‘This is our money-making season’: Pulaski businesses boom on first day of salmon fishing season

PULASKI, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — For the last 10 years, Eric Ludewig has been coming to Pulaski from Ithaca for the opening day of salmon fishing.

“I just like being outside. I’ve been fishing ever since I was a little kid, as long as I can remember,” Ludewig said. “I fished for trout in the Adirondacks, but fishing for salmon up here is a whole different game.”

Like many anglers, Eric stopped in at Fat Nancy’s Tackle Shop to gear up before hitting the open river. Some of the hottest items flying off the shelves on Monday, September 16, include fishing poles and salmon bait.

“There are thousands of people coming through the door a day,” said David Falato, the store manager. “All year round, we have that steady flow of people. Then once guys from out of state hear the fish are in the river, it’s like gangbusters coming through the door first thing in the morning.”

And by first thing in the morning, he means at 4 a.m. But those early mornings mean a lot for the business.

“It’s the biggest thing to draw money to the town,” Falato said. “Everybody will tell you this is the closest thing to going to Alaska.”

After a long day of reeling in salmon, you can expect those anglers to chow down at a restaurant in town like 11 North Bar & Grill. The doors are open five days a week, but during salmon fishing, they’re open every day.

“We have to bring on a lot more staff during this time of year, said bartender Anna Mullin. “It helps out a lot with a lot of the part-time people that have a full-time job that work here occasionally.”

And when that dinner rush starts, the staff knows every meal served helps their town.

“This is our money-making season here. Typically, we are busy the rest of the year, but this is when we really make most of our money,” Mullin said. “It’s really good for our local economy.”

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the salmon fishing season runs through early November with the peak occurring during the first two weeks of October.

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