Don Maclean - East Coast Field Editor
Don is a fishery biologist in Nova Scotia. An avid angler and fly tyer, Don has written for a number of outdoor publications. He makes his home in the town of Pictou, which puts him in the heart of some of Atlantic Canada's finest trout and salmon fishing.
East Coast
August 2010 report fot The Canadian Fly Fisher - by Don Maclean
Bugging Summer Salmon
Anytime we receive a good rain during the summer I try to load my fishing gear in the truck and head to one of Eastern Canada’s many rivers to fish for Atlantic salmon. Fishing for salmon is one of my favorite outdoor activities and anglers in Eastern Canada continue to have a variety of rivers where they can fish for this great fish. This year water levels have been fairly good throughout the region and salmon numbers have also been encouraging.
Fishing for summer run salmon has a long history in the region and, in my experience, the first rise in water levels in late June or early July is when you can expect to catch grilse, salmon which have spent one winter at sea, although larger salmon often begin entering the river earlier in the season. Anglers familiar with fall salmon fishing where large gaudy flies are the rule will find that summer salmon fishing requires a change in tactics. Traditional salmon flies, such as the Blue Charm, Cosseboom and Butterfly, are all popular on East Coast rivers but in recent years dry flies such as the bug or bomber have been the top producers for summer salmon. On Newfoundland rivers the standard bug, a white deer or caribou hair fly with orange hackle is often the only fly you need.
When I was writing my book on Atlantic Canadian fly tiers I had the opportunity to interview Harold "Smokey" Ball in Deer Lake on Newfoundland’s West Coast. Smokey is a commercial fly tier who has perfected tying bugs and bombers for Atlantic salmon. Many anglers in Newfoundland and Labrador wouldn’t go on the water without a selection of Smokey’s flies in their fly box."What makes a good bug," I asked Smokey. He laughed,"one that doesn’t come apart." Smokey ties all his flies with caribou hair and finds that it floats much better than deer hair. He also packs the hair very tightly and trims the bottom of every fly flat so it floats low on the water surface. He ties his bombers in a range of three sizes, number 4,6 and 8 on Mustad 9672 hooks. While Smokey biggest seller is the classic orange bug, tied with a white calf tail, natural caribou body, orange hackle and white wing he also experiments with various colour combinations. " Last year a black bodied bomber with white calftail and orange hackle worked great," Smokey told me, "and on the Castors River a white bodied bomber with blue hackle was good."
Summer salmon fishing often calls for anglers to fish with more finesse then is required during the Fall fishing season. Long casts and drag free drifts will help ensure success as will fine leaders. I used to fish with a six pound test Maxima tippet but when, at the suggestion of an older angler, I switched to four pound my hooking success increased dramatically. Gear selection for summer salmon fishing is fairly simple, a nine foot 6-8wt rod with a weight forward floating line is a good choice. An adequate reel with 100 yards of backing will complete your outfit.
Since all large salmon caught in Eastern Canada, with the exception of Labrador, must be released, anglers should be careful in how they play, land and release their fish. This includes playing the fish as quickly as possible and releasing it with a minimum of stress. This also means not beaching or netting it and cutting the line to release the fish if necessary. Barbless hooks are mandatory in Newfoundland and Labrador and in some areas of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. If you haven’t fished for summer run salmon in Eastern Canada for a few years this is a great opportunity to get back on the water. See you on the river.
©2010Don MacLean
