Beginner salmon fishing

Actually may be late as rooms can be hard to find.  Bear's sleepy Hollow is on Route 3 by Grindstone Creek, Yogi bears' Jellystone is over north of Mexico o0n the Little Salmon River. 
 
For technique reviews, etc. go to DEC Website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/37926.html
 

4 hours up in the dark, fish a long day of salmon and drive 4 hours back?  You must be young, or crazy, or both!

I'm young and crazy. I won't be doing all the driving. I've done it to Erie multiple times. And that's a little further.

Where would the best places to fish be for beginners? Paying to fish the DSR?

I would say the 55 would do it. I like to use 15 main and 10 as a leader.  A good drag is key. I like a longer rod too. If you can time it nothing can beat the DSR.  After the gauntlet in town on one in a hundred will strike and that may be a high guess. Presentation is key. I have read multiple articles  to back up they will take egg sacs

I would use a float.

Reserve your DSR day as they fill up fast during the 'silly season'.

I would be prepared to drift the bottom, too. Crowded conditions and fast water  might make you want to drift weight on the bottom. Just say no to weekends. Camp in Selkirk Shores State Park, even if only to crash in your car. 7-8 minutes to the DSR parking lot with a store with coffee and breakfast sandwiches on the way. If you're going to pay and be going for the first time, it'll make the experience 100 times more tolerable. Go to the DSR site and buy a map . Be familiar with the rules, too. Lucky's suggestion of the DEC  website is very good.  Yes, salmon bite. Get some sleep and have a good time. I've done plenty of suicide runs, but I was going to spots that are very familiar and can be fished on auto-pilot.

There's different runs and pools all named in the DSR, if someone says the Joss Hole or the Meadow  it would help to know where the hell you're going.  It also helps to know where to cross and at what release of water. Having the DSR map would help to answer and explain some of the questions you may have about where to fish in the DSR.  http://www.douglastonsalm...yID=4&ProductID=25
By the way, this isn't buying a beat on the Miramichi, this is still combat fishing  with plenty of people being azzhats. Just a few less, and the fish not having been chased around by cavemen yet.
 

You never really know when a push is going to happen.
Mid Sept through Mid Oct is the best bet IMHO -personally, if your only going once, hit early Oct or very late Sept. to increase the odds a bit in your favor.
In the DSR the fish are just entering the river and move on through and then spread.
On a Saturday in Sept or Oct its combat fishing most places and the DSR is actually a decent place to be- if there is a push.
There is no memory like  water  splashing upstream towards you from  tails of hundreds of fresh Kings running right at ya for an hour or two  non stop---
Only happens down  in the DSR before they spread out---
Hope it happens to you.
August or very early Sept reports can make ya nuts at home reading them but are generally from guys who fish often and know the river VERY well or are a bit overhyped compared to the main part of the run.
Occasionally it happens then but it just the start of a whole season -might want to wait it out an extra week or two and increase your odds.

R3 gave  very good advice. The best I've ever seen it ( I have about a tenth the experience he does)  was  on Sept. 8th, but that same week last year had very few fish.  This year should be another weak run and waiting a little should help. My experience at the DSR is , if there's fish,  people are happy and polite, if there's not; some will do whatever it takes to snag, cut in front of you, poach your spot etc....  and it  can become just as crappy as upriver.  Just my experience, I've had steam coming out my ears a few times, including last year.  Hopefully you roll the dice just right. Learn as much as you can and it won't be a wasted trip, no matter what.

Fichy is correct about last years poor run of fish. Frankly most don't expect this year to be much better.
That said if you never had a fresh King on the line even a poor season can be the best you ever had.
The place has always been  overhyped with number expectations  IMHO.
Have your spool full or a lot of backing on the fly line.
Not a bad idea to carry an extra spool with you.
If they turn and run on ya its a long distance battle tripping over rocks just to keep up.
Just don't read some of the reports and think your gonna fill a pickup truck with Kings.
There is a learning curve.
Watch those near you and don't be afraid to ask for tips from others-sometimes subtle things in your setup can make or break a trip.
Yes- egg sacs are just fine generally throughout the year for all species. Just remember ya don't have to use a #1 hook. Smaller is generally better IMHO.
Dont think I ever saw anyone using skein. Sacs can be purchased anywhere up there.
Have plenty of extra hooks and leader and weights and sacs  as the rocky bottom eats rigs.
Rubber bottom boots are a sure way to get wet. Felt at the least and studded corkers are best.
The bottom is rocky and quite slippery.
Wait to get your tackle up there as the shops carry all you  will need specific to the SR -generally at competitive prices.
I have never found a local shop in my area that has 'the right stuff'.
Oh yea- be sure and double check the DSR specific rules for gear setup and fish limits- they are usually different than the state regs.
Also reserve the permits EARLY as they limit the number of fishermen on their property and can sell out during the season.
 
 

When there just keep the thought that the Salmon will bite/hit if you FISH FOR THEM.Presentation and color is the two things to focus on.Get a natural drift through the water you are fishing and do not use too much weight,only enough to get your lure /bait down in front of them.Color can be critical so watch what others are using if they are hooking up,it can change from day to day.
Best chance for fish to be running will be mid/end of Sept until ???
Good luck on your trip(s).

Would these floats work? I use similar for steelhead.

http://www.fishusa.com/pr...Clear-Steelhead-Floats

What size should I make the sacs?

I was leaning towards third Saturday in September. Now we are going to try and get a Friday off work and fish then. Just not sure which Friday?