More on the Salmon and Chateauguay

A different type of fishing that has seen rewards been reaped by many. This forum allows us to learn more about Float and Fly fishing from those who have made it their number 1 way to fish.
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beachburger
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Post by beachburger »

Fished the Salmon and Chateaugay again last night. Wrote another novella about The Big One ("The Young Man and the River"). Hit Send again and had it disappear again.
Try writing your novella in Notepad and then copy/paste it into the form. If something craps out, at least you still have a copy and can try again.
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ganman
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Post by ganman »

As for the quality of the water, I don't know about the chemical make-up, but for the last few weeks it has been almost gin-clear and fairly cold. (I think it was about 60F on Saturday night and about 56F by about 11:00 p.m. last night).
In low water a greater percentage of streamflow comes from groundwater sources which are colder and clearer than surface runoff. The brown colour comes from tannin. The northern Adirondacks have alot of hemlocks which are full of tannin.

I've seen 75F temps in June and thought what the hell is it going to be like come August only to find everything quite okay. I've been told by the NY DEC that they lose very few trout in summer. Low water in winter, cold air temps and lack of snowcover is the real killer.

I'll answer your other question in a PM
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Adams
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Post by Adams »

Thanks for the great info so far folks.

Another question. I'm heading down next weekend and look forward to fishing some of my old favourite spots.

I used to run into Massena to pick up my license. Is there anywhere else more convenient on the way in?
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Todd B.
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Post by Todd B. »

There's also the K-mart in Malone.
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Salar
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Post by Salar »

If you have had a New York license within the past few years, then you should be able to buy your license online through the New York DEC. You will need to know your DEC ID number.

https://nyfgisales.vansis.wcom.com/fgny ... elcome.jsp

You can also phone the DEC to purchase a license at 1-866-933-2257. Again, you will need to have previously purchased a license withing the past few years.

The Kmart in Malone sells fishing licenses and opens at 8am on Saturdays. From there just take Hwy 11 east to get to the Chateaugay.

Cheers,

Salar
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ganman
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Post by ganman »

:lol: :lol: I once spent 1 hr in the Malone Kmart once buying a license. Nobody knew how do issue a non resident license. Not the sharpest bunch. It may save time to get one at the town clerks office in Fort Covington. There are signs out on the highway directing you. The office is on your way out of town. You may want to consider a one day license I'm pretty sure NY license go from Sept 30/07-Sept 30/08.....I think :lol: :lol:
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Adams
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Post by Adams »

Thanks for your help guys. Unfortuantely I haven't been down in the last couple years and don't have a recent license. I had the same experience at K-mart a number of years ago so good to see they haven't changed a bit.

I also tried the town clerk once but it was kind of hit or miss if she was there. I think I'll just head to Massena. Thanks for the help.

Anybody been down lately? How are the water levels? I'm hoping the recent rain has helped some.

Thanks again
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ganman
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Post by ganman »

Here is a web site for the US Geological service I've used in the past. It may not have the river you're looking for but you can get an idea by other streams in the region. Just mouse over the dots for info.

http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/?m=real&w=map&r=ny

A few years ago the NY DEC was contemplating changing regulations on the Salmon, making a no-kill zone, fly fishing only etc.. They did a very comprehensive survey of the river including fish species, temperatures. sub strata, invertebrate and benthic populations. They did electro shocking surveys etc. at various locations. I believe they took two years.

A DEC biologist from the Raybrook office whom I got to know well was kind enough to give me a copy of the internal draft of the study. It is at least 75 pages long. I have a similar draft for the Ausable. Some of the of the findings were very surprising. The biggest I guess is that the river is at times full of big slimy eels below Malone.

Nothing ever came of the recommendations because there was such an uproar from fish and game groups in the area who wanted nothing to do with no-kill or fly fishing sections. They had plans also for the Chateauguay, Little Salmon and Chazy rivers.

Some how I'd like to post that survey. Not sure of the ramifications if I can do so.
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Adams
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Post by Adams »

Ganman

I'd be very interested in reading that report. Can you pm me with it?

It is definitely a tough sell with the locals that have a tradition of fishing out "the hole" every year but that would great if they would do it. Look at the Ausable, not to many can argue with that success. Nice to here that the NY DEC is at least investigating it.

I'm have no problem with keeping a couple fish for the pan, but if my choice is no fish and a great fishery, I'll gladly head to the market for my fish fry.

Thanks again for the all great info.

Tod
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ganman
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Post by ganman »

The locals were threatening all sorts of reprisals if they carried out the recommendations.

One of the worst cases of local yahoo justice was what happened at Little Tupper Lake. LT is about 2,000 acres and was the largest lake in the Adirondacks with its original strain of brook trout. The lake had been protected by the Whitney family who acted as guardians and owned thousands of acres surrounding the lake for decades. They donated the estate to the state with the codicil that the trout in LT would be protected with strict regulations.

Locals, angered with a "How dare they attitude" seeded the lake deliberately with bass and perch. The lake is ruined now.
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Adams
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Post by Adams »

Heading down early Friday morning and can't wait. Anybody been down recently? Any hints would be appreciated.

Thanks
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Salar
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Post by Salar »

PM Sent
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Manfred
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Anybody been down recently?

Post by Manfred »

Does anyone have any recent reports? Some guys have mentioned that they have not bothered to go down because of the low water. I am thinking of giving it a try this weekend, but wondered how others have found it recently.
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Salar
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Post by Salar »

PM sent.
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Manfred
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Post by Manfred »

Fished the Salmon and the Chateaugay on the afternoon and into the night of Saturday 29 September.

Did I make a Salar sighting about 1:30 p.m near the angler's parking lot about 1km below the Lower Flat Rock bridge? I thought I recognized him from his photos.

The main reason for writing this is to tell anyone who can make use of the information that, as of yesterday, the water is no longer low. In fact, at two points on the Salmon and on a stretch of the Chateaugay, the water was just into the grass.

It's funny: I had become accustomed to the lower water and felt like I had a decent feel for the feeding lanes at a few different locations. The higher water seemed to change everything.

I also fished for a while in the Chasm Falls area. I understand what Ganman means about wild trout. I had a little fellow on and he was more like a rocket than a stocked brown. He jumped twice before spitting the hook.

At about 7:00 p.m., the Iso's were coming up and over the Sam Cook bridge on the Chateaugay in such quantity that it looked like smoke billowing over the top of the bridge. I caught two feisty small ones nearby, but the high water seemed to wash out the run and significantly change it from what I had come to know over the last few months. The walking and wading that I subsequently did to get both downriver and back up did not reflect well on my judgment. Arguably of more importance, it also did not net any more big browns.

I spent most of today trying to come to terms with the fact that yesterday might well have been the last trip to the Salmon and the Chateaugay for the year. I can confirm what others have said about the wait for licences in the Malone stores. Between the added time that would entail in buying a new licence and my schedule for the next couple of weeks, yesterday might well have been the end of the season for me.

Can we all start writing about steelhead soon?

How many hours must one drive from Ottawa to have a good chance of landing a few steelhead on a given day?

The Salmon and Chateaugay reopen on 1 April 2008...
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