Trying to get the hang of it

Clint, this may sound like BS, but I was a casting instructor and guide(not on the SR)  and still teach occasionally. The worst place to practice casting is when there are fish in front of you, or you have the potential to catch one on any drift. If you can take some time to work on your casting without actually fishing, you'll find it'll make things easier. If you have specific problems that are happening often, I might be able to help or point you in the direction of a video that'll explain the mechanics of the problem. Sometimes an adjustment in leader or balancing line to rod helps, too. Sometimes it's unlearning a bad habit, or learning a simple trick like incorporating a haul or using the water to load the rod. At least you sound like you're having fun- the rewards will come and they will be a blast!
If  you go the guide route, talk to Hot Tuna- he can  guide you (he's licensed and very knowledgeable about flyfishing, or ask him to reccomend a guide. I've fished with several because I wanted the winter boat ride and though they said they were well versed in flyfishing, they really didn't know much at all and would be unable to correct casting problems or teach you anything besides heaving a couple of #5's.  They ended up asking me lots  of questions. Tuna can point you in the right direction.
 
Charlie

I would highly recommend a guide as I have always said if you can afford one, it will cut down on a lot of frustration of beginner learning.. In the end it may be cheaper. That is however ones choice and careful consideration on who you chose is every bit as important.. I guide specific areas and yes, I hire guides for areas I'm un familiar with also..
Second choice would be to fish with someone who has experience.. There are always good folks here who fish the SR often..

Charlie gives sound advice.. As fichy said the first thing you need to do is not focus so much on the fish but the mechanics of fishing with a fly rod. Pick an area that will have lots of back room and no obstructions over head.. The gravel bar at the Boat ramp at LFZ is a great spot to learn.. I'd start with a pre-made tapered leader of 2x (8.8 lb) in 9' with a perfection loop already on the leader..
Rig up, tie your fly on, put a small shot of 1-3/0 or 2bb 18" above your fly then pull some line off the spool to let it catch the downstream current.. Once you have about 15' line out straight below you , the current will load the rod. Basically with your rod about 10 oclock you want to make a nice one motion roll upstream until your rod hits 1 oclock then a quick forceful stop of your wrist (rod held high) that will shoot the line out to a 1 0r 2 oclock position..
Once your line lays on the water then give a small & slight lifting roll again with out pulling line toward you to "mend" your fly line above your leader. This will cause your fly to sink quickly rather then your fly line dragging your leader.. That is the jist of dead drifting.. Your fly should be at it's deepest point directly in front and as it just passes of you then start to lower your rod to follow the line.. Remember, when dead drifting, that is your target area.. You may need to make another "mend" if the current speed is fast, but it shouldn't be in that spot.

I would do that awhile until you get the hang of a tension (water load cast)and experiment buy varying the amount of line you let out to gain or decrease distance.. The more distance, the more important it is to "mend" your fly line behind your leader as it comes to the 12 oclock position.. .. If you don't "mend" your fly line the current will speed your fly line faster then your leader and you will not gain depth thus just dragging your fly quickly through the water..

Now I said that area because it is also a great place to back cast..
While the rod is flowing across your body you may have to perform a slight upstream tension cast first before hauling the line behind you for the back cast when standing "river left" ..
Really sounds hard but once you do it you will see it's pretty easy..

Think I could go on forever about the various mechanics of fly fishing.. There are ton's of ways to cast given different situations.. If you only learn 1 0r 2 , it should be a tension and a roll cast.. They may be the easiest to grasp quickly with minimal room needed..

Good Luck & Keep having fun ..

P.S.
Thanks for the props fichy.. Soon brother, very soon :)

OH,  BTW  I left my 8 year old work boots under the back of my vehicle at pineville  parking lot by mistake and some SOB took them.  These things were in sad shape,  the heel area on the inside was so worn out I used duct tape to patch them up,they were darn comfortable though.   so to the person who got them,  I hope they smell up your car you SOB.

Clint - you just gotta keep practicing to become proficient with the fly casting. One mistake beginners often use is to attempt hero casts to the far bank of the river. Not only is it more of a challenge to "lay it all out", but in most cases you will be casting over fish that are holding in close.

Start small, watch a youtube video on "roll casts" - the easiest fly cast IMO.
Then progressively work on the 10-2 casting motions, learn to "load the rod" , use your non-casting hand to pull line as you backcast the rod - once again a wealth of videos on youtube.

Not being a wise guy - but play Monkey See - Monkey Do... It ain't rocket science. I don't think you need a guide - but it's your money and your choice if you go that route.

One other comment you made about your inexperience "picking spots".

There is no difference between the Salmon River or any other river it's size.
If you know how to read water, and locate the seams, inside bends of river, etc, that is where the fish will be. In warmer water temps, the steelhead wil hold in faster, oxygenated water (just like our little rainbows back home). The days of warm water temps are waning, but as you know, there are always fish moving upstream this time of year. You don't need to focus on the hotspots where the crowds gather.

Hopefully, the river levels will increase to 750 since the resovoir received alot of water. Then the game will change, and the low-flow "sightfishing pickers" won't be as effective - and real fishing tactics will become the norm.

that's my 2 cents..

Good Luck

I fel your pain on this situation CLint, went through it myself and am still going through it. lol... Watch the guys aroud you and how they drift, strip some line in, swing that sob, watch how they let the line they stripped feed through and what position there rod tip is in when they are completeing their cast can help some too. I have run into some nice guys up there, both young and old, who have helped me out and given me some great tips. I would take the fly rod to Orwell and just keep using it till u get it. I have used mine there and in the trout as well just have to pay attention to whats around u and keep on trying.

Best of Luck

CP

i just practice in the back yard casting a big yarn fly for the jack russel
to imitate river conditions i willback up against the fence row and modify my cast to avoid the trees behind or work around other obsticles in the yard or the field next door (all with an old beat to death combo tha ti killed with kings) but it does help practicing without the destraction of having fish in front of you.....my $.02

as you gain experience WB is right.. I use it and know Fichy uses it as well.. A single handed spey cast will become the most useful cast.. You need absolutley no room behind or over head..
All that will come in time.. Stick with the basic roll & tension casts , some easy access until you gain confidence catch a few fish then start to open things up.. At that point you'll be "hooked"..

All this talk of fishing.. My gear is packed including the sleeping bag incase I join the Kin folk on fri nite Going to get chilly and even a chance of some white flakes so the 30 below should do it..

IN 15 hrs I will be at work :(

Clint all great info from everyone here.... excellent I should say....

Definitely get in touch with your stripping hand and your pointer finger of your casting hand as line control is most important... this will effect your loading capabilities greatly.... use your pointer to pinch the line against your rod cork when necessary; this will allow you to control line being stripped in or line being let out... its all about line control and management...

For practice you should try some down stream roll casting... you will be able to feel and see what you r rod should be doing when trying to load it for the cast... and when you ever lose control of your line when loading, feel free to just simply roll it back downstream from you to start all over again...

Hey was that you across from my boy and me on Sunday a ways below the trestle???? If so, I think you were using a bit too much weight to roll out the amount of line you were using... ;)

I think you were up from me; I was mostly just taking the boy on an adventure; fishing was less than secondary.... hey; i'll pm you next time im heading up; id be glad to meet ya back there sometime... there's some water in the vicinity of where you were fishing that may be a little easier for ya... I think 3 fan frequents it as well ;)

hey fan; i'll take the quad back there one of the two days im up this weekend...