Freshwater Fall Runs Part 4: Staging Salmon

Land-locked versions of anadramous Atlantic salmon have all the fight and acrobatics of their sea-going kin, but in a smaller package.

By Jimmy FeeOctober 28, 2016

The Waters

Wachusett Reservoir, Lake Champlain Tributaries and the Upper Connecticut River

The Run:

Starting around Columbus Day, landlocked salmon head from the open water of large lakes to the rivers as they prepare to spawn. These land-locked versions of anadramous Atlantic salmon have all the fight and acrobatics of their sea-going kin, but in a smaller package.

The Gameplan:

Feeding isn’t the first thing on the salmon’s minds when they stage near tributaries awaiting favorable river conditions, but they will still strike. Smelt-colored flies, brightly colored spinners and spoons, or nightcrawlers fished under a float will all take fall landlocks. Just be sure to check regulations before fishing, as some waters close to landlocked salmon fishing in the late fall and/or allow fly-fishing only.

Check Out The Full Freshwater Fall Run Series

Jimmy Fee

Jimmy Fee is the Editor of On The Water and a lifelong surfcaster. He grew up fishing the bridges and beaches of Southern New Jersey before moving to Cape Cod in his early 20s. He's pursued striped bass from North Carolina to Massachusetts. He began with On The Water in 2008, and since then has covered a variety of Northeast fisheries from small pond panfish to bluewater billfish in the through writing, video, and podcasting.

2 responses to “Freshwater Fall Runs Part 4: Staging Salmon”

Greg W
Merrymeeting river feeding in to Winni offers exciting fall run action.
But shuts down soon.

October 28, 2016
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Noah
Excellence bite at the still water basin bridge floating worms, and small jerkbaits

November 3, 2016
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