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Fall is in the air this week. The nights are getting cooler, and here on the Nashwaak River, some leaves are already starting to turn colour. Throughout salmon country, anglers are certainly looking ahead to fall fishing.
Many Rivernotes readers have noted their disappointment with salmon angling so far this year. The run numbers on many rivers in eastern Canada are very concerning, something ASF is watching closely. As we enter the last stretch of this salmon fishing season, let’s hope for some good rains to bring fish into our rivers.
Finally, we’re pleased to announce that ASF is working with Orvis on its annual Great Giveback Days campaign. During the month of September, customers who donate $10 to ASF at any Orvis retail or outlet store will get 10% off any apparel, flies, fly-tying or dog gear. Learn more about Great Giveback Days.
Kim Thompson, Program Director for Newfoundland and Labrador, notes the upcoming end of angling season in parts of her region, a report from the Kenamu River, and an electrofishing course. She writes:
“This Saturday marks the end of the salmon angling season for the majority of the rivers in Newfoundland in addition to upcoming trout angling season closures for certain zones. On the island, fall catch-and-release salmon angling is permitted on the Lower Humber River, Gander River, and Lower Exploits River from September 8, 2024, to October 7, 2024. However, retention of salmon is not permitted. Salmon angling zones in Labrador close on September 15. To find more details about Newfoundland’s fall angling regulations, or the Trout angling closure dates, refer to DFO’s Anglers’ Guide 2024-2025.
Special thanks to Tony Chubbs for this extensive fishing season report on the Kenamu River in central Labrador: “Ice break up was over two-three weeks earlier along the coast of Labrador and resulted in an earlier arrival of salmon on the Kenamu River. As the Kenamu River is largely inaccessible, there are very few anglers fishing the river (a maximum of 10-15 anglers from Happy Valley-Goose Bay) so fishing pressure is extremely low.
Fish were up to Pleasure Steady (80 km up from mouth of the river) by the last week of July, but water levels were low, and air temperatures reached 25-30°C range. Fishing remained slow through early August but peaked after some much-needed thunderstorms and rain in mid-August with record numbers of fish being seen and hooked, mostly grilse. Starting in the third week of August, more large salmon were being seen with 12-18 lb fish being released. The last week of August was warm and dry with water levels close to a record low and fishing slowed but still plenty of hook-ups.”
There’s nothing like putting theory to practice! To start this week, our partners and colleagues had the opportunity to complete the “Special NL” field portion of the Canadian Rivers Institute Electrofishing Training, offered through the University of New Brunswick, thanks to our very own ASF trainer, Wild Salmon Watershed Science Coordinator, Jordan Condon.”
Jennifer Noll, with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, provided cumulative numbers from the Lower Kennebec and Lower Mainstem Androscoggin Rivers this season. 45 Atlantic salmon passed the fish lift at the Lockwood dam on the Kennebec, while 17 Atlantic salmon have passed the Brunswick fish lift on the Androscoggin. You can read the full report here.
Program Director David Roth reports on conditions, run counts, and restoration work in New Brunswick. He writes:
“With the end of the summer and the falling temperatures, Fisheries and Oceans Canada lifted the remaining restrictions on the Miramichi River for the 29 salmon pools on the Miramichi following improvements in water conditions. Furthermore, fishing on the Nepisiguit River has been completely reopened. Detailed and up-to-date information about the closures can be found on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website.
While the temperatures have dropped significantly, water levels remain low in most rivers. The low levels are reflected in the updated reports from the Dungarvon and Northwest Miramichi River protection barriers. During the period of August 12th to August 25th, one grilse and one large salmon entered the collection trap at the Dungarvon site, while no new fish arrived at the Northwest protection barrier. This puts the current total counts for the Dungarvon at 43 (four grilse, 17 small salmon, 22 large salmon) and the number of fish for the Northwest barrier remains at a total of 37 (four grilse, 30 small salmon, seven large salmon).
While the low discharge currently prevents more significant numbers of salmon from swimming up the river, the conditions are perfect for restoring some cold water sites. Over the coming weeks, work is planned on three sites in the Miramichi River: Sutter’s, Casey Springs and McLean Brook. The redesigned sites will provide improved conditions as a refuge during warm water events for various species, including adult and juvenile Atlantic salmon. In the coming years, all sites will be monitored during normal and warm water conditions to assess the function of the restoration work.
As all anglers are waiting for the conditions in the rivers to improve and the fall run to start, it is helpful to keep an eye on the latest water levels provided on this webpage from Environment and Natural Resources to plan for the next fishing trip”
Water is low and fishing is slow in New Brunswick. That hasn’t stopped some anglers from hitting the water. Guide Ian Cavanagh shared this great photo from Rocky Brook on the Miramichi.
ASF’s Director of Nova Scotia Programs, Deirdre Green, has been supporting partners in the field with various projects. She recently joined Pictou County Rivers Association (PCRA) and the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) to install digger logs on Barney’s River. She writes:
“The PCRA has been working diligently with the Department of Fisheries (NSDFA) since the discovery of invasive chain pickerel in the headwaters of East River, Pictou County. An impressive effort by the PCRA has found their team working around the clock to check barrier nets and meeting regularly with partners (NSDFA, ASF, NSSA, SMRA, etc.) to discuss the next steps for containment/eradication. On this front, I joined DFO and the St. Mary’s River Association (SMRA) last month to complete eDNA sampling and angling surveys for aquatic invasive species in a few lakes in the St. Mary’s watershed that are in close proximity to Hunters Lake on East River, Pictou County. This sampling was a precautionary measure, with no invasive species observed in the St. Mary’s watershed to date.
Unfortunately, invasive species are not just a concern on mainland Nova Scotia. The Margaree Salmon Association, Nova Scotia Salmon Association and Atlantic Salmon Federation recently requested the Department implement a Mandatory Retention Order for the Margaree watershed in its entirety. This is in relation to the recent increase in detections of invasive smallmouth bass within the Northeast Margaree in 2023, and the main stem or lower river in 2024. I was able to connect with DFO to deliver the Mandatory Retention Orders to the Margaree last week and spent a productive day installing signage with DFO’s Colin Murray and Cody MacAdam. There are now three mandatory retention orders in place in Nova Scotia. More information may be found here: Aquatic Invasive Species – Government of Nova Scotia, Canada.
This summer, the Margaree Aquatic Research team has been working tirelessly to understand how young salmon adjust their behaviors and habitat use within cold-water refugia when invasive species are present. Cold-water refugia are crucial for salmon, providing safe havens where they can gather when surrounding water temperatures become too warm. However, these refugia may also come with a trade-off: high numbers of salmon in a small area may attract more predators, particularly opportunistic predators like smallmouth bass. Ph.D. student Kristen Cyr has kindly prepared an overview of the Margaree research program for our Rivernotes readership. In the summary, Cyr discusses the importance of the data collected and how it may be used to develop multiple adaptive management strategies for invasive species.”
Also from Nova Scotia, an announcement about the Antigonish Rivers Association’s upcoming dinner and auction on October 19th. Get more info and buy tickets.
In Quebec, Program Director Charles Cusson reports that the bump of water from Ernesto has passed, leaving anglers wanting more rain. He also provides recently published catch statistics from the Cascapedia. Charles writes:
“Le volume d’eau, dont Ernesto avait grandement contribué il y a quelques semaines, est malheureusement passé. Elle semble avoir eu pour effet de déplacer des saumons et facilité leur migration lors de la pleine lune du mois d’août.
Les nuits plus fraiches étant la norme à ce stade de la saison, cela contribuera à améliorer la situation du saumon, mais une autre fin de tempête tropicale provenant de la côte est améliorerait grandement les choses.
La Société Sipuminu a récemment publié ses statistiques de juin : « Le mois de juin n’a pas été mauvais, comparable à 2023 », a déclaré Darlene Sexton. Les conditions de l’eau ont été très bonnes pour le décompte des saumons, et nous espérons avoir les résultats à partager bientôt.
Si vous fréquentez nos rivières prochainement, veuillez svp nous partager vos succès, notamment avec des photos.
Tight Lines !
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The greatly needed bump in water that Ernesto contributed a few weeks ago has unfortunately come and gone. It did seem to have the effect of moving fish around and some new ones coming in around the full moon in August.
With cooler nights being the norm at this point of the season, this will help improve the situation for the salmon, but another tail end of an eastern seaboard tropical storm would improve things greatly.
The Sipuminu Society recently published their June statistics. “The month of June wasn’t bad, comparable to 2023,” stated Darlene Sexton. Water conditions were very good for counting fish, and we hope to have the results to share soon.
If you’re on the rivers, let us know how you do, especially with photos.
Tight lines!”
