Last year I came up around this time and it was slamming! This year , not so much ; I wonder why? I guess a really hot August w low precip is a big part of the Delay, correct?

Very low water,and high temps don't help.Temps are dropping but we need one of those tropical systems that are drowning the south to spread some water north!

Checked my reports from last year-- only two- from a guy who fished dozens of days when having a place there.
 
Around Sept 18 found some early fish for a couple of days and called it perhaps the beginning of the beginning of a run.
Nothing great at all but a hookup was to be had here and there early.
 
Of course many reports were  better - at the ballpark and needle - than what I observed- but have been going there well over 35 years, had a vacation house near the river for 10  and may kinda have an idea of what am looking at -doesnt depend on what your after but how your after it--- lol.
 
Went back up around Oct 9th to LOUSY fishing top to bottom and  very heavy pressure .
Had hoped for a late October or November surprise but reports indicated NO- never went back up.
 
NOT much of a run- but at least a trip to the hatchery showed plenty had got through.
Actually never even heard of a true run last season - perhaps a nice push or two early but no big runs of old days..
 
If ya hit one of those Sept quick pushes ya likely did OK last time but there were fewer than normal.
 
This  year sounds similar to this point - hope for those that go it gets better and kinda believe it will.

Unfortunately the fish like Mother Nature don't run on man's timetable.  In reality there is no such thing as early or late but when they are ready.  

I just watched a video from this past Thursday (10/15) of the Chinook salmon egg take at the Altmar hatchery.  Even with low water conditions that hatchery is full of salmon.  The egg take from Chinook's is done first, next up Coho's.  The Lower Fly Zone will probably open shortly. 

 Night Runs.  Sounds like a Bob Seger tune.   I hope water goes up and steel migrate upriver.

Think it was likely a bit better this year from last according to filtered reports- at least down low where many were picked out.
Upriver had few few few reports of fish- glad some runners made it to the hatchery.
 
Seems to be a season all too familiar in the past few years of low waters and low 'catching' and little from middle on up.
 
Night runs keep me awake and uncomfortable.