In the past Lake Ontario was known for the largest population of lake dwelling Atlantic salmon anywhere. The Salmon River received its name not for the chinook salmon that now make their fall runs there, but for its once-famous runs of Atlantic salmon. By anyone's standards, these are large fish, and they are all aggressive fighters and a challenge to land. Steelhead average from 5 to 15 pounds, and brown trout average from 10 to 15 pounds. Chinook salmon in the region generally average 15 to 25 pounds. Atlantic salmon and smallmouth and largemouth bass can also be found in these waters. River and stream fishing in this region is principally for chinook and coho salmon, steelhead and brown trout. Its holds this distinction for several reasons: It is relatively large, it has a relatively constant flow due to water releases from upstream dams, and it is heavily stocked with Chinook salmon which are raised in the hatchery on the river. The Salmon River is the principal angling stream in the region. The Salmon River area, located in the Tug Hill region of New York, is widely known for it fantastic chinook (king) salmon runs each fall, and is becoming better known for its excellent steelhead and brown trout fisheries.
