Kenny and I have been going fishing in different regions of Canada for Atlantic salmon for about 8 years. Many people wonder why we travel so far and spend so much time casting to the “King Of Fish”. The ratio of casts to hook ups is small in comparison to other species of trout and salmon. But, from the moment I hooked my first Atlantic salmon, I was hooked for life. It is difficult to describe with words the totality of the experience. Let me try. Often we use spey rods because the rivers are large and a spey rod enables us to cover otherwise unreachable water. So, we string up our spey rods mostly with floating lines unless water levels demand intermediate or sinking lines. We typically use hand built leaders that are tapered from 20 to 10 pounds. I don’t build my own leaders because there are local anglers that have turned leader building into a refined art form. Each section of the hand built leader is a specific length. And, leaders can be built according to variable fishing conditions. After the leader is attached we then choose from a myriad of classic and modern Atlantic salmon flies. Let me briefly explain my first encounter with the Atlantic salmon. I was fishing the red bank pool on the Margaree River in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. I was using a single handed 9 weight fly rod. I had the perfect leader and the perfect flies. The weather and water levels were good, but after 3 full days and countless casts I was still fishless. I was wondering the banks questioning the reasons why I was here fishing to fish that are not eating. I was tired of fishing the rotational system in the “good” pools. I needed to see some different water and take break from the system. I wondered upstream and positioned myself in a run that is considered a non-holding run. I noticed an overhanging tree on the opposite bank and the trout side of my brain said, “that looks like a good spot.” I cast a Blue Charm Atlantic salmon fly above the tree and let it drift down. As the fly started to swing there was a huge explosion. My line went tight, my reel screamed and I could feel the pulse of the fish through my rod. The dime bright Atlantic salmon jumped 4 or 5 times and danced across the river. Kenny, my good friend and long time Atlantic salmon companion, tailed the fish. Since that day, I return to various regions of Canada a couple times each year and fish many different Atlantic salmon rivers looking for a bright shiny fish. I just returned from a 5 day stint in Cape Breton. I was on the majestic Margaree River. Brilliant fall colors highlighting the hills and valleys of this Norman Rockwell type scene. I saw some huge Atlantic salmon landed. Atlantics 48″ long with kyped jaws resembling bailing hooks, 42″,46″,38″ and finally down to mine at 26″. Mine was a Grilse, a Salmon that had been out at sea once and returned. I caught my fish on my spey rod with a hospitality fly pattern and loved every minute. I continue to use and learn a lot about the uses of a spey rod and it enables me to cover the water completely, loosing nothing to accuracy and being easier on the shoulders. I will return to Gaspe next spring and the Margaree River in Cape Breton next fall hoping for an Atlantic salmon in the 40″+ size.
greg,
nice read. I love those fish and have been on the Margaree twice and loved every minute of it. I look forward to the day that I can go back.
I have yet to venture that far north for atlantics, it is definetly on my list. I am always anxious to see what you’ll bring back for us greg. Nice work I am sure your 40″ is not too far away.
greg and kenny .. nice work .. i definately plan on making it up there to gaspe in the spring with you guys and cape bretton in the fall next year … i’d also like to do the trip across the st. larence .. all great water up there .. and would be nice to fish it with friends who know it so well ..
ps. greg, i took your advice today and went after those sea run browns that you told me you saw.. used the spey rod …. worked great.. i plan on dedicating a lot of time this oct, nov and dec targeting the sea run browns here in maine and fishing the mouths of the rivers and outlets into the ocean … i have seen some beautiful silver sea runs that others have landed through the years and i really plan on targeting them this season .. the spey rod works great and makes sense, as the water is big … so, when you come down this way plan on fishing for those with me .. similar to the atlantics in the sense that you gotta put in the time and allot of casts over huge water .. but the rewards are worth it … silver, hot, oceanic fish .. have you ever got one? i know joe-m did … up in your neck of the woods .. a beautiful fish … thanks for lending me the spey rod ..
Well done Greg. Reading your post brings memories back…majestic is the best description of the Margaree.
now, did Alice give ya two scoops of pertaters fer bein so courteous and charming???
Wow! Greg. Nice fish. I fished the red bank pool on the Margaree when I was just about 12 years old. My parents took me and I had a hard time handling a 9 weight rod. We spent about a week on the Margaree and I’ll never forget it. Sooooo beautiful! Red Bank pool espescially sticks out in my mind because I saw my Mom catch and land a beautiful HUGE salmon there ( 40 inches plus ) ( she let me play it for a few minutes ). At the time it was the biggest fish I’d ever seen caught. Great story. I hope to get to Cape Breton another time soon when I can really appreciate it. Thanks!
Nick
Atlantics on the spey…pure euphoria. Great job. My dream in the making!!
Greg, great story and sweet pictures. I am in for next fall if you have room…..really want to get up there bad….I can see the looks on the locals faces when J-bone and I break out the indicator rigs on the speys…we will be black-listed for fishing in any of the Canadian provinces. Nice work fellas.
and she insisted I eat my vegetables, to include 2 scoops and you know how much I like veggies, yuk.
Sweeet, glad to have you. You would like my friend Kenny. We have reserved a three bedroom cabin for next fall, with kitchen and satelite tv.
hi Greg
I´m goin there this summer 19jun 29jun hoping to get one of the kings. nice reading if u have some tips plz let me know Claus
Well there is a lot of what to admire. First – it’s complicated “hunting”. There is a lot of nuances, and in general is rare to catch a king. Second, the fabulously beautiful nature. As it is, without human changes. Third .. the atmosphere. Perhaps this is understandable. Difficult, but so attractive to catch salmon.
claz.org