Yup I peg a bead, sometimes in addition to using sacks but sometimes not. I also will use different size beads depending on the conditions of the water: dark, clear, fast, slow... Colors are all over the map.
I will also use small pink power bait worms but like anything else if you don't have confidence in it the likelihood you will keep sticking with it to give it a real chance to work is unlikely.
Salmon run is over if you want to get into them you are looking at early to mid September TO late October depending on where you are fishing, phases of the moon, water temp, and even flows. Obviously when and why the fish decide to come is left for the Salmon to know, and each year can be a little different but no matter what they will come. I can't say I'm a fan of the mud sharks, once they get into the river system getting them to bite given the fishing pressure can be frustrating (mind you they aren't biting because they are hungry) and watching some of the behavior on the river can make one sick (I'm not talking about the fish by the way). I will leave it at that...