I will be fishing the DSR Columbus Day weekend.  Missed last year due to illness but two years ago, sucker spawn in fluorescent orange was the color.  I probably caught nearly 3 dozen kings in under 3 hours at the spring hole.  I only quit when my fly rod came apart and the tip section floated down to the lake.  This year We had to rent a house near Watertown to find something reasonable and big enough for four.

chartist1
I will be fishing the DSR Columbus Day weekend.  Missed last year due to illness but two years ago, sucker spawn in fluorescent orange was the color.  I probably caught nearly 3 dozen kings in under 3 hours at the spring hole.  I only quit when my fly rod came apart and the tip section floated down to the lake.  This year We had to rent a house near Watertown to find something reasonable and big enough for four.

So if I read this right you are claiming you fairly hooked and landed--=caught-- a dozen kings an hour for 3 hours.  Your the Chartist could you do that math for me.   HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO HOOK AND LAND EACH FISH?

Oh there may be some exaggeration, but not much.  There were many times I casted once and had a fish on.  I just wrangled them to the bank and released.  I was above the Joss hole so I figure they were resting after swimming up that hill.  There was maybe 70 fish in that hole.  I was in position A and had what they wanted.

What I'd like to add is that to me it's not so much the fly but more reading and fishing certain water more. A salmon is a shark and will be more aggressive in the right conditions no matter what's in it's way.
There are places you see lots of fish in corralled . Not my gig or water so I think your throwing the hail Mary. Other places are rock hound conga line windmilling, great location, poor conditions to fish.
Those places produce fish no question. In my years I prefer to fish 4-6 deep broken water. Seeing moving, holding fish allow me to figure out what fly they want or don t.
In a swing condition I absolutely want to see the river bottom, I do not want to lift my fly at all , I want it to swing at 2 feet below surface. When fish move towards your fly, your heart leaps . When they don t, you change flies or location.
Last season was pretty fishy, my go to was casting behind lots of fish and having them slam a size 8 egg on the dangle.
If there is active fish moving, there is no need to leave a spot but ,figure out the fly.
If the fish are running around in a barrel with spears thrown at them, then throw dynamite, it may clear the hole out .

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Solid!
 

Lots of great tips! Looks like I'll be busy getting these things all tied up. 

Everything is booked! We'll be staying a few hundred yards away from the mouth of the lake and the Oak for 3 days. Any decent fishing there (mouth of the creek/river) around the 3rd weekend of October or the fish way up to the dam by then?

Get the current issue of Eastern Flyfishing, a good summary of all you need to known is in the article on the Oak.

 

chartist1
I will be fishing the DSR Columbus Day weekend.  Missed last year due to illness but two years ago, sucker spawn in fluorescent orange was the color.  I probably caught nearly 3 dozen kings in under 3 hours at the spring hole.  I only quit when my fly rod came apart and the tip section floated down to the lake.  This year We had to rent a house near Watertown to find something reasonable and big enough for four.

I won't be wasting my time at the hotel waiting for you to show up this year.
Learn that lesson last time.
 

Let me add I used to do well at the Oak fishing streamers in size 2 and 4.   Chart and silver worked good.