The DSR tries on occasion to emply that there is fish in the river , however in reality even when that water was a free fishery & that's what is should be never proved out to compete with other areas of this river . No I'm not saying there isn't fish to be caught in those lower reaches but for most part I've always felt those fish push on upstream quickly .
It's really shame this stream isn't kept open by NYS but it is what it is .
I've spoken to a couple of very reliable sources that I actively deal with in this region & none suggest any run is on , stragglers yes but nothing remotely being a run .
If u dislike fishing the crowds u have a couple of choices now or winter ! In the seventies eighties , I never fished anything but steelheads since it was snagging country for many seasons on salmon .
I can tell u I gave up Mi & Canadian steel heading for upstate NY & man it was great many 20 fish days with the river being relatively free of anglers !!
