In our region of the Delaware River, the more serious (or perhaps compulsive) fishing enthusiasts generally consider the fishing seasons to run from April 1 through the end of October, perhaps, or when the snow starts to fly. The obvious exception is, of course, “hard water” fishing, aka ice fishing.

August can be a tough month particularly for trout fishers. Responsible fishers will not wet a line, even on a catch-and-release basis, once the streams or rivers hit a water temperature of 70° or higher.

Many fly fishers join their spin-fishing cohorts at the cold-water fishery of the tributaries to Lake Ontario, such as the Salmon River at Pulaski, perhaps best known here due to its accessibility. Many of us have made the three- to four-hour auto trek for years.

We look forward to this fishery with great anticipation. The pre-spawn and post-spawn salmon are great fun to catch and make for spectacular eating afterward. These salmon, chinook and coho can be ethically taken home for supper, as they are soon to die naturally anyway and, if not taken by you or another fisher, they become lifeless carcasses to be consumed by gulls and other scavengers.

Unless you are familiar with this fishery, it is a good idea to fish with a guide. Most recently I have fished with guide Adrian LaSorte, an absolute wizard at securing a prime spot on the river. I really enjoy fishing with Peter Kolesar or Paul “Terry” Shultz as they are both extraordinary fishermen, and we have always had fine success during the salmon run with LaSorte. Beyond his outstanding fishing instincts, LaSorte is a first-class net man. (Trust me, this can be important.)

Mercifully, the cold water fishery of the Upper Delaware is renewed with the cold nights and falling daytime temperatures of September and October. But if you opt to pursue the trout at this time of year, please practice catch and release.

In the meantime, after spending August doing all the outdoor chores you deferred earlier in the season, you may want to plan your trip to the north country and/or book a guide for the Salmon River. In addition to LaSorte, you could also reach out to guide Greg Liu, recommended by Salmon River and Delaware River regular, Mauro Giuffrida. You can always get good guide “intel” at Whitaker’s or at Malinda’s, the prime fishing shops in the Pulaski area.

Unless you are a smallmouth enthusiast (and the river is loaded with them), you might speculate that the dog days of August were so named because you feel like a beaten-dog. Fishing (for species other than smallies and pan-fish) during the hot, slow days of August can be problematic.

Some believe that “dog days” refers to the high-temperature days that are not fit for a dog, but actually it is a label that was coined between 1750 and 1650 BC. Back when skies were clearer and there weren’t artificial lights interfering with our night vision or the TV distraction of “Dancing with the Stars,” people were more tuned in to celestial objects. One of the prime celestial objects of the morning skies during the hottest days of summer is Sirius, a very bright star in the constellation Canis Major, (canis meaning “dog”), which rises around dawn during this period.

However you wish to define dog-days, I am not entirely unhappy to be moving on. The next adventures of our fall fishery, especially in the Upper Delaware region and points north, beckon to us. Let’s enjoy!