report 21st, 22nd, 23rd

Friday was a windy and rainy day on a trib near the SR.  Actually saw salmon coming up the trib all morning and hooked one large king, however 6 lb fluoro didn't hold after 15 mins.  Saturday sporadic rain and lighter winds yielded two steelhead, a coho, and a brown.  Sunday, the weather finally co-operated and we got to see that firy ball also known as the sun.  Winds were down and the tribs started to drop to their normal flows.  Only fished for two hours but what a morning, landed three chrome 8 to 10 lbs, lost a king and lost 5 other steel one of which had to be pushing 15 lbs.  He took me right down the trib, and I simply couldn't walk fast enough.  I suppose the fast water didn't help my situation.
 
All around a good trip and the weather cooperated some what.
 
Visited the SR twice in the evenings during our visit to salmon country and if people would define the crowds as light, I certainly wouldn't want to see them during the peak of the salmon run.  Altmar, Ellis Cove, Sportsman Hole, and Compactor were packed.  Fished Tressels to Pineville as crowds weren't too bad, but was under impressed.  Saw one nice Steelie caught and some salmon that appeared to be snagged, but overall I didn't see a lot of people hooking up.  I also visited the upper fly zone, the crowds were less up there and my two buds each lost a steelie, one of which was pretty darn big. 
 
As a whole, I definately saw a lot of blaintant kerplunking on the tribs as well as the SR which was a little disappointing.  Additionally, I wish people would take out what they brought in with them, there was a surplus of trash all over the SR.
 
I think next year, we will plan a week later as the crowds were definately higher than I've experienced in the past fishing mid-late November
 

Those step from the car to the water places always have lotsa folks.

Hey Fich- I like Oct for Salmon and after that for Steel. I fish Salmon from August on but the numbers are unreliable for me till Oct.
As was the case this year when the crowds go down and ya can find unmolested Kings in mid to late Oct its ' game on'. With Steel and Hos around too.
Havent fished much below Tressel this year cept way down in August and  Sept. Really surprised at the lack of fish you saw upriver.
From above Tressel on through its been packed for the past coupla weeks. That included many many fish still on the move as well as those taking up beds.
I left last Friday (21) and they were still coming up strong. Was using blue sacs for Steel and the kings hit them too.

Fisch- Those Kings are out on the beds and sometimes there is just enough water to cover their backs. The Steel come in behind them to pickup any drifting eggs.
Yes they all hold in the deeper water but personally  like to see the kings on the bed and swing around them or high stick over them and drop a sac in behind for a downstream drift to waiting Steel.
  Bedded kings right now are kinda like having a Doe in estrous around your stand in Deer season - good things can happen.
The Kings will also quickly hit the sac on occasion if it passes close over them.

Well I know my point of view....  If they pick it up to either crush the eggs or place back on their beds than no, but personally that wouldn't be the reason for fishing the beds.  I'd be more interested in the steelhead behind them.  Additionally, I haven't been fishing salmon for quite a few years.  Instead I target chrome and if I catch a salmon its a bonus.

Dime, I can't even comment on that last statement   My feeling is targeting behind the redds for steel and males is OK as long as you're not intentionally lifting 'em. Pretty easy target to rip 'em off a redd.   Of course- it happens!  All the ones I caught in early Sept. had huge adipose fins, which means no hatchery clip job. . Cool to get wild fish, supposedly about half now?
 
Charlie

I just wanted to get the general consensus. I feel like it could be looked down upon, kind of like hunting over bait, which is illegal in most states. Granted, you are always fishing "over bait," but it's a bit different. I guess I would rather not see the fish I am going after, but if after my four days up there, I don't get a thing, I will have to do whatever I can, within the law, and sportsmanlike thing to do.

ORIGINAL: fichy

Dime, I can't even comment on that last statement  

You should have asked him what hole he was hanging around...

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Glory

BAMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I generally hit the Salmon River Oct 5th thru the 20th. The worst time is always the weekends. You have all the idiots out there who have no clue what they're doing and, they have no respect for other anglers. I find Mon thru Fri mornings the best times with the fewest people. I get to the river by 5:45 to mark my spot and await the time to start. I find, generally, everyone else, the guided groups, etc. start arriving around 7:00 - 7:30am.