcoming pheasant hunting season which we’ll address next week.