To all the guys heading up to the Salmon River, good luck. It is a world class fishery and truthfully for those of you who haven't experienced it you've never seen anything like it. That being said, a few comments. I've been fishing the river for twenty years or so and have had some really great experiences and have seen unfortunately the worse of fisherman as well. It's hard not to get excited when you see 20 to 30 lb fish porpoising all around you and fish being hooked up on all sides. There's parts of the river where you will see absolute insanity......and you'll know what I mean when you see it. Don't be afraid to get off on your own or spread out. The fish at this time of year are shooting the river and typically will run where the current is strongest. The steel have a tendency of holding in the seams and if you want to target steel, go lighter with your leader. You'll lose most of the salmon but your chance of legitimately hooking a steel will go way up with 6 - 8 lb vs 10 - 12. Steelhead and brown will hit, for the most part salmon are not feeding when they run the river. I know many will argue this point but imo for the most part these fish are mostly lined or foul hooked. The fight is phenomenal but again they are in a migrating mode and for the most part they're not interested in your offering. Not sure when you're going up but the worst weekend to go is Columbus Day....it's an absolute zoo. You'll know what I mean if you go. You'll witness guys fishing with heavy salt water outfits openly snagging salmon and truthfully it's a shame and the bad part of this fishery. The more you get into the season, November and beyond, you'll get more and more steel and browns in the river, the temperature drops, the clowns will stop coming and the fishing imo really starts then.

Treat the river with respect, please clean up after yourself, you see way too many people leaving crap on the banks. As a few have said, the fishery itself is world class but it's what you make of it as well. Don't try snagging fish, the trout will hit regularly and on good days and once you learn their habits you'll experience fishing like you've never seen. It's incredible both in quantity and quality. I've had days where legitimately I've hooked 50 or more steel and browns in a given day. Trout will spawn and return to the river. Cohos and Kings die unfortunately every year they run the river. If you want to keep a trophy trout, do so but imo don't put these fish on a stringer for a few pictures and table fare. They're far too valuable a resource and deserve a better fate. They are trophy fish and will keep returning to the river every year to guarantee the future of the fishery.

Enjoy and learn the river. Once you learn the techniques, you can apply them to any pool on the river. Thin time of year, fish are running and will look for fast water and seams. Fish will hold up in deep pools right after or before running rapids. Steel as I said earlier tend to hang along the seams picking off eggs being dropped by the salmon or behind them when they're creating their reds on gravel. When the water temperature drops, they will winter in the deeper pools and you need to adjust your presentation accordingly. Either way, pay attention to details and learn how to make a natural presentation. That's probably the most important aspect of being successful. Whatever you do, don't let your excitement turn you into a goon. You'll know what I mean when you see some of what takes place on the river.

I wish everyone well and hope all the newbies land your first chrome this year. You won't ever forget it! Enjoy what the river has to offer and remember to protect the resource regardless of what you see some of the idiots doing up there!

Dakota