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This week brings another packed edition of Rivernotes. We’ve got a very cool paddling event in Maine, urban salmon in Halifax, N.S., and (a Rivernotes first!) a joint report from Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Over the last several weeks we’ve received several reports from anglers, particularly in Quebec and New Brunswick, who just aren’t seeing—or connecting with—as many salmon as usual this year. Atlantic salmon returns and angling success are often a mixed bag. The stock of North American wild Atlantic salmon is showing an overall positive trend. For example, many rivers in Newfoundland are reporting exciting run numbers this year. Other areas are presenting more concerning trajectories, and ASF is watching this closely. We’ll soon be publishing our annual State of the Population report, and also hosting an accompanying webinar. Please stay tuned for this educational opportunity.
As part of the ASF-Hooké collaboration, Hooké is currently working on a film about wild Atlantic salmon and some of the inspiring people in the salmon community. One of those characters is artist Alex l’Heureux, pictured above working on the banks of the Miramichi River.
This week’s Rivernotes starts with a report on a unique paddling event in Maine. Three Rivers for Change ambassadors will travel (two on stand-up paddle boards and one in a kayak) from Moosehead Lake to Popham Beach on the Kennebec River. This weeklong 175-mile (280-km) “Source to Sea” journey is meant to bring awareness to the conservation work that’s improved the Kennebec in recent years. A press release for the event noted:
“The focus for this Source to Sea paddle is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Edwards Dam removal, which allowed anadromous fish such as salmon, sturgeon, and alewives to travel farther inland. In addition to celebrating the dam removal, the hope is to catalog all of the possible put-in, take-out, and campsites along the way so that a paddle trail could be started, and others can make day or overnight trips.”
Make sure to read the full press release and check out the facebook page to learn more about this special initiative as well as paddle-along events taking place along the way.
Also from Maine, 2024 Jed Wright Fellow Laura Romania reports on the reopening of Walton’s Mill Park, after a successful dam removal. She writes:
“Walton’s Mill Park in Farmington, ME was recently reopened following the removal of Walton’s Mill Dam and the restoration of Temple Stream. The park itself has also been revitalized and offers a beautiful space for the community to enjoy. This week, I joined environmental consultant Alan Haberstock to conduct wetland surveys to assess the reestablishment of vegetation following the removal of the dam and lowering of the impoundment. Riparian wetlands are important to functional Atlantic salmon habitat because they maintain good water quality in streams and rivers. We surveyed within the former impoundment, and upstream past the boundary of the impoundment to compare new growth to existing conditions. Instead of extensive planting, this section of the stream was allowed to naturally recolonize from the existing seed bank, producing the lush wetland seen in the images below!”
As of writing, many cold water pools on the Miramichi remained in warm water protocol. While some good rain has raised the water level, persistent high air temperatures, with little overnight reprieve, have hampered angling conditions.
On the Restigouche, angler Chris Chisholm reports on a nice fish landed at Fence Pool at Larry’s Gulch. Chris writes, “Generally, fishing has been slow with not great numbers. That said, the water remains cool and when conditions are decent, there seem to be fish through the beat.”
Karen McKendry, Senior Wilderness Outreach Coordinator at Ecology Action Centre, reports on urban salmon—right in Halifax! She writes:
“Despite Sandy Lake being smack dab in middle of the booming neighbourhood of Bedford (Halifax), it is an oasis for Atlantic Salmon. The largely undeveloped lake is nurtured by surrounding streams, then connects into the Sackville River, a very urban waterway. Thanks to decades of in-stream restoration and stewardship by the Sackville Rivers Association, salmon are returning to the once beleaguered river, and making their way up to its headwaters, which includes Sandy Lake. They are in Sandy Lake and its feeder brooks once again this year, as evidenced by video taken in Peverill’s Brook, the gravel-bottomed outlet of Sandy Lake. Two salmon parr were spotted and recorded using a submerged GoPro. The evidence of recent use of the area by salmon adds to the case against allowing development in the headwaters of the lake. The Sandy Lake–Sackville River Coalition continues to advocate for more protection of the lands and waters at Sandy Lake/Sackville River, instead of expanding suburban sprawl into this special place.”
Deirdre Green, ASF Program Director for Nova Scotia, writes:
“Heat warnings once again blanket the province and although the weekend brought rain to Cape Breton Island, the Margaree river was not long in dropping again. Angler Aaron Krick reported a run of fish with this flush of water but nothing like what we would typically see from the season’s first blowout. On Saturday, Krick was fortunate to connect with a beautiful 20+ pounder in the rain. He cautions, ‘water temperatures were approaching 22C even in the NE branch on Monday and with more hot weather and limited rain forecasted, anglers should be mindful to regularly check temps.’ On the mainland, anglers reporting excellent trout fishing conditions on several North Shore rivers.”
This week, Rivernotes closes with a special joint dispatch from ASF’s Kim Thompson, Charles Cusson, as well as ASJ editor Martin Silverstone. (English text below.)
“La logistique peut être difficile, surtout à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador et dans certaines parties de la Basse-Côte-Nord du Québec. À titre d’exemple, le voyage que le rédacteur du Journal Martin Silverstone et le directeur des programmes québécois de la FSA Charles Cusson ont entrepris la semaine dernière sur la rivière Saint-Paul. Garland Nadeau, conseiller municipal et historien, a laissé sa voiture à l’aéroport de Deer Lake pour que les deux saumoniers puissent l’utiliser. Le problème logistique ? La voiture devait demeurer dans le village de Rivière Saint-Paul.
Avant que ce problème puisse être résolu, un problème plus important est apparu de manière inattendue. Un des bagages de Charles, qui contenaient tous ses vêtements pour la tournée de 2 semaines, était resté tant bien que mal à Montréal.
À la rescousse, Kim Thompson, la nouvelle directrice des programmes de la FSA à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, a sauvé les meubles. Elle a offert de se rendre à Deer Lake pour récupérer le sac de Charles qui manquait à l’appel. Les gens de la pourvoirie Green Point Outfitters, les hôtes de Charles et Martin ont eu la gentillesse d’inviter Kim à séjourner également au camp sur la Saint-Paul. À juste titre, la rivière Saint-Paul prend sa source dans le plateau du Labrador jusqu’à la baie des Esquimaux au Québec, une véritable rivière frontalière. De plus, quelle belle façon pour Charles et Martin de faire connaissance et d’échanger avec leur nouvelle collègue !
La pêche sur la Saint-Paul reflète les conditions de pêche partout au Québec en ce moment. Les faibles niveaux et débits d’eau, le temps chaud et les cellules de pluie isolées ont rendu la pêche difficile dans la plupart des régions. Les retours de saumon dans certaines zones, précipitent d’après certains intervenants que la remise à l’eau obligatoire de tous les grands saumons et des madeleineaux, jusqu’à ce que les conditions s’améliorent. Il y a cependant quelques lueurs d’espoir puisque Matapédia fait rapport d’un cumulatif de 196 poissons, dont 6 madeleineaux récoltés et 190 saumons relâchés au 8 juillet, comparativement à 153 à pareille date en 2023. Sur la Saint-Paul, quelques saumons ont été observés et relâchés. Entre les sessions de pêche, les visiteurs de la FSA ont apprécié l’accueil chaleureux de Marilyn Chevalier et Jim Thomas. Le jambon bouilli et le pain fait maison de Marilyn étaient sublimes, et Jim s’est avéré être un touche-à-tout exceptionnel (en plus d’être guide), aidant à entretenir le bon fonctionnement du générateur du camp, entre autres tâches.
“La pourvoirie Green Point Outfitters sera bientôt jumelée avec un camp sur la rivière Pinware au Labrador et les gérants ont offert à l’équipe de la FSA une visite en avant-première. Le trio a été accueilli par Ashley Roberts et son époux Tod Holt-Wellman. Pendant le séjour de leurs invités, ils ont préparé un menu impromptu qui a mis en valeur les talents d’Ashley. Le Pinware River Lodge est idéalement situé à quelques mètres de la rivière et l’équipe espère le rendre pleinement opérationnel d’ici 2025.
Reg Bolger, guide chevronné de la région, a su guider ses pêcheurs dans les fosses les plus prometteuses malgré les conditions. En avant midi, les fosses avoisinantes de l’embouchure ont été pêchées et en soirée, la fosse Big John fut exploré.
Kim et Martin discutaient avec quelques autres pêcheurs pendant que Charles pêchait à la mouche sèche. Les nouvelles des autres régions au Labrador étaient similaires à celles de la Pinware, période de canicule et des conditions de pêche difficile . D’autres pêcheurs, tel Raymond Pinsent, natif de Grand Falls, Terre-Neuve, partageaient le fait que sa rivière natale, l’Exploits, était productive et que de nombreuses prises s’effectuaient. Un jeune couple de l’Anse à Clair au Labrador s’est arrêté pour s’entretenir avec Kim et Martin. Il s’est avéré qu’ils avaient passé une merveilleuse journée en dépit du fait qu’ils ont piqué et ensuite perdu 3 saumons. Ils ont été déçus de ne pas avoir pu relâcher les saumons qui leur ont fourni des moments de joie. Martin les corrigea en disant que « Vous avez effectué des remises à l’eau de longue distance et d’en être fier ».
Au coucher du soleil, le saumon a commencé à marsouiner et à monter sur les offrandes des pêcheurs. Charles en a levé quelques-uns, mais n’a pas réussi à en convaincre de prendre la mouche, y compris la « Dirty Bomber », une création de son collègue pêcheur, Paul White. Paul a transformé une de ses créations la « Dirty Bomber », qu’il décrit ayant l’apparence d’une boule de poil qui a été restitué par un chat! ». En tant qu’orienteur scolaire à Lewisporte Terre-Neuve, Paul inspire et s’inspire de ses élèves où il a organisé des clubs de montage de mouches promouvant la conservation et la mise en valeur du saumon atlantique auprès des générations futures de saumonier !
“Logistics can be tough, especially in Newfoundland and Labrador and in parts of the lower North Shore of Quebec. A case in point is the trip Journal editor Martin Silverstone and ASF’s Quebec Program Director, Charles Cusson, undertook last week to the Saint-Paul River. Garland Nadeau, a town councillor, and local historian left his car at the airport in Deer Lake for the pair to use. The logistical problem? The car had to stay in the village of Saint- Paul’s River.
Before that problem could be solved, a bigger one came up unexpectantly. Charles’ luggage, which contained all his clothes for almost 2 weeks on the road had somehow stayed in Montreal.
To the rescue flew, well drove, Kim Thompson, ASF’s newly hired Newfoundland and Labrador program director. She offered transport back and to get Charles his roaming bag. The folks at Green Point Outfitters, Charles and Martin’s hosts, were kind enough to invite Kim to stay at the camp on the Saint-Paul as well. Fittingly, the Saint- Paul’s River flows from the Labrador Plateau in Labrador to Esquimaux Bay in Quebec, a true two-province river. Plus, what a great way for Charles and Martin to get to know and exchange information with their new co-worker.
The fishing on the Saint-Paul reflected fishing conditions across Quebec. Low water levels, warm weather with isolated rain cells meant difficult fishing in most areas. Returns in some areas had a few observers calling for obligatory live release of all salmon including grilse until conditions improve. There were some bright spots, however, with the Matapedia reporting 196 fish landed (6 grilse harvested and 190 salmon released) to July 8, compared to 153 at the same date in 2023. On the Saint-Paul, guests were seeing and catching a few salmon. In between fishing, the ASF visitors enjoyed the wonderful home cooking and hosting of Marilyn Chevalier and Jim Thomas. Marilyn’s boiled ham and homemade bread was out of this world, and Jim turned out to be an exceptional jack of all trades—helping with guiding and keeping the camp’s generator running smoothly, among fulfilling other duties.”
“The Green Point Outfitters will soon have a sister club on the Pinware River in Labrador and the managers offered the ASF crew a preview tour. The trio was met and hosted by Tod Holt-Wellman and Ashley Roberts, who on short notice put together an impromptu menu highlighted by Ashley’s ‘Poor-man’s Sushi Bowl,’ and plenty of fresh seafood. The Pinware River Lodge is ideally suited within metres of the river and the team hope to have it in full operation for 2025.
On the Pinware, anglers concentrated around the first falls at Big John’s pool. It was warm and fishing was slow. To avoid the crowd and take advantage of a rising tide, Guide Reg Bolger showed them nice water to fish in Tidal Pools.
In the evening, they were downstream of the falls at Big John’s Pool. Kim and Martin chatted with anglers while Charles fished dry flies. News from other regions was like the Pinware, warm weather and slow fishing. Other anglers, like Raymond Pinsent of Grand Falls, reported that his home river, the Exploits, was fishing well with lots of fish being caught. A young couple from l’Anse à Clair in Labrador stopped to chat. It turned out they had enjoyed a wonderful day with three hookups. None were landed, and they were disappointed in not having been able to release the fish. ‘You did,’ the journal editor corrected them, using one of his favorite lines. ‘That is what we call a long-distance release.’
As the sun set, salmon began to roll and rise. A few anglers hooked up, Charles rose a few but could not entice one to take his selection of bombers, including the ‘Dirty Bomber,’ tied and gifted to him by fellow angler, Paul White. Paul has turned his Dirty Bomber flies, which he describes as looking like something ‘hacked up by a cat,’ into a small business complete with a line of clothing! Being a school guidance councillor in Lewisporte, Paul inspires and gets inspired by his students where he has organized fly-tying clubs promoting Atlantic salmon conservation and stewardship with the future generation of anglers!”
