Anglers , please have a look for a Fenwick Rod and Hardy reel that was lost below Porcupine Pool on July 5th . Mr. Archer would really appreciate getting this back , there is a reward being offered but I expect likely that anyone that happens to find another guys rod or gear they would gladly give it back . If the rod is returned I will let you and a friend fish one of our private pools for a day at no charge . Please call Mark Archer at 506-849-0880.
Patience paid off for Al Sosiak this time out . A nice hen salmon fresh from the sea and full of life . The water is still a good height and with the cloud cover and cooler temps today the fish appear to be on the move again . Not quite the ideal conditions for bomber fishing just yet .
Photographing leaping salmon
Big Falls – Humber Leaper – not every leaper is a perfect, graceful image
Sometime, some reader may have the opportunity to try photographing a leaping salmon. Probably the best easily accessible places in North America are Causapscal Falls, in June, at the base of the Gaspé peninsula, and Big Falls on the Humber River in Newfoundland from late June onwards, but there are other locations here and there, wherever wild Atlantic salmon live.
If you have a really modern digital SLR camera you may have an autofocus fast enough. Otherwise, pre-focus on the place you thin, the salmon will leap. Put the ISO at 400, and try to achieve a shutter speed of 1/800th sec. Then hold the camera with the shutter button half depressed. Wait, and probably wait some more. You will need your fastest reflexes when the salmon leaps to push down the button FAST. If you have a fast multi-exposure, try for three.
This is actually tough to do, very wearing, and most shots won’t work. But some will. Would be happy to see what results you get.
For salmon photos, it is actually easier if you fish and have an underwater “point-and-shoot” camera to get a great shot as your friend releases the salmon. But that is another skill.
What’s coming up on the rivers
Labrador
Sand Hill – What is going on with this river? So far this year there have been 7,099 small salmon and 795 large salmon as of July 24. That is compared to 2010 numbers of 1,173 and 99. This year’s return is way above the 2005-2010 average of 2,718 small and 502 large.
Paradise – The trap has 196 grilse and 15 large salmon
Newfoundland
The numbers are in for July 24, and they are exciting.
Exploits – We are now at 35,496 which is less than 8 per cent below 2010′s banner year that had 38,640 by this point.
Campbellton River – 5,125 by July 24, against 3,846 last year.
Great Northern Peninsula – For whatever reason the Torrent numbers continue to lag, at 1569 this year, little more than half the 3,080 for last year. There is some concern here, wondering whether the reason could be mortality issues at sea, whether it does relate to issues associated with the fishway design. Meanwhile, on Western Arm Brook the return has been 1,228, down from 1,722 last year.
Big East River, Hawke's Bay, NL – a great place to watch wild salmon leap
Conne – The south coast Conne River continues to be of concern, with only 1,188 returns
Harry’s River – So far 3,938 salmon have been counted with the DIDSON unit near Stephenville Crossing.
New Brunswick
Restigouche & Upsalquitch – It was late going up on DFO’s website, but the Upsalquitch barrier has good news. By July 15 there were 359 large salmon as opposed to 192 in 2010 and also when compared with the 2003 to 2007 average of 212. This confirms the incredible numbers angled and released this year.
What this official number does not mention is that many are not just large but VERY large, obviously more than 2-seawinter Atlantic salmon. This is what we all want to see, and can only hope it is a harbinger of things to come in the years ahead.
Jacquet River - Another river with much larger returns, with 111 back by July 15 this year, and only 30 in 2010 and 22 in 2009.
Miramichi – A series of thunderstorms raised levels, but levels have been coming down, and lower temperatures this week should improve on the temperatures of last week.
Blackville Water Levels – Main Southwest Miramichi
Lyttleton – Little Southwest Miramichi
Maine
Penobscot – The higher temperatures have brought salmon migration to a virtual stop, with only three salmon found at Veazie this past week. As of July 25 there has been a return of 2,916 – the best numbers since about 1990.
Narraguagus – With 162 returns, this is also been a great year to date, the best since the late 1990s.
The water is coming down nicely and both air and water temps are near perfect this morning . We had good fishing yesterday on wet flys but it looks like this week will be bomber week . The forecast is for much cooler temps all week and rain on Tuesday .
199 Queen Street East
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Toronto, Ontario M5A 1S2
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Atlantic salmon fly-fishing conditions for the Miramichi River near McNamee for July 22nd . As you can see the water is up again . Heavy thunderstorms last evening brought it up app. 12 inches by noon today . We expect temperatures to climb a little today after the water rises over the warm beach gravel but it should be cooled down nicely for the weekend with more rain coming Saturday .Bombers were working best , but it may be a different storey now . The water is not terribly dirty but larger flys are in order for sure .
One salmon, two salmon, large salmon, grilse. Counting Atlantic salmon is at the core of understanding how many are coming back this year, and every year. However, pitfalls abound, since no two rivers are alike, and no way of counting is perfect. Some examples:
Angler returns from fishing can be useful – but are skewed by whatever the water level and temperature conditions are.
Counting fences are costly to operate, and when flood waters come down, may be carried downstream or to oblivion by debris. They do allow scale samples, but can have accidents, such as occurred a number of years ago at Veazie on the Penobscot, that can cause the deaths of salmon. But if water levels are high, in some cases salmon may swim around, especially early in the season.
DIDSON Monitors in Trailer, near Harry's River, in western Newfoundland
DIDSON side-reading sonar devices offer lower monitoring costsless likelihood of equipment being swept away, AND reduce the chance of hurting those valuable returning Atlantic salmon. But there is no scale sample, and the beams are only good to about 30 metres, and units need to be carefully positioned to cover both bottom and upper water areas. Nevertheless, there is great potential here.
Snorkel surveys, bankside tallies and the like are less precise since they count only a fraction of the returning fish. But they are valuable.
We all need to care about these counts. It isn’t enough to rely on anecdotal accounts from anglers that there are “lots of fish”, which could instead mean that the water levels and temperatures were perfect. Or that the runs were earlier or later. That angler information is valuable, but we need scientific counts, and we need to keep pressure on government to make them, and in areas like Labrador, where they are few, we need to consistently call for more counting facilities.
Some ASF Research and Centre Updates
ASF Research is gathering in the acoustic receivers deployed to track Atlantic salmon at sea. Earlier this week units in the lines crossing the Baie des Chaleurs were brought up, and as in past years a few were missing. Whether this is due to ship traffic or some form of fishing activity is not clear. Nevertheless the remainder will provide invaluable data on what is happening at sea.
Comedian Ron James with ASF's Bill Taylor
At the Atlantic Salmon Interpretive Centre in St. Andrews the Canadian comedian RON JAMES was visiting, shooting a segment for one of his upcoming shows that will appear on CBC TV.
Atlantic salmon returns on the rivers
Québec
Indications of early runs of numerous salmon and grilse.
Lower St-Lawrence:
Causapscal – Denise-and-Bateau Pool
To date, the Matapedia, Causapscal, Patapedia Rivers are continuing their phenomenal success, 1,493 fish landed including 205 salmon released compared to same date in 2010 where 669 fish were landed which included 112 salmon released. Both the Causapscal (season ended July 15th) and the Matapedia have seen the greatest increases in traditional lesser productive sectors.
Rain will be necessary as levels have dropped steadily for the last week.
Matane River:
Since the season start, 711 salmon and 231 grilse have made their trek through the fish ladder. 251 fish have been landed, only a few releases reported. These numbers bode well for the remainder of the season due to the fact that Matane runs historically don’t really get going until late July. Rain is becoming a necessity since water flows have dropped by half in the last week.
Bonaventure:
Water levels have dropped during the last seven days which has been reflected in the angling success, releases are slightly higher than last year at 587 but the number of retained grilse has increased considerably over last year. The number of rod days is almost at par with last season to date.
Cascapedia:
Following a great month of June, angling success is holding. To July 14th, 420 fish were landed (a trend to match June) keeping in mind that angling was suspended for a few days because of very high water. This brings the total since June 1st to 1,418 salmon released and 11 grilse retained. Rain has just made conditions better. Water levels are a concern, having dropped to 35 cubic meters/second from 70 a week ago.
Gaspé:
The York, Dartmouth and St-Jean continue to report excellent angling results, releases continue higher than last year with many unreported; overall fish landings continue to go well. A new injection of water is needed at this point. The in-river count is scheduled for late July.
Cap-Chat River:
Cap Chat River – Coté Pool
The overall phenomenon is reflected in this small river also, there are fish in all the pools. During the 1st week of July, water levels were perfect reports Quebec Director Charles Cusson and the success rate reflected this.
North Shore:
Moisie water conditions are ideal at the present time with a flow of 550 cubic meters/second. Many more reported releases, up from last year, number of fish landed also.
Godbout River:
To July 10th, 171 salmon and grilse had been landed, including 112 fish released. This surpassed by far numbers at the same date in 2010. The Escoumins, Laval and Trinité Rivers are also witnessing the same kind of increases.
Saguenay Region:
The Sainte-Marguerite River, very good water conditions continue, 147 salmon and grilse have been landed including 122 releases. Last season is a mere shadow to this year’s dream world.
To July 18, the Saint-Jean is reporting out of this world angling when compared to prior years. 114 fish have been landed with 84 reported releases…Compared to 29 fish landed with 9 reported releases.
Maine
Penobscot – As of July 18, 2,913 Atlantic salmon that had reached the trap at Veazie. But the warmer water has brought the salmon movement almost to a standstill.
Narraguagus – The fence at Cherryfield had counted 153 fish as of July 18, by far the best return of the past generation. Elsewhere in the Downeast rivers, the Dennys has seven – not many, but better than in any recent year.
Nova Scotia
Sackville River – Water temperatures are now high, but by July 15 a total of 41 Atlantic salmon, 9 multi-seawinter and 32 grilse, had made it up the Sackville River. For the past two weeks most have been grilse.
New Brunswick
Be aware that if you check the NB and NS counts from DFO, the way their website works, some of the numbers may be from two weeks earlier, and there is no warning of which numbers are not current. The only way to tell is by actually comparing them date to date.
While DFO has not updated all the “trap” info, but there are some positive signs for large salmon returns as of July 15.
Miramichi – At the Northwest Cassilis Barrier there were 270 large salmon, as opposed to 171 last year and 83 in 2009. And at Millerton on the Main SW, there have been 395 large salmon this year, almost the same as the 393 last year but way ahead of the 272 in 2009 and 113 in 2008. Grilse numbers have also been doing fine, especially when compared to the very good 2010 runs. At Millerton there had been 1256 returns by July 15 vs. 1222 in 2010. At the NW Cassilis net, numbers are down slightly – 950 in 2011 vs 1001 in 2010.
Saint John and Nashwaak – At Mactaquac numbers are definitely positive with 379 large salmon as of July 15 vs. 296 in 2010, and on the Nashwaak a very nice 143 large salmon compared to a mere 72 in 2010 and 105 in 2009. Grilse numbers have dropped very significantly, however. This year only 688 grilse have made it to Mactaquac vs 1957 in 2010. That is about a third of last year’s run, alas. That grilse ratio isn’t far off the returns on the Nashwaak – 291 to July 15 vs 618 in 2010.
Restigouche and Upsalquitch – Counts are not in yet, but at Larry’s Gulch, this year there was a record set, when one angler caught and carefully released four fish totalling 121 pounds. There really do seem to be more multi-seawinter Atlantic salmon returning.
Footnotes:
DIDSON on Harry's River, NL
At left is a wide-angle photo of the DIDSON installation on Harry’s River in western Newfoundland, photographed in late June, 2011.
The sonar unit reads the entire distance across to the short length of fence on the far shore.
Atlantic salmon fly-fishing conditions for the McNamee area for July 19th . The water is just now getting down to a normal summer low , not too low and not too high . Many of the best pools on the river fish best at this height . Water temps are climbing during the day but we are still getting cool nights . We are still seeing fish in all the pools and even landed one last night in O’Donnell’s Landing , which is usually only fished when the run is on , go figure . Our best luck is on smaller 8′s &10′s and of course bombers .
