Salmon River Reservoir Fishing
A 2,900-acre New York reservoir in Oswego County.
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Salmon River Reservoir: size, place and access
Salmon River Reservoir is a reservoir of about 2,900 acres, its outline lying in Oswego County. DEC files the shoreline owner as DEC (4). Head to Altmar, some 7 miles away, for food and fuel. It falls in DEC Region Central New York.
Fish on the DEC list here: brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. There are 5 mapped launches on its shore. The DEC list describes the launch as trailer improved. Its ice entry reads ice fishing permitted. DEC stocking lists show releases in 6 separate years since 2017.
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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DEC sources tie these fish to Salmon River Reservoir; more species surely swim there.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Launches on Salmon River Reservoir
- Hall Island State Forest Launch on Salmon River Reservoir near Altmar (north)hard surface ramp, 25 car-and-trailer spaces; managed by DEC
- Public Launch on Salmon River Reservoir near Altmar (north)hard surface ramp, 22 car-and-trailer spaces; managed by DEC
- Hall Island State Forest Launch on Salmon River Reservoir near Altmar (south)unpaved trailer launch, 6 car-and-trailer spaces; managed by DEC
- Public Launch on Salmon River Reservoir near Altmar (south)hand launch; managed by DEC
- Salmon River State Forest Launchhand launch, parking: 16 car and 0 car-trailer spaces; managed by DEC
Walk-in angler sites on Salmon River Reservoir
- Salmon River fishing access parking 12Angler parking area, bank fishing, stocked: atlantic, chinook, coho salmon
- Salmon River fishing access parking 11Angler parking area (Public Fishing Rights), bank fishing, stocked: atlantic, chinook, coho salmon
- Redfield Fishing Platform, Hall Island State Forest fishing access, AltmarFishing Pier, pier, bank fishing
- Salmon River angler parking Ont-53, Salmon River 2Angler parking area (Public Fishing Rights), bank fishing
- Salmon River angler parking Ont-53, Salmon River 7Angler parking area (Public Fishing Rights), bank fishing
- Salmon River angler parking Ont-53, Salmon River 8Angler parking area (Public Fishing Rights), bank fishing
- Salmon River angler parking Ont-53, Salmon River 9Angler parking area (Public Fishing Rights), bank fishing
- Salmon River angler parking Ont-53, Salmon River 10Angler parking area (Public Fishing Rights), bank fishing
- Salmon River angler parking Ont-53, Salmon River 11Angler parking area (Public Fishing Rights), bank fishing
- Salmon River angler parking Ont-53, Salmon River 12Angler parking area (Public Fishing Rights), bank fishing
- Salmon River angler parking Ont-53, Salmon River 16Angler parking area, bank fishing
More boat launches near Salmon River Reservoir
- Public Launch on Salmon River near Altmar (east)Salmon River, 7 miles west
- Public Launch on Salmon River near Altmar (west)Salmon River, 9 miles west
- Public Launch on Fish Creek (West Branch)Fish Creek (West Branch), 10 miles south
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Seasons and creel rules at Salmon River Reservoir
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Lake trout | 3; minimum 21" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30) | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Dec 1 to Jun 14) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum 40" | Jun 1 – Nov 30 |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1; minimum 30" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Northern pike | 5; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Chain pickerel | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Black and white crappie | 25; minimum 10" | All year |
| Yellow perch | 50 | All year |
| Sunfish | 25 | All year |
| American eel | 25; minimum 9" | All year |
Statewide DEC limits govern Salmon River Reservoir wherever a county rule below does not replace them.
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations (statewide table effective April 1, 2026); county special regulations from the DEC region pages; retrieved October 24, 2026, figures checked against the DEC pages October 25, 2026.
What DEC puts in Salmon River Reservoir
DEC stocked Salmon River Reservoir 22 times in 2023 to 2026; chinook top the count.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Brown Trout | planned spring 2026 | 2 | 1,070 | 12 -15 inches, 9 – 10 inches |
| 2025 | Chinook | stocked | 1 | 301,701 | 3.8 in |
| 2025 | Landlocked Salmon | stocked | 3 | 71,230 | 6.06 in, 6.73 in, 6.8 in |
| 2025 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 64,000 | 1.6 in |
| 2025 | Brown Trout | stocked | 2 | 1,040 | 13.8 in, 9.5 in |
| 2024 | Chinook | stocked | 1 | 301,475 | 3.6 in |
| 2024 | Landlocked Salmon | stocked | 3 | 72,979 | 6.2 in, 6.5 in, 7.4 in |
| 2024 | Brown Trout | stocked | 2 | 1,000 | 13.8 in, 9.2 in |
| 2023 | Chinook | stocked | 1 | 301,687 | 3.8 in |
| 2023 | Landlocked Salmon | stocked | 4 | 92,177 | 6.2 in, 6.4 in, 6.6 in |
| 2023 | Brown Trout | stocked | 2 | 1,000 | 13.6 in, 8.9 in |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and DEC Current Season Spring Trout Stocking, 2026 (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 24, 2026. New York stocking.
Heaviest New York fish from Salmon River Reservoir
| Species | Weight | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon, Chinook | 47 lb. 13 oz. | Kurtis Killian | 1991 |
| Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse | 11 lb. 11 oz. | Joe Williams | 1996 |
DEC current state record fish table, retrieved October 24, 2026. All New York records.
Comparing Salmon River Reservoir with nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon River Reservoir | 2,900 | 5 | 11 | yes | |
| Lakeview Pond | 23 miles northwest | 197 | 1 | 6 | |
| Oneida Lake | 23 miles south | 51,324 | 5 | 7 | yes |
| Delta Reservoir | 27 miles southeast | 2,378 | 1 | 8 | |
| Kayuta Lake | 35 miles east | 467 | 0 | 4 | yes |
| Onondaga Lake | 35 miles southwest | 2,976 | 1 | 8 |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
A few miles from Salmon River Reservoir
New York lakes in the Salmon River Reservoir area
- Lakeview Pond23 miles northwest
- Oneida Lake23 miles south
- Delta Reservoir27 miles southeast
- Kayuta Lake35 miles east
- Onondaga Lake35 miles southwest
Shops worth a stop en route to Salmon River Reservoir
- Salmon River Reservoir Boat Launchmarina, Oswego, 3 miles
- Catskill Fly Fishing Adventures Dba Salmon River Outfittersfly shop, Altmar, 7 miles
- Pineville Tackle & Archerybait and tackle shop, Pulaski, 9 miles
- Fat Nancy's Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Oswego, 12 miles
- Sandy Creek Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Oswego, 13 miles
- Woody's Tackle and General Store,incbait and tackle shop, Pulaski, 16 miles
Fishing guides who work Salmon River Reservoir
- Blue Line Adventuresfishing guide, Oswego
- Broad Horizons Guide and Charter Servicecharter, Oswego
- Cold Steel Sportfishingcharter, Altmar
- Combat Fishingfishing guide, Lacona
- Dan's River Guide Servicefishing guide, Pulaski
- Dirty Bill's Guide Servicefishing guide, Altmar
Towns handy for Salmon River Reservoir trips
- Pulaski13 miles
- Camden15 miles
- Mexico19 miles
Counties along Salmon River Reservoir
- Oswego Countycounty seat Oswego
Piscifun picks for fishing Salmon River Reservoir
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Shores, kills and lakes by Salmon River Reservoir, pictured
Photo: John Brighenti, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Salmon River Reservoir, asked and answered for Empire State anglers
Which New York county is Salmon River Reservoir in?
Find it in Oswego County, DEC Central New York, about 7 miles from Altmar.
How wide a footprint does Salmon River Reservoir have?
2,900 acres, give or take.
Which launch site sits closest to Salmon River Reservoir?
5 mapped launches on file, Salmon River State Forest Launch among them.
Does Salmon River Reservoir hold bass or trout?
DEC files list brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and black crappie.
Which DEC rules cover Salmon River Reservoir?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30.
What is the out-of-state fee for angling at Salmon River Reservoir?
Trout and salmon need no stamp in New York; the DEC freshwater license ($25.00 resident, $50.00 nonresident, $5.00 for residents 70 and older) covers them.
Does DEC stock Salmon River Reservoir?
22 rows on the DEC lists, 2023 to 2026.
Which listed tackle counter is nearest Salmon River Reservoir?
Salmon River Reservoir Boat Launch sits about 3 miles from the water.
Which DEC record belongs to Salmon River Reservoir?
Salmon, Chinook, 47 lb. 13 oz., by Kurtis Killian in 1991.
Does DEC permit ice fishing at Salmon River Reservoir?
DEC notes Ice Fishing Permitted.
Hitch up and haul the boat to Salmon River Reservoir
Every New York fee and season sits on one page.