Night Fish,
Do you let it dry for a couple hours after brining before it goes into the smoker?
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.
I know that the pellicle is a big deal to some folks but I've found that for me it isn't worth fussing over. To be completely honest, I can hardly tell the difference in the end product with or without it. Maybe I'm missing something...
One very influential factor is how you cut the fish. My kids like it prepared in way that they call salmon candy. This is not the traditional Indian salmon candy that you might be thinking of. To make our version of salmon candy I cut the fillet from top (dorsal) to bottom (ventral) into slabs about 4-5" long. Then I slice those chunks horizontally (head to tail) in strips about 1/2" thick. The strips are smoked well done (by look and feel, not IT) and heavily basted with syrup at least twice during the smoke. It comes out like a super sticky and super sweet salmon jerky ... no wonder the kids love it. One of these days I'll to a tutorial for the forum.
I also like our salmon candy. I'll vacuum seal and freeze it in single serving size packages and then pack it in the boat or in my pocket when fishing on the river. It makes an excellent power snack in the field. However, when smoking salmon for myself I usually slice it thicker, skip the syrup, increase the cracked pepper, and smoke it less so that it isn't so dried out jerky style.
Another interesting point is how storage in the fridge or freezer changes the texture of smoked salmon. It's always absolutely delicious straight out of the smoker. However, the jerky style can sometimes seem too dry for my taste. If you leave it in the fridge overnight the oils seem to "come out" and permeate through the meat and make it moist again. Freezing and thawing does the same thing but more so.
Hudson - You use cedar in the smoker? I was always under the impression that cedar isn't suitable for smoking. I used alder or hickory exclusively for years but recently made the move to cherry when I took down a few big cherry trees in my yard. Who knows. Maybe someday I'll go back to the old favorites.