[1] Run timing : A few early fish in late April and May, a larger early summer component in mid to late June thru July, a late summer early fall component from mid to late September into October, and then a trickle of late running

fish thru the winter .
[2] They spawn in late winter to early spring. Usually some will be spawning in Feb. and continue into April. Under hatchery conditions we have spawned them in mid to late January and early Feb. but presently we spawn them in April when we collect the winter run fish. We have to delay taking the eggs until April because we can no longer hold the fish inside the hatchery because of the possible transfer of diseases such as VHS.
[3] The Skamania steelhead are named after the Skamania Fish Hatchery that is located on the North Fork of the Washougal River in the State of Washington. The Skamania Strain is derived from wild summer run fish taken from the Washougal River and Klickitat River starting in 1956. Some Cowlitz River fish were also used in the late 1950's. Eggs were cultured and stcoking started in 1959. The hatchery strain [Skamania ] were stocked to supplement the wild strain of summer steelhead and are used in the majority of the Columbia River Basin watershed.
[4] We clip the Skamania with an adipose fin clip in order to keep them separate for ID from the Chambers Creek winter run steelhead. In the past we used a pectoral fin clip one year and then alternated with a pectoral /adipose clip the next year to distinguish year classes. We stopped this to only use the adipose clip as it is easier on the fish. We use a little bit of data on the age classes but it is worth more to have better survival by not stressing the fish with extra clips.
[4] Fish are like people in the sense that some are fast, some are slow, some tall, some short, some skinny, some fat, some aggressive , some passive, etc. I think given the time they have been in the river, water flows, water temperature, closeness to spawning time, etc. all play an effect in how well the fish fight.. When the summer fish actually enter the river in the early summer months before the water gets too warm  [55 F ro 65 F optimum ] the Skamania are very active especially toward chasing things up high in the water column or on the surface, and when hooked fight spectacular. When the water gets above 68 F they get lethargic and sluggish in order to conserve energy  so if caught they tire quicker and do not fight as well. Same goes for winter run fish that enter in Oct. or November that are in optimum temps. of 42 F to 50 F, they fight like a crazed animal. Let the water drop below 40 F and get down into the mid to low 30's and they slow down. Put them side by side late winter /early spring when they are spawning they are about equal in fighting quality with most of their energy being used for reproduction there is not as much energy for fighting when hooked. There are both Skamania and Chambers Creek running in the Salmon River NY in October. I would guess that very quickly the majority will probably be the Chambers Creek winter fish. To mix things up a little more there can also be some domestic rainbows mixed in the run. These are rainbow trout that we stock directly in Lake Ontario NY that will then run up whatever river of their choosing to spawn as they are not really imprinted to any specific stream. They have also been manipulated thru fish culture to spawn in the fall unlike the natural spring spawnig of rainbows & steelhead. 

DOES ALL THIS INFORMATION MAKE YOU JUST WANNA GO FISHING????  IS HIRING A GUIDE WITHIN YOUR BUDGET?  IF SO, CALL US BECAUSE WE FISH IT AND WE LIVE IT HERE ON THE SALMON RIVER IN PULASKI NY.  SUMMER RATES:  $149 per person, we supply all the fishing tackle, flies, rods, knowledge.

Bottom Line:  When fishing in the SUMMER months of June, July, and August, you understand that these months are not PRIME or HOT like our FALL months of September, October, or November for RIVER FISHING on the Salmon River in Pulaski and Altmar New York.  They are quiet & peaceful with no rude crowds and anglers who are seeking solitude and BIG fish where quality rules quantity.

(315) 489-6115 cell to speak with the owner, Dawn A. Rucando and to make a reservation with one of her full time local Salmon River NY fishing guides.

This information was provide by: Fran Verdoliva who is our Region 7 Salmon River NY Cooridnator at the Salmon River NY Fish Hatchery.  He can be reached by phone at: (315) 298-5051