Reports from DSR are that the Salmon are now getting thick coming thru and reports from the lake are that it looks like a carpet of fish on the fish finders,it"s going to be like the 2012 banner year again folks!

If I remember correctly, and it's very likely I don't, there wasn't ridiculous crowds that year, and there was occasionally spots you could fish.  More like last year with lots more fish. I was very happy with last year, have to see what this year brings.  A quick early trip looks likely. 

I'll be there 9/22 to 9/28

I wouldn't be jumping to get up there this week, the next three days are forecast to be near or above 90 in NYS, and a lot of those early darkies could belly right up.  Good numbers are likely for the fall, however, this is the last year of pre-stocking-cuts returns, with the wild fish wildcard also looking strong.  I would plan on being elbow to elbow, however, unless the LI to NJ coast gets a massive slam of fish, since the hurricane disrupted the fall fishing, a lot of those salt water fishers have been heading north.  Pulaski is the new New Jersey!

What we are not hearing from DSR is the size of the fish.  Friends who are out on the big pond say a lot of the kings have been mid to high teens, although I am seeing some pix of mid to high 20's lately.  The question needing an answer, which we should get when the fish start hitting the hatchery, is are all these fish very robust 2 year olds, or are they scrawny three year olds?  This is an important distinction when it comes time for egg take, do they maintain the cut, increase it slightly or back off some?  I expect we will see an announcement of some public meetings to discuss there issues soon, I'll post what I can when I can.

As to less crowded conditions, from the 2017 LO Unit report (Section 14):
"October remained the most intensively fished month on the Salmon River accounting for 361,464 angler hours in 2017, and 55% of the total estimated fall effort (Table 2). The September 2017 effort estimate was the highest for that month amongst recent surveys at 227,934 estimated hours, well above the next highest
value of 148,389 in 2011 (Table 2). The first week in October had the highest weekly estimate of any week in the surveys completed since 2005, with an estimated 152,009 angler hours (Table 2).
The morning car count conducted on 7 October 2017 yielded 1,398 vehicles at the access locations. Each year the effort increases during September with a peak in either the first or second week in October. By the fourth week in October the effort drops substantially as spawning activities diminish. The trend in fishing effort
over time for the Salmon River appears similar to that observed in the open lake boat fishery (Lantry and Eckert 2018), with a peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s (Table 3). Observed declines from peak effort were of similar magnitude (approximately 50%) for both the tributary and open lake fisheries. However,
Salmon River angler effort returned to historic levels beginning in 2010. "
If you have a "secret spot" where it is not crowded, keep it under your hat!
 

I took a look at the LOC Fall Derby leader board, and all salmon entered are over 25 lbs, with the leader at 31, weighed in Saturday at Woody's.  So there are a bunch of bigger fish out there, too. Going to be interesting to see the condition data from the Hatchery.

Wow 3 posts in 1 day. Welcome back L-13. Always enjoyed your information for us lazy people like me.
Hopefully my boring useless posts about gardening, food , hunting and sometimes fishing dont deter you again .
You know my thoughts about the tribs. I'm burned out on the fish and people so I'm a serious part timer.
A few trips suit me fine, the colder the better although not necessarily the fish in a stream feel the same.
2012 ? Maybe my last year at dsr? I can't remember. I do remember a drought year 2007 ? That was crazy with fish but they were not moving up river. I remember a year maybe 98 or 99 that the secret spot was loaded 3rd week in August.
I'd surly love to explore the river about now, used to be in my blood. Sadly the news is out already and goons follow the news.
As one of my favorite artists wrote a new song, " turn off the news " , build a garden.
Do things on your own and take adventures. Exactly what I will do on the psychotic holiday weekend. I will be high on a mountain top without another soul except family and friends.

The way you have been working the farm, I would hardly characterize you as lazy.  I would also be pursuing the veggies, but all the trees in my yard have grown back, so I am limited to hot pepper plants in pots.  As to the River, I generally don't venture out up there after mid August until after Columbus Day.  I didn't even get to Altmar on my Tug Trip two weeks ago, as there was just too much work and not enough bodies where I was staying.  I did get to spy on three very pretty Atlantics back in July in a secret spot, but there was so little water then that actually fishing to them was impossible, one cast put them into a frenzied search for cover.  I am hoping to hunt this fall, I retook the course last year, and am trying to acquire and learn to use properly the remainder of the necessary equipment.  But a good early run of chromers could dampen that desire!

You guys here are really my only connect to the fishing up there. I do troll a bit but it's just gibberish towards acquiring fish, no desire to share that water.
Columbus day weekend will put me back in fishing mode on the Ausable. Great time , all the far north and south people are peeping leaves or treaking a hill. Keene valley will be packed but the river will be void.
Just got done with chores. It's hot and sticky. Made HUGE mistake canning tomato sauce. Put cold sauce in hot jars. Burst a jar, dumb azz. Got 12 more lbs of last tomatoes i picked to make more salsa tomorrow.

Hope you get to hunting this season. I love the swamps and state forest tracts up there. Don't know how pressured they get but it's on my long 6 year term bucket list to try them . Southern zone areas, xbow, xbow, xbow. I struggle with an actual draw string but I'm sold on a xbow,. Honestly and not getting into a gun debate but I wouldn't mind taking guns outta the woods, mostly idiots..

So what flies should I tie for these late Sept up high salmon 😁