As far as the Salmon's favorite color I used to think olive estaz was the color,at least it was for me for a couple years until for whatever reason they did n't like it for a spell.Then it would be something else,pink,green,red,black,blue,etc. As I said before have a lot of different color and type of flies,you never know what it will be this year.
As far as the take on the drift I find it is more subtle than aggressive.That is why I high stick and keep my line in contact with my rod hand on the drift to feel the take,it might just be a slight twitch or hesitation.Last season I went to a 11 ft 8 wt switch rod to get a better drift and easier roll cast and I recommend that highly,of course you need a reel with a good smooth drag.
It's july 1.......2 1/2 months to fun times on the river folks!

Ditto on the long Switch- mine is in 8 wt. LOVE IT with the Lamson reel.
  Good advice last year from some regs here before buying it.
 LOL-- setting the hook every time my line twitched or hesitated bouncing along the rocks on this river would make me look like the snagger of decades ago. 
    Probably why I never seem to use enough weight- those multiple muzzel loader ball weights gave way to a bb or two long ago -if any at all.
 Goin NUTS waiting for August.

New stick is an 8 weight 10 footer by Echo.
Got a spay if I really need a 2 hander.
Extra length but still easily 1 hand castable.
 
I miss lots of fish every year because I wait to make sure it is a lagit take, not a rock or body bump.
Worth it to me but I no I could hook more if I was a twitchy richie.
Its why I swing much more than short line nympth fish.
Its a grab or nothing no doubt on the tightline tightline swing, oh ya and ya feel it in your shoulder.
 

I can tell the difference between the bottom and a fish,a fish twitch has that "live" feel to me.There are times that they grab it though and then there is no doubt.

Most long timers can PA.
So I get what you're saying.
I just refuse to set till I'm sure that feeling of lfe is from the right mouth.
If I set the hook every time I felt life I couldn't afford the hooks I'd have to break off.
Its also why I fish large hooks.
While smaller sharper hooks penatrate with little pressure more often than not my hooks slide off fins and bounce off bodies unless I punch them home.
Again worth it to me to miss some fish.
We must fish some time!
 

Frankly  dont care how many are missed anymore- the days of numbers equaling happiness are long gone.
 One here and one there and sit back and watch the show has become most important- even walk a favored  Creek now and again without the rod- even in the busy season- just to see the fishes.
 Can spend an hour casting to a pool with no fish in it trying  to get the drift just where it looks right. Fishes are secondary-BUT ya gotta be IN the hunt to enjoy it. We are- after all- the predators here..
 Fat, old, grouchy, bald and at last= mellow.
 

retired guy

Fat, old, grouchy, bald and at last= mellow.

Have you been peeking in my shower.
OK you have to trade the word stupid for bald but other than that.

Hey PA - kinda disagree on 2 1/2 months till 'silly season'.
 IMHO its the height of 'silly' for some of us to start walking the river in  August dressed like we are going to a picnic looking for earlies- but we do. 
  Thinking bout carrying a snakebite kit, or at least starting a therapy group. ( "my name is Trevor and ....I fish")
 Anticipation -anticipation
 Like kids waiting for Santa.
 
 Waiting with bated breath ( have copd) for the reports of the King fishery 'falling apart' if its not like last year --lol. ( would be great but last year was nuts)

well here is where I feel I'm at :
The days of 30 + on water days salmon fishing is over, at least for me.. Then it was about putting others on experiences they wanted..
So now when I come to Pulaska it's for the fishing. I'm personally not looking to catch every fish that swims the river but with the time, $$$ and effort the focus is accomplishing my goal of catching fish..  Leaving there after knowing I did my best is all I could ask for.. Meeting good folks along the way is the bonus..
The bumps in the road on the way is expected for such an area as that..  It's not always numbers but it is fishing one of the most if not THE most popular rivers in NY..
Aug, Nah.. I'll spend the summer vacations hanging on the shores at the beach or off shore on the big lake ..
 
 

I used to make those early runs end of Aug. but over the years I guess I mellowed,got older,and now I won't consider it until middle of Sept.,but I'm booked for end of Sept. and first week of Oct.