JLG:
welcome and thanks for asking such great questions so you may be a successful angler
i will offer advice but this is only from my perspective which has made me be a successful angler
i'll get some easy answers out of the way first, you asked about camping:
i would recommend Selkirk Shores State Park,
the campgrounds is on the lake, reasonable rates ,cabins available and nice place. i stay there quite often
This link is to make reservations (not necessary except for cabins they book quick)
http://www.reserveamerica.com/ny/Selkirk_Shores_State_Park/Campsite_Map/r/campgroundMap.do?page=map&agency=NY&parkId=82 now you ask about equipment:
a 9' 8wt is the normal set-up for both salmon & steelhead, i'm going with a 9wt for all my salmon outings this year
personally i notice a big difference in the extra backbone on kings
but an 8wt is fine and works well on steelies as well
use a leader starting with a 20# but section of stiff mono,after that i alternate between 12# down to 10# mono for my tippet
no need for fluro at all, just use a softer mono for a more natural drift on your tippet
i use weighted streamers and add bb or b shot if necessary
if you know how to fish than there is no need to go heavier with weight
learn to cast up stream and mend if you are having trouble
now to me salmon fishing is way different than steelhead fishing
for salmon find staging areas and places where the fish will rest before being "pushed" to the next resting place
AVOID what i call sucker holes, these are deep pools where lots of fish are "trying" to rest/hide
this is also where you will see lots of people "trying" to fish(ok!)
a salmon will move and rest until being forced or needs to migrate up stream
you will see a fish hold a position then be forced out by an up coming fish, to me this is a prime spot for a fish to attack a fly, it's a natural instinct to attack
there are a number of good "creeks" to the north and west, most depend on rainfall to get a good run of fish to enter
however no other river gets the volume (& people) of fish than the salmon river
oswego gets a huge volume for it's short 1/2 mile distance but man that to me is to much combat fishing (sorry folks)
at any rate good luck and hope you enjoy the time on the water
post edited by hot tuna - 2007/07/19 21:30:56