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Regulations for the Salmon and Oswego Rivers and other
Regional Lake Ontario Tributaries
There are multiple special regulation areas on the Salmon River. The first regulated area is from mouth upstream to County Route 52 bridge in Altmar (where the lower fly fishing only section begins). These same regulations apply to all other Lake Ontario tributary streams in the region, and apply on these streams from the first bridge upstream from the Lake to the first barrier impassible to fish.
For the Oswego River, these regulations apply from the Utica Street bridge upstream to the Varick Dam. Utica Street is the second bridge up from the mouth of the Oswego River.
These regulations are in effect from September 1 through March 31, and are as follows:
Hours
- Fishing prohibited at night (which is defined as ½ hour after sunset to ½ before sunrise). In other words, you can fish only from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset.
Hooks
- Use of more than one hook is prohibited, except for multiple hooks attached to floating lures as noted below.
- The use of hooks having more than one point is prohibited, except that double or treble hooks attached to floating lures as noted below are permitted.
- Hooks attached to any lure, except an artificial fly, must be free-swinging.
- Hooks may have a gap (distance between shank and point) of no more than one half inch.
- Use of hooks with added weight are prohibited, except that artificial flies with no more than one-eighth ounce added weight may be used.
- Any hooks on a floating lure must be attached to the body of the lure by a ring or swivel.
- The distance between the body of a floating lure and the points of any attached hook must not exceed 1½ inches.
- Between August 15 and October 31, on the Salmon River only, hooks on floating lures are restricted to one hook only with a single hook point.
Leaders
- The distance between the hook, artificial fly or lure and any weight attached to the line or leader, whether fixed or sliding, shall not exceed four feet. [This is the "4 foot leader rule."]
- For all Lake Ontario tributaries located in Oswego and Cayuga Counties at all times: Weight shall not be added to the line, leader, swivels, artificial fly or lure in any manner such that the weight hangs lower than the attached hook, artificial fly or lure when the line or leader is suspended vertically from the rod.
- The total length of the leader including the tippet cannot exceed 15 feet.
Floating Lures
- A "floating lure" is a lure that floats while at rest in water regardless of any weight attached to the line, leader or lure.
- Any hooks on a floating lure must be attached to the lure by a ring or swivel.
- The distance between the body of a floating lure and the points of any attached hooks shall not exceed one and one-half inches.
- Waters where multiple single, double or treble hooks are prohibited: All Great Lakes tributaries within Cayuga and Oswego Counties except the Oswego River.
Restricted Locations
- Fishing in Beaverdam Brook from the mouth upstream to the boundary of the Salmon River Hatchery property is prohibited at all times.
- Fishing on the grounds of the Salmon River Hatchery is prohibited at all times.
- Fishing within 100 yards of any DEC fish collection device on the Salmon River is prohibited at all times.
- Fishing anywhere between County Route 52 bridge in Altmar upstream to the Lighthouse Hill Reservoir is prohibited except in the two fly fishing only sections, the regulations for which are described below.
Non-Lead Weight
- On May 7, 2004, the sale of lead sinkers and split shot weighing one-half ounce or less was prohibited in New York State.
- This prohibition does not include artificial lures, weighted line, weighted flies or jig heads.
- This regulation does not prohibit the use of lead sinkers under one-half ounce; it only prohibits their sale in the state.
Special Regulations for the Two Fly Fishing Only
Sections of the Salmon River
Additional restrictions for fishing in the Lower and Upper Fly Fishing Only areas of the Salmon River are as follows:
- Traditional fly fishing rod, reel, and line only.
- Single artificial flies having one hook point with a 1/2 inch maximum gap. A weighted fly may have no more than one-eighth ounce added weight.
- Weighted artificial flies are permitted.
- Maximum leader length including tippet is 15 feet.
- Maximum distance between fly and any additional weight is four feet.
- All fish must be immediately released without unnecessary injury.
- Weight shall not be added to the line, leader, swivel, or artificial fly such that the weight hangs lower than the attached fly when the line or leader is suspended vertically from the rod. Use of supplemental weight such that the weight is the primary means of propelling the cast rather than the fly line or shooting line is prohibited (Example: Chuck 'N Duck Casting).
Locations and Seasons for the Fly Fishing Only Sections
The Lower Fly Fishing Only Section is located from County Route 52 bridge in Altmar 0.25 miles upstream to a marked boundary at Beaverdam Brook. These special regulations for this section of the river are in effect, and this section of the river may only be fished, from September 15 through May 15.
The Upper Fly Fishing Only Section is located from a marked boundary upstream, to the NYS Salmon River Fish Hatchery property upstream approximately 0.6 miles to a marked boundary at the Lighthouse Hill Reservoir tailrace. These special regulations for this section of the river are in effect, and this section of the river may only be fished, from April 1 through November 30.
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