First trip advice

Good luck-it wont be your last trip !!! The place is addictive.
 Get a hotel quick- some may already be filled up. Steel wont be much of an issue at that time but the Kings and perhaps some Hos should be started.
Go on the putor for Pulaski hotels- its a small town and most are very close to the river.
 Ugly Stick is a great choice- specially for first timers- most of us likely started with one. A reel with a reliable drag is a must- they fight like heck.
 Most along the river are more than willing to give a short lesson on methods.
Some will likely cringe but for a first timer it might be nice to go to DSR ($$$) on one day-if you get an early run your life will never be the same lol.
 Reserve early there too as they tend to sell out. If you go there check on their special regs for setup.

That early will be hit or miss as others has said.But if it were me I would bite the bullet and fish the DSR,there you will be able to fish for the early run.Contact them and see if you can rent one of their houses and maybe they will give you a break on the price but call now....don't wait!

I highly recommend NOT going up that first weekend in September, it's likely going to be too hot.   But, if you have to, I saw salmon all the way up to Altmar last Labor Day weekend....Most of the fish died due to water that was too warm...the DSR was polluted with dead fish and stunk to high heaven...Maybe you'll catch a break and it will be cool.....Monitor the DSR website and don't spend that $50 unless the conditions are favorable.

I saw the question on C&R, I'm not sure if the DSR is C&R but if I had to guess I would think YES.  Like most said don't expect to fish mid-river up.  Also in terms of keeping them, keep in mind these are not the salmon you are getting in stores.  I've kept some in the past and they are not what you expect.  In fact never did it aghain.....  There food source is somewhat different than what they eat in Alaska hence all the smoke houses.  The only saving grace is they will be fresh versus being in the watershed for a long time.  I've even grilled a fresh coho and it just wasn't for me. 
 
I will note, I'm more of a white fish guy Eyes, Stripers, Flounder, Mahi, etc...

You can keep Salmon in the DSR, but you cannot keep trout.  The fresher they   the "better"   they taste,but they still are nothing close to the store bought stuff.   OK at best if marinaded for a day and drowned in cocktail sauce or something.   Very strong "fishy" taste

Thanks for all the great information guys!  Hope I'll be able to show a few pictures in a few months.

this is very interesting to me. what if i rigged some good 8lb seaguer onto my pfleuger noodle rod combo? can a first timer come up and just wing it? maybe find a cheap campground or sleep in a parking lot somewhere? are the crowds really that bad?

To all those making or considering a trip to the world famous Salmon River you just can't understand it until you see it for yourself.  I will say that once you experience the madness you will be hooked for life.  Enjoy it.
 

Lol thanks for the info guys. I'm gonna do my research and give it a shot this fall.

14 Lb line huh? I love hard fighting fish. I have become such a better fisherman fishing Erie for steel these past few years. I only can imagine the skill and experience i could pick up fishing the big leauges. Salmon River.

First off, lag welcome to the forum and good questions..
most of the pros and a 1/0 have responded well..
I can say my hand won't be raised to a whippin' rod rigged with light line for the purpose of a long sweep, got one, nor a tuna (hmm) rod with a 1/0 hook (currently using a 6/0 hooked to a live herring..lol) .. Those methods are deadly in the wrong hands.. Mediocre at best in the right ones..
3 fan showed you some good early sept pics of great fish.. I'm sure he worked for them and was rewarded by strikes..
For many years I fished late august early sept.. Some were GREAT some were failures.. It's all the luck of the draw my friend, when ever you get the chance you just gotta go for it.. Being willing to cover lots of water will up your odds.. Walk high and low, I look for fish at that time.. Sight fishing 101..
If fish are around then the word will be out for sure somewhere on the internet..
From a blind mans point of view, again it's a walking game.. Check the estuary.. If you see fish rolling then you know some are in dsr and quite possibly upriver..  I like the dsr as some of the best salmon water but I don't like the high price to play.. Been there for years, it's one of my favorite waters on the river but you will need to make your choice, there is a lot of river to fish..
 
As for Gear:
your rod, reel is adequate.. While the U sticks have strength they lack sensitivity .. They catch fish, just keep focus on your drifts..
Line- 12lb casts better then 14 to me.. You can even get away with 10 but thats usually my lowest leader strength.. Now it may seem strange I threw those numbers out but like clint said, use a heaver leader(14-17) ..They are usually that early not line shy, I use a lighter line for better cast and drift,(not 4,6 or 8 you gotta be able to have some, be it little control of a fresh king or hoho..
Baits, flies, weights ?? It's all up to how you feel comfortable..Fish will strike a jenson (ah jack ? ) egg and they will strike a nicely swung fly.. I do the fly thing with a swing across and down in front of the fish, again I try to sight that early.. Lower in the river Size 4 streamers, buggers and bunnys have all worked well for me.. Higher in the river 6-8 buggers, leeches and eggs have been better taught.. Not to say the big stuff wont rock up there.. It's all up to the presentation and the fish..
Fish good water, broken is best..
Lodging: I think you asked ? It's all good to me.. I love camping but also stay at reasonable priced lodges.. Frequented most all of them (well not Jailwater) .. the double-E is a good lodge
Have fun and wish ya the best of luck
Peace & Tuna

chartist
I use a 20lb leader with 16lb tippet....Now that's way too much, but I've had my spot grabbed by some large size @$$ hole while walking the stream trying to land a fish.....Now I can just stand there cuz no fish is breaking 20lb leaders on the SR.

Guess you never heard the 22 sounding cracks of 40# line pre 1995..
Can't wait to hear about the new rod you buy next year.. Love those guys who stand their ground

Beginning to think someone here has a great dry humor-next one may suspect he will be talking bout the joys of fishing off the bridge at the Estuary-or weather or not the 1/0 hooks should be bait holders or bare shank-- lol. ( have found that the bait holders hold black sponge much better)

chartist
I use a 20lb leader with 16lb tippet....Now that's way too much, but I've had my spot grabbed by some large size @$$ hole while walking the stream trying to land a fish.....Now I can just stand there cuz no fish is breaking 20lb leaders on the SR.

Why worry about a spot, you can be a snagger anywhere!

Its all time and place and every year is different. This past season had rumors of kings in July... first river fish publicized being caught were Aug. 6th I believe??? I grabbed my first one last season August 8th and consistently caught fish in to early september til i called it quits in early September(as I usually do) the year before nothing showed up really until late day labor day. Some years nothing til end of September... chartist, all of those dead fish were mainly from the whipping section between the town bridge and 81 bridge. Any fish that got above 81 stayed healthy and alive despite the warm up we had on labor day weekend... 3fan is living proof of that ;)

First timer , keep reading the forums and play it by ear... if fish are running down low be prepared to fish nothing lighter than 10 pound... preferably 12-15 if water temps are cool... I had kings snapping 15 pound like nothing last august and honestly I usually use 10 or 12 and no I don't use a surf rod or 1/0 hooks... #9 11' fly rod... honestly, a noodle rod will work but it is not ideal for hot lower river fish...

If fish are pooled up in the upper stretches, be ready to use 6 or 8 pound... choose riffly shaded spots if possible and you'll have a better shot at resting "transitional" fish.. I hate fishing pooled up salmon... a waste of time in my opinion...look to have your bait or fly in perfect drag free presentation in your half way mark/three quarter way of drift...

If I could post pics you'd see that salmon can be caught with little to no pressure early on...

3Fan: what was your salmon to people ration last year on that day??? 1:1000??? :)

I oughtta delete this post in a day or two so there's not hundreds of people fishing mid river in the early season for 3 fans sake... lol

Tight Lines guys!!!