I was there about a week ago for the very first time, from calgary, drove a long time to exerience the mighty vedder, but like you, I didnt catch much, just a few small rainbows and lost one salmon in 3 days. I used mainly roe bags and streamers on a float rod and center pin.
I'm not new to fishing for salmon, its just been awhile since I fished for these speceis, about 10 years ago, when I used to live back in ontario in the niagara gorge I caught my share of chinooks and "steelhead" not sea run, but from the great lakes. I don't know if it was the current conditions or my out of practice self but I found the vedder river a bit difficult to fish I didnt know too much about it just what I read online. I think real life exerience is the key to be successful , you have to put in the time to know the river and find out what works and how to present it