I was wondering about the DSR and if it's worth it to pay the extra money to get access to these waters?  I used to fish Erie quite a bit, but never made it up your way to fish the NY waters.  I have always wanted to in my younger days, but never made it up.   I moved back to Central PA last year after 10 years in the Army and found out after one trip to Erie last fall, that crowds and I just don't get along anymore.  I guess you can say my patience level for "combat fishing" and disrespectful individuals has been broken after years of living out west. Probably going up the last week in September and I understand that there are 250 passes so I won't be alone, but hoping it will be better than finding public access areas and trying to inch in to find a few runs to drift??  Any insight would be very valuable and I appreciate it in advance. 
 
-Scott

When you add in guides and season pass holders there may be more than 250 -but-- its a great place if a run occurs while you are there- nothing like it.
Some days there are hundreds, if not thousands, of fish splashing upriver for long periods of time. It can be nuts.
Havent fished it in a long time as I had the luxury of being on the river very often -things have changed and its on my bucket list this season.
Call and reserve early because they frequently sell out.
Also look into afternoon passes- I seem to recall they are available- might be worth a shot if the  regular passes are not available.

Also be aware that even with the limited numbers, the choke points and holding and taking  places can still get crowded.  But as RG says, it can be something to see, and it is not as zooey as the town pools just upstream.

 That's great info guys, I really appreciate it.  I am pretty much set on this being the route I am going to take. I just looked at the pass allocation, and wow, I better pull the trigger quick as what seems to be the peak time is already 65% sold out.   I have never been up there, so I was hoping to come a day early and maybe grab an afternoon pass to at least get a good look at the water.  I hate not being prepared and knowing the area around me! 

Last week in Sept/should be prime,buuuut you never know as the fish don't hold in the DSR as it's just the highway to the upper river and the spawning grounds.There could be many or few depending on how you "hit it".I used to fish the DSR but when it became expensive I bagged it as I can find plenty of fish that week at my private spot that has no fee to fish it.
I'll be up there that week and would be happy to show you around,I'm a OLD Army veteran and don't mind doing a favor for a YOUNG Army vet,send me a PM here and we can make arrangements to get together.

Like the rest said, but  be ready to bag it and take the loss and move up river. The last few years the few fish that came through just stormed past especially at night  It was only a few here and a few there and then none............

My last day in the DSR, 10/5/15, I walked out by 9 am. I couldn't take it anymore. I drove 7 hrs. straight to the coast and saved our vacation, striper fishing on deserted beaches.  Some walking up in the "free zone" can get you into far less crowds, but maybe less fish. I would seriously consider talking to pafisher and others and re-consider the DSR. Wait to you pay the hefty fee and have some azzhat jump in front of you with  there snag rig and azzhook  something. Or cast over your line when you have a fish on.   If they are running by the hundreds, there's some room to spread out. if not, the fish holed up in deeper spots are going to create combat fishing as bad as the easy  stretches, upriver. The past 3 years, I fished the San Juan in New Mexico, which is very crowded for a western river. Never had an incident, never felt like raising my voice. Just a warning. I lived in the west also, and travel back every year.  I've had some good times in the DSR, but one friend in particular made it that way, alone has been pretty disappointing.  Best of luck and thanks for your service.

My brothers still live in Green River, WY and what a totally different world.  I was definitely spoiled out there, and unfortunately it has **** near ruined fishing around here for me.  I used to love going to Erie from 1999-2002, but this last year was just pathetic.  We walked for miles and tried different access points.  Seems like the fish (What few were there) had more fisherman surrounding them than were actual fish in the run. I am by no mean a pro, but I can hold my own, and in 2 days I caught one fish.  We used to catch dozens back in the day no problem, and rarely ran into the idiots that I witnessed on that trip. I would rather catch one fish and be semi-secluded than catch 15 and have to worry about people riding on my shoulders.   Thanks for the tip for sure!  I got hooked up with PA Fisher and it seems like we have a lot in common and hopefully that pans out!   

Last year was very poor for everything on the Salmon River also.  12 days on the river from late October through mid December yielded 4 hits and two to hand for me, poorest results in years.  Things are looking better based on reports from the Lake for this year.  But solitude is not something that is easy to find anywhere on the tribs, expect to have at least some company, and a steady stream of boats as well if you fish upriver.

Silverbullet_11
My brothers still live in Green River, WY and what a totally different world.  I was definitely spoiled out there, and unfortunately it has **** near ruined fishing around here for me.  I used to love going to Erie from 1999-2002, but this last year was just pathetic.  We walked for miles and tried different access points.  Seems like the fish (What few were there) had more fisherman surrounding them than were actual fish in the run. I am by no mean a pro, but I can hold my own, and in 2 days I caught one fish.  We used to catch dozens back in the day no problem, and rarely ran into the idiots that I witnessed on that trip. I would rather catch one fish and be semi-secluded than catch 15 and have to worry about people riding on my shoulders.   Thanks for the tip for sure!  I got hooked up with PA Fisher and it seems like we have a lot in common and hopefully that pans out!   

Fishing the Seeskadee NWR, Fontenelle, and the area just above Rock Springs, let alone Pinedale and up to the Lakes spoiled me too!  I might come and fish with you guys, Jack is certainly a great guy to fish with, I've netted a bunch for him.