The Iroquois called this river heh-hah-wa-gah, or Where Swim the Sweet Fish. Today it’s known as the Salmon River. The salmon run starts in early September and attracts anglers from all over the world. The downtown Pulaski area is one of the more popular public access spots on the waterway.
Anglers cross the bridge on Salina Street to check out the river in downtown Pulaski on Saturday, October 15, 2022.
Local river guide, Dave Paro, stands for a portrait at the Pineville River Landing on the Salmon River.
The salmon run has changed significantly since the "wild west" days of the 1980's, according to local guide, Dave Paro. He mentioned that is in part due to the increased lodging capacity from privatization and development efforts along the river.
Trout, as seen in an aquarium, at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery.
Alfred Hager, a truck driver from Buffalo, New York fishes with his family at a public access site on the Salmon River in Downtown Pulaski.
An archival portrait hangs in the Salmon River Sport Shop in downtown Pulaski, New York. The shop somewhat doubles as its own museum, with images and trophy catches from their staff and customers.
4819 Salina Street, in downtown Pulaski, was allegedly sold due to unpaid taxes by the previous owner. The location has riverside property line.
A for sale sign stands on display at Fireman’s Field in Pulaski, New York.
Anglers travel through the Salmon River with a paid river guide near the Pineville River Landing.
Salmon congregate in the holding pens at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery in Altmar, New York. The salmon run is thoroughly dependent on the efforts of the taxpayer funded hatchery to maintain populations in a heavily pressured river.
A dead King Salmon as seen on a dried riverbed near the Salmon River in Pulaski, New York. Most species of salmon that run the river die after spawning and can be seen frequently throughout the river.
King Salmon eggs as seen on the riverbed of South Sandy Creek in Oswego County, New York. Salmon eggs are a frequent sight along the river, especially along popular fishing sites. They also provide an abundant food source for steelhead trout, which follow the salmon upstream.
Anglers rest near the Trestle Pool North Parking public access site.
A no trespassing sign, as seen on the river, at the entrance to the Douglaston Salmon Run, which is owned by the Barclay Family. It’s technically legal to take a boat through this section of the river, but if the boat touches a rock or the bottom at any point they can be charged with trespassing.
A line of oversized and suspiciously placed rocks can be seen on the property line, just behind the sign.
A female angler fishes on the Salmon River near Altmar, New York
Fly lures as seen on display at the Salmon River Sports Shop in Downtown Pulaski, New York. Zana Gervais, store owner, makes the lures by hand since the cheap, mass-produced lures have a tendency to bend during a catch.
Zana Gervais stands for a portrait while spooling line in the Salmon River Sports Shop on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Zana is a third-generation store owner and bought the store from her family in 2020. She is an expert angler and is actively sought out by visitors for her educational videos on Youtube.
When asked about the history of privatization of the river she stated, “I do recall when that first happened, it being a big deal. I remember the energy of it. That’s all anyone wanted to talk about. Now, it’s just taken as part of the fishery and something that’s accepted. Like ‘alright, this is happening. It can happen.’ It’s happening more all the time.”
A corkboard full of portraits of customers with former catches hangs on display in the Salmon River Sports Shop.
Herman Peterson, an antiques dealer of Richmondville, New York poses with a King Salmon at the Pineville River Landing.
Eric Geary, a local river guide from S.W.A.T Fishing said, “I mean, this is a blue-collar fishery. We have our doctors and lawyers and New York socialites. But most of the people that are coming here, they're plumbers and carpenters, and they're blue-collar guys that get their hands dirty for a living… We want to see working guys and gals here. So, I hope that the access doesn't get any harder or any more expensive.”
An angler stands in the Salmon River in front of the Fireman’s Field shoreline.
A fisherman takes a break and has a beverage on the Salmon River near Altmar, New York. Apart from trying to land a trophy catch, anglers can often be seen resting, napping, sipping, and enjoying makeshift outdoor lounges all along the riverside.
A private property sign as seen on display near the Tailwater Lodge in Altmar, New York. In recent years, more property owners have been posting no trespassing signs as the result of crowding and littering related issues.
Anglers fish inside of the Barclay owned Douglaston Salmon Run, near the estuary on the Salmon River. The location of this property has the added advantage of getting the first access to the annual salmon run.