OSWEGO COUNTY – Despite the shadow of COVID-19 and low water levels, the 2020 Salmon Season has been well attended, with several strong runs of fish making their way up the river and onto the lines of enthusiastic anglers.
The mild drought conditions of the spring and summer resulted in dry wells and a lower level on the Upper Salmon River reservoir. However, regular rainfall during the early autumn supplemented the releases of water to bring the fish upstream.
Although the coronavirus pandemic caused some regular visitors to alter or cancel fishing plans, the banks of the salmon were lined with fishermen in numbers very close to usual.
Those who practice to pursue the various species of salminoid do not hesitate to travel in search of the perfect day on the water.
“This is a family tradition, and our goal this year is to have my son catch his first salmon,” said Chris Ryan, a visitor from the Baltimore, Maryland area. “We always look forward to coming up for salmon season, with the atmosphere on the river and the beautiful Fall foliage just adding to the experience.”
The low water levels are a cause for concern with regard to the fish arriving at the Salmon River Hatchery in Altmar in sufficient numbers, resulting in a closure of a portion of the River to fishing activity. Without enough fish arriving to harvest sperm and eggs to ensure a new generation of salmon, the fishery would eventually shut down, and with it, an economic engine that many Northern Oswego County businesses depend on.
The fishing season draws a wide variety of anglers to the area, ranging from seasoned regulars that know every hole and bank in the river, to those who are trying a new sport for the first time, discovering an activity that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.
“We are new to this, but the challenge will keep us coming back, even if we don’t catch anything,” said Anthony Murphy, who drove down from Watertown with his fishing buddy, John Collinger. “It’s become an addiction.”
“It is just fun to watch the other fishermen,” Collinger said. “And it’s great just to be outdoors.”
Just to be outdoors – perhaps this is the real reason so many people visit the Salmon River each autumn. Catching a large fish is nice, but just spending quality time in a beautiful setting while joining in with kindred spirits in a mutually loved sport is just as rewarding to many. That alone will bring them back next fall to try their luck again and again.
Like many outdoor activities, salmon fishing is highly weather dependent, and the weather, as we all know, is controlled by no one. Too much water or too little poses a challenge that can be mitigated but not fully controlled.
Salmon anglers are a hardy group, and many will go to great lengths to pursue the sport and the species they love, even if the conditions are not perfect. For the business men and women along the Salmon River corridor, this resilience is a blessing, ensuring that the anglers will return every fall along with the salmon, keeping the economic engine turning and the tradition alive.
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