River Report: Salmon River pulaski, ny

Not knowing what to expect from the salmon river set me up for a great experience. The town of Pulaski itself is a perfect American fishing town with river side lodges cleaning and smoking fish for a nominal fee. The waters did not disappoint. Picturesque landscapes, rippled waters, bends turns and pools were all amazing experiences. With miles of public fishing access the salmon river has a spot or situation for all to enjoy their day on the water.
Only having two days in the salmon river region we got to work on different locations along the river. First day we fished the sportsmans pool. The better action day of the two, Monday we had multiple hook ups on the fly, but like the many other anglers we seen, not one was landed. Close, but no fish in the nets. Broken leaders, straightened hooks, dislodged hooks, we saw or experienced many disappointments. Out of the over one hundred hook ups we seen throughout our long day on the water about ten were brought to a net. Still the fight, the screaming of the reel, the jumps and acrobatics of chinook salmon made our trip.
On Tuesday we moved our adventures to a fly fishing only section upstream of the salon river salmon hatchery. The day started out amazing with three hook ups right away in the morning. More screaming reels and laying line while doing battle with the salmon river kings, but once again more dislodged fish. After a couple hours in the upper fly section I hooked into a large chinook salmon and battle we did do. Upstream, down stream, line laid out and brought in for more time then I had in any previous fight this trip. 6-7 jumps, air acrobatics, summersaults and leaps. While maintaining great pressure and finessing the drag of my reel the salmon came in for us to get a great look at him. A king of fish darkened and silver all at the same time. This fish was about to cap off an amazing trip when it decided differently and took off on a last minute dash, a run for it. Down stream and into the heavy currents my line peeled off, a jump and roll and like that the battle was over. The fish had spit my fly, dislodged the hook once again. Defeat gave way to my sore wrists that had tired throughout the battle with the fish of the weekend.
Shortly after all the negativity was wiped clean as I looked down shore and josh was hooked up with a king salmon of his own. He had drifted an orange imitation sack through a pool and fed it to a beautiful hen. Finally for the first time of the whole trip we got a fish into the net, landed. Team GTO had landed a famed salmon river salmon. Our homework paid off, our custom tied flies hooked many fish, probably a dozen for the trip. It was a success.
All in all a great trip with great friends and great beers. Fat tire from New Belgium brewery and a harvest pack from Boston brewing company kept the soreness to a roar dull all trip. We have finally experienced the famed salmon river and already have another trip planned for steelhead fishing and one more for next years salmon run. Like previously stated in past blogs its like an addiction. A sickness if you will. The fight of the fish, the screaming of the reel, the pull of the drag. Energy shoots through me like a main line of adrenaline. The salmon sickness, if this is the only cure, that's alright with me.