Salmon river regulations can be tough but that does not stop the passionate anglers from salmon fishing in this nature’s retreat. The regulated areas include:

1. County Route 52 Bridge (Altmar) to Upstream River Mouth
2. First Lake Ontario Upstream Bridge to first Impassible fish Barrier
3. Oswego County – Varick Dam to Utica Street Bridge

Period of Regulations: September 1 to March 31

Hours of Regulations: No night salmon fishing allowed.Only half hour interval permitted on either side i.e. half hour after sunset and half hour before sunrise.

Regulations for Hooks

• Using more than one hook at Salmon River is not permitted for salmon fishing. Exception being that multiple hooks can be attached to floating lures.
• Hooks having multiple points are prohibited. But Double or Triple hooks may be joined with floating lures.
• Salmon fishing hooks must be free swinging (Artificial fly hooks are exempted)
• For hooks, distance between point and shank should not exceed half inch.
• Weights cannot be added to the hooks (Exception: artificial flies can add up to 1/8th ounce)
• In case of floating lures, hooks must be joined with lure using only a swivel or ring.
• The distance between attached hook point and lure body must not exceed 1.5 inches.
• From August 15 – October 31, only single hook points with lures are allowed.

Leaders

• 15 Feet – Permitted length of fishing leader including the tippet.
• For salmon fishing and trout fishing – The distance between the artificial lure/fly, fishing hook, and weight attached to the leader/line, either sliding or fixed, must be under four feet in length.
• At all times, for all tributaries of Lake Ontario situated in Oswego County, no weight should be added to leader, line, artificial fly, swivel or even lure.

Floating Lures

• Definition – When at rest, a floating lure will simply keep floating in water whether or not any weight is attached to the lure, line or leader.
• Only rings or swivels must be used to attach hooks with lure’s body for trout fishing and salmon fishing.
• Multiple hooks are prohibited for salmon fishing in all Great Lakes Tributaries falling in Oswego and Cayuga Counties excluding the Oswego River

Restricted Fishing Locations

• Beaverdam Brook – From Salmon River Hatchery Boundary to the mouth upstream
• Fishing within Salmon river Hatchery grounds is prohibited.
• Within 100 yards of any DEC fish collection device.

Non-Lead Weight

• On May 7, 2004, New York State prohibited sale of lead split shot and sinkers having a weight of less than one-half ounce.
• Only the sale is prohibited. The use is not prohibited in the New York State.
• Although, there is no restriction on weighted line, artificial lures, jig heads or weighted flies.

Fly Fishing Only Sections – Seasons and Locations

• Lower Fly Fishing Section – From Marked boundary at Beaverdam Brook to upstream County Route 52 Bridge (Altmar) fly Fishing Only is permitted – From September 15 to May 15.
• Upper Fly Fishing Only Section – From New York State Fish Hatchery boundary to the Lighthouse Hill Reservoir Tailrace boundary – From April 1 to November 30.

There are many other additional restrictions for Upper and Lower Fly Fishing Only sections of the Salmon River. These are follows:

• Only  traditional fly fishing rod, line and reel are allowed to fish in these areas.
• From May 1 to August 31 –  A single artificial fly (non-weighted) with single hook point having a gap of one-half inch is permitted only.
• From September 1 to April 30 –  A single artificial fly (weighted or non-weighted) with added weight restriction of below 1/8 oz. , with singular hook point having one-half-inch maximum gap allowed only.
• It is allowed to use weighted artificial flies.
• Maximum leader length allowed for fishing – 15 feet (Including tippet).
• Maximum Permissible distance between additional weight and Fly – 4 ft.
• No supplementary weight to enhance the propelling action of the cast, other than the shooting line/fly line, is allowed.
• No fishing is allowed during the closed season.
• From May 1 to August 31 – Only Floating Fly Lines Permitted
• From September 1 to April 30 –  Only Sinking, Floating and Sink-tip fly lines are allowed.
• From May 1 to August 31 – Metal and sinking leaders are not allowed.