I think the surge you might see in the Alts will be different to what they were before the BTC hard fork. It's a good time for those who got out of alts to re-evaluate their choices.
I also have friends with alts in the HODL drawer. I can't pretend I have a crystal ball, but there are certain things I look for in an early stage alt. A problem they solve with a unique technical solution is a good start. That eliminates most alts right there.