Fishermen are back for salmon run

Photos by Tom Rivers

WATERPORT – There are a lot of vehicles in Carlton with license plates from Pennsylvania, Ohio and other states outside New York.

Many of those visitors are in town trying to catch some of the Chinook salmon on their annual spawning run up the Oak Orchard River and other Lake Ontario tributaries.

There was a crowd of anglers at the Waterport Dam this morning. The parking lot was full by the dam with many of the fishermen having to park along the road.

Shawn Dominikowski, 22, of Horseheads has a salmon on the line. He and his friend Brandon Barnic, 22, left Horseheads at 2 this morning and arrived at about 5 a.m. to claim a spot along the river.

Shawn Dominikowski, left, and Brandon Barnic look over the fish that Dominikowski caught this morning in the Oak Orchard River. It was the first time Dominikowski caught a salmon.

After some safety concerns last fall and earlier this spring, Brookfield Power Company posted some of its property with restricted access. Anglers are banned from standing in the water near the power plant.

They can stand in some sections of the water as long as they are wearing a personal flotation device.

These two fishermen both travelled from Central Pennsylvania to fish at the Oak Orchard. They arrived on Thursday and are staying until Sunday. D.R. Bubb is at left with his friend Tom Rager. They have both been catching their limit of three salmon each day.

They’ve been to Orleans County to fish each the past five years. They like the thrill of reeling in a 30-pound salmon.

“They’re very strong fish,” Rager said. “It’s so much fun hooking into one of them.”