26 inch Atlantic Salmon I caught on my 4wt last July

I didn't know that any Atlantic Salmon where in the Salmon River during the middle of July. Hell, as far as I knew the DEC were disgusted at the lack of success that they had been having in reintroducing the fish. I had decided that I would spend the afternoon casting some dry flies to the numerous trout and small salmon that inhabit the Salmon River in upstate NY. After a couple of hours of catching numerous browns, rainbows and baby salmon, I decided to go sub-surface and see if I could pick up anything bigger off of the bottom. I tied on a green conehead whooly bugger (with some flash) and sent the rig into the current. I felt a small "tap" on the drift so I lifted the tip of my pole.
Immediately, the Atlantic Salmon came arching out of the water! It leaped and jumped and twisted and turned like there was no tomorrow. The only problem is I was using my four weight and very light tippet. It was all I could do to hang on as the fish catapulted itself through the air, trying to free itself. It then took off downstream at a breakneck pace that quickly showed my the limits to the amount of backing my little reel could hold. I did the only thing that I could and raced downstream after it!
You should have seen the type of terrain and water I had to run through. I fell countless times and more than reached the H2O limit to my waders! Just when I was giving up hope of keeping up with the fish, the fly fishing Gods smiled on me and the fish turned upriver and sat in the current. I reeled as fast as I could make my little Lamson reel go and took a quick breather before the fish took off downstream again. This time though, the fish was losing it's steam and tried settling in a long, calm, pool. I decided to try and test my luck (as if I hadn't already!) by "feeling" if the fish was tired. I gently lifted my rod and that's when I knew I had him. When I lifted the rod he turned sideways in the water. That meant only one thing. He was mine!
I slowly but surely reeled him over to me. I couldn't believe my eyes when I finally got him over. What an absolutely beautiful fish. The most amazing thing about this whole ordeal is that when I went to remove the hook from it's mouth, the hook felt funny. The hook was broken in the middle and the only thing holding it together was the material of the fly!! Tell me I wasn't meant to catch this fish!! Well, here he is.

Hope this story helps get the itch going for this spring!!

Holy Smack thats a nice fish, you keep posting pictures like that, we all might want come to NY, is that the average size for them around that ball park?

That is about the average size of an Atlantic around here. This is the first one that I have ever caught (besides young ones). They call them a fish of a thousand casts. Our population of them is not that great so I was extrememly surprised at actually catching one especially the way that I did.

John
It`s great to see on you here man, glad to hear you`re still alive.. , I guess fishing in your neck of the wood is always going to be great, make sure you save me at least a few Salmon when I head over that way.

You've always got a place to crash up here brother!

that 4Wt you got handle that Salmon? amazing, I am always amazed how beautiful these Salmons are everytime i see a picture of them, down south we don`t get the plesure in going after them, we can only dream of it , thanks for the great story, definately does get me going.

That is a awesome fish man! especially on a 4wt!!

Thanks! Welcome to the site!