Hello everybody my names Mike and me and my dad are going to make our first trip to the salmon river sometime after christmas, preferably December 26th. We fish erie every year and did very well there this year (Elk and 20 mile creek) We usually do a decent amount of hiking to find unpressured fish and a peacefull time.
-My question is whats the fishing like this time of year??  Are the fish spread throughout the river now like in erie?
And what would be the best area to fish?? (where there are good numbers of fish and areas to walk and get away from crowds) Thank you very much -Mike-
 
 

There will be fish throughout the river as there are now.  Depending on rain and flow there may be more.  Most  fish should be in their winter holds, but as there usually are freshies coming in  you may catch a few in transition  water.   Fishing depends on all the factors that it usually does, could be a good day or bad and it changes on a dime.  Most #'s of fish are in the mid to upper river, but the lower river can produce.   As far as good #'s of fish and crowds there are no secret spots on the river,  usually  the people are where the fish are.  You will be able to find a decent spot with fish with a little walking,  but the largest holds usually have people. The crappier and colder the weather the less people that will be around

Unlike erie, the river is large and ever changing.  You will find fish, and most likely catch a couple where ever you fish.  I will be up at that time and fully expect to find a few fish here and there, but depending on the flow and weather i might be very happy to hook one.  It is a very different fishery than the erie streams.

Thanks a lot guys! And yeah were going to have to get adjusted to larger water. we usually fish single eggs/ minnow - sometimes under a float sometimes not, skein and jigs. What sections of the river would you recommend we spend time exploring and getting familiar with? Thanks o lot --Mike--

Last time we went up, we started at the Staircase in town, which is deep fast pocket water, a narrowing that most all the fish swim through.  Above the stairs is the long bridge, and this is great water for drifting eggs or skein, but you will ALWAYS have company.  We went up to Pineveille and checked out everything down to Trout Creek, again some really nice water, but lots of folks (we mainly went for a walk).  There is a lot of nice water below 2a all the way down to town but some of it is posted, and NY is not like PA where you are OK if you are in the water, so pay attention to signs.  I'm also told there is some nice water up from 2a, but in almost 30 years on the river, that is still one stretch I've never done.  For exploring the Bovines is a braided channel area up in Ellis Cove below Altmar, and it changes a lot and there are always surprises.   As Big Bear says, it is all good, sometimes the hole right next to the parking lot will be as good as the one 1 mile back in and your line is in the water more if you are walking less. 
Happy exploring!
 
Also, it has been said here before, to lerarn the water fast, when brand new to the river, you can cut the learning curve radically by hiring a guide for the day.
 
L13

yea and its a good idea even if you've been fishing it for years to hire a guide once in a while, just to learn :)

Thanks again guys! And yeah we don't have the money for the trip and a guide- wish we did- This will be my first time fishing it but not my last as the plan is to transfer from community college to syracuse next year (the reason for our trip is to visit the college:) ) . My main adjustment is going to be getting used to faster drifts/ more casting. I take it minnows dont stay alive very long (i was thinking about using one on a jig head) I plan to fish eggsacks and skein and i have many jigs tyed up to try out. What kind of floats do you guys like? and what test ? we run 4lb or 6lb floro, size 14-18 hooks and very small foam floats but im thinking we can upsize everyhting for faster larger water. Again thanks for all the help i will definatly let you guys know how we do.--Mike--

To be honest, I don't hear of jigs, crawlers, or minnows being used.  As for the jigs, you aren't permitted to use them in the early fall, but they might be permitted at this point in the season.  Definitely check the regs!  I have yet to fish this time of the season or even drop backs in the early spring, I have thought of going up but my impression around fishing the winter months is YES there is less pressure but the fish can be more sluggish.  Again, that's my general impression, obviously I could be wrong...
 
Mostly egg sacs, size 10-14 sabretooth hooks, 10 lb main line with 6 lb fluoro, and from time to time Raven floats depending on the condition otherwise I'm bottom bouncing.  I will also use beads from time to time pegged 1 in above the hook.  You will find differences in each individuals approach, this just so happens to my approach.  I will tie home cured eggs from Salmon season; dime to quarter size egg sacs in pretty much every color mesh: chart, pink, white, orange, and blue.  Afterwards, its all about the drift/presentation.  I have walked right behind a guy that's been fishing a stretch and landed fish.  These fish can get a lot of pressure through out the season.  Typically use a 10 ft noodle for steelhead.
Hope this helps...

That definatly helps! thanks a lot for the tips. So you for the most part stick to eggsacks and just switch up the color or size for results?And you will actually just peg a bead on your line for the appearance?  
 
Also we would love to catch salmon but I haven't seen or heard anyone on the forum catching them? Is this for a reason? has the run ended? Sorry don't know much about the salmon haha I'm from PA --Mike--

On the  Salmon River jigs must be under 1/8 oz and they must have some dressing to classify it as a fly .
 
Here is the reg
*Use of hooks with added weight is prohibited, except that artificial flies with no more than one-eighth ounce of added weight may be used. For the purposes of this regulation, the method by which weight is added to a hook does not affect classification as an "artificial fly" provided the conditions of the definition of an "artificial fly" are otherwise met.

Artificial fly means a hook with no more than two points dressed with feathers, hair, thread, tinsel or any similar material to which no additional hooks, spinners, spoons or similar devices have been added.

(keep in mind that the special regulations for the Salmon river require that the fly have only one hook point, and a gap no wider than 1/2 inch)
 
You can also fish flies under the float.    I mostly fly fish, but  I have had some hits on a pink jig and a pink rubber worm under a float.