Got in Mon o dark 30 to a day in the 60s and a few fish most everywhere and still a number of fishermen most everywhere.
Fish were mostly ganged up in low warm waters in deeper holes surrounded in chuckers and duckers all up and down the river.
Those in small pockets or elsewhere were about the most line shy fish I have ever experienced on the river.
Guys stalking and lining every run.
Shortly after light the choke points had few guys- the fish weren't really running but kinda stayin put.
 
Tuesday got into the low 80s- LOW 80S- bright and sunny- fishing like yesterday but worse.
 
Wednesday cloudier in 60s-same as Monday.
 
Today bugged out around 9 Am in rain getting heavier by the moment.
 
Very few fish on beds but starting to gang up a bit and will likely spawn very soon. Those seen trying to spawn were quickly accompanied by fishermen.
Didn't see over 3 dozen deads from top to bottom and I covered a LOT of ground- despite all the earlier decent run reports the deads don't support it.
A small push or pod down low is quickly reduced below 81 and hardly noticeable further upriver.
 
Saw only 4 Steel in 3 1/3 days and one Ho. Fish aren't really running but hanging around the same areas waiting ( I think) to spawn.
Would see a fish with the same lure hanging off it over and over coming past--just swimming around the same area.
 
Everything I had on was lined or snagged and quickly popped off- had a decent number -they woulda likely died after a fight in the low warm water- SNAP.
DSR report says ya gotta go real light as the fish are so spooky- they are right- Tried it and they were still shying from everything.
 
MANY limits on stringers all over- woulda been easy to do that with the normal methods used on the river.
 
Likely saw about 8 or 9 guys FISHING.
MANY stealth rippers-you know cast wait and then LLLLIIIIFFFFFT for another cast.
 
Checked my posts from the same time last year- fewer fish but they were bitey in cooler higher waters.
More Steel too - hope that changes when it cools- despite reports of Steel they appeared VERY few and far between.
Leaves were already down this time a year ago and now they are just starting- issues on hooks lol.
Natives  saying its 3 weeks later this year due to weather.
 
Cant wait to get back up in cooler waters.
 
High point of the trip- stopping by to see Andy.

Thanks, Trev.  I was considering going up for my yearly b-day trip next week, but since work is backed up and the crowds are riptastic, I think I'll pass. I'll wait for much colder weather and hopefully, more water.  

From Monday till today the crowds have diminished a bit.
Likely will go down much more this late.
With a degree of walking ya can generally get away from most of them but its skinny water and it doesn't  take too many to be too many.
Up river ya can get in with 3o yds or so between guys on part of it as long as your halfway between lots or big pools.

LOts of rain coming and much cooler temps.,that should help.

Was nice to see ya trev. River is going to go up substantially. Perfect timing Imo. That is to protect all of the steelhead from these salmon crowds :)

Took a break and went to DD for a coffee in town and  then proceeded to the overlook at the needle to rest up, watch the show and then go back up river.
Saw two guys marching up around the island below the overlook deck and go straight to a guy fishing- could tell they were on a mission the way they walked and waved arms around talking.
Well a big argument ensued complete with finger pointing and a bit of chest pushing.
Arms were being cocked back for some punching and  the third guy got in the middle and forced the two main guys apart.
Arguing continued and then the two left with the peacemaker kinda forcing the leaving.
Aint fishing fun.

r3g3
Took a break and went to DD for a coffee in town and  then proceeded to the overlook at the needle to rest up, watch the show and then go back up river.
Saw two guys marching up around the island below the overlook deck and go straight to a guy fishing- could tell they were on a mission the way they walked and waved arms around talking.
Well a big argument ensued complete with finger pointing and a bit of chest pushing.
Arms were being cocked back for some punching and  the third guy got in the middle and forced the two main guys apart.
Arguing continued and then the two left with the peacemaker kinda forcing the leaving.
Aint fishing fun.

That's why I very seldom fish below the bridge at Altmar,fishing is supposed to be relaxed and fun but it is n't with all the snaggers during silly season.

How do you put up with the snaggers in the LFZ?  And why do you even bother with salmon?

Snagging is a way of life on the Sr and I -for one- don't ever see it stopping, gotta learn to live with  it- like or not.
Or go nuts.
Recall one fine Summer day approaching the wire pool in upper zone- looking for the elusive Atlantic.
Stopped a bit back from the pool on the path  and began to rig up my rod- could hear some loud voices and looked up at the pool.
Two guys on the far side ripping away hard and fast.
I walked over to the pool where they could see me and they immediately walked off into the woods.
A fish or two were visible and one was all ripped on its back.

Lucky13
How do you put up with the snaggers in the LFZ?  And why do you even bother with salmon?

Lucky are you implying that trib fishing for salmon should be closed?