Fishing Landmark On New York’s Salmon River Set To Close

According to newyorkupstate.com, the freshwater fishing industry generates $2 billion each in New York. The Salmon River, located on the eastern side of Lake Ontario just north of Syracuse, and its yearly salmon run of monster fish, has drawn anglers from across the world for decades, with hopes of reeling in a 30-pound beast, while standing in the shallow riverbed.

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Though the fishing industry is booming in the Empire State, a Pulaski, New York landmark, that once thrived on the two-month salmon spawn, is getting ready to shut it's doors.

The Salmon River Sport Shop has been the trusted library of information for fisherman for the past 50 years. Ron Gervaise opened the tackle shop in 1972 and eventually established the Salmon River hot-line, where anglers could call in to get the latest fishing reports. Ever since, the Gervaise family has been at the center of salmon fishing in Pulaski. According to Steve Featherstone of syracuse.com, Ron's granddaughter Zana purchased the business from her father in 2018, when he was set to retire and the store faced closure.

Since, Zana Gevaise has modernized the fishing reports and has become a bit of a YouTube sensation, with many of her fishing reports receiving thousands of views. However, the steady success of the tackle shop business during an eight-week period when the salmon run up the river to spawn, it is not enough. According to Featherstone, the 72-year old building that sits in the middle of town, directly next town is need of structural repair, one that Zana Gervaise cannot afford. Gervaise estimated a renovation would cost approximately $400 thousand dollars. The tackle shop owner applied for a New York State grant but was denied.

According to Steve Featherstone's article, the property is listed for $175,000. It is sad that the Gervaise family won't be there to assist anglers making their first trip to the Salmon River. About 30 years ago, I was one of those fisherman. A group of friends and I walked into the Salmon River Sport Shop on our first trip to Pulaski and a very nice gentleman (I'm assuming Ron or his son) filled us in on our "need to know" information and what tackle we should purchase. We were all pretty experienced fisherman and the gentleman never talked down to us. We never forgot that and stopped in each year that we returned. Losing that shop is a big loss for Pulaski and everyone that has enjoyed fishing the Salmon River.