by Ian Gall
Atlantic Salmon, Landlocked Salmon, Brown Trout, Brook
Trout, Rainbow Trout
Newfoundland and Labrador as a fishing destination is known mostly to anglers in the U.S. northeast, and mainland Canada from Ontario east. These anglers know more about the Atlantic Salmon fishing than about the fishing for Landlocked Salmon, Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout. For many other anglers in North America and in Europe, the province remains a complete mystery. I will endeavor to describe to these many anglers what the fishing is really like, as many tourist and fishing brochures only give a brief outline of what is available.
There are 177 scheduled rivers in Newfoundland and Labrador, with many more unscheduled all over the province.
The Salmon run starts in late May to early June on the southwest and south coasts, with the peak around middle to late June. On the northeast coast and the Northern Peninsula, the peak run is in early to mid-July, depending on conditions. In Labrador, the run starts towards the end of June with the main run towards the middle of July and into August. Ice conditions off the coast in Spring dictate the timing of the run. In some years, due to late ice melt, the main run is around the end of July.
Good rivers to fish on the Island are the Codroy, Crabbes, Robinsons, Southwest, Harry’s, Humber, Main, Portland Creek, River of Ponds, Exploits, Gander, Long Harbour, Grey and Grandy’s. In Labrador, rivers such as the Forteau and Pinware Rivers on the Strait of Belle Isle are good rivers which can be reached by car and ferry from the Island (this portion of Labrador is not yet linked to the rest of North America by road: to drive there, you must first go to the Island part of the province via North Sydney, Nova Scotia). Other good Labrador rivers, which can only be reached by plane and helicopter, are the Eagle, White Bear and Sandhill in southern Labrador and the Big, St. Michael’s, Adlatok and Hunt Rivers on the north Labrador Coast.
Good flies to use are the moose- and squirrel-winged wet flies, such as Blue Charm, Thunder and Lightning, Black Silvertip, Cosseboom and Silver Grey. The Brown and Orange Bug and Bomber style flies are good for most of the season. Flies which worked well for me these past few years are the White Caribou Bug tied with a grizzly hackle on a size-6 Mustad 9671, the Brown Bug on a size-6 Mustad 94840, the Yellow and Black Bug tied with a dark brown or black hackle on a size-8 Mustad 9671, and the Black Silver Tip on a size-10 Mustad 36890.
Newfoundland has a large number
of landlocked salmon, particularly in the central region of the Island. Fishing pressure
on this fish is virtually nil due to the preference of most anglers for brook trout and
salmon. The "landlocks" are also known as ounaniche (pronounced wi-na-neesh),
which is an Indian name. Landlocks of 2 pounds (1 kg) and above are quite common. Large
bodies of water such as Grand Lake, Red Indian Lake and the waters in the Bay Despoir area
are excellent fishing areas. The canal systems of the Upper Salmon Hydro Development in
the Bay Despoir area are also prime waters for landlocks. The waters of western Labrador
also have large quantities of landlocks, with the provincial record of 22 pounds (10 kg)
coming from Lobstick Lake.
Streamer patterns such as the Muddler Minnow, Grey Ghost, Black Ghost , Supervisor, Nine-Three, or any New England -style feather-winged streamer will take fish. I found the bigger the streamer, the bigger the landlocked Salmon caught. Atlantic Salmon -style wet flies will also take fish in the canals of the hydro developments in central Newfoundland where there is a current running. Similarly, any river flowing into a pond or lake will be a good place to try a wet fly. A good method of fishing a streamer in the canal systems is to look for a part of the bank jutting out into the canal. The canal banks are quite straight in places, however even a small part sticking out causes a break in the current. These places are particularly productive. I found that by casting the streamer into the current and letting the streamer swing around towards the bank behind the jutting out points nearly always produced a strike.
Probably the best-kept secret in North America is the brown trout fishing of the Avalon Peninsula. St. John’s has more Brown fishing within its city boundaries than do many large areas throughout the continent. Sea-run brown trout also frequent the city rivers. Brown trout of over 10 pounds (2.5 kg) have been taken in the ponds around St. John’s, and fish of 2 pounds (1 kg) and above are not uncommon. Fish of 3/4 to 1 pound are quite common.
Within an hour’s drive from the capital city, sea-run brown trout are found in
many of the streams and ponds, such as Bay Bulls River, Witless Bay Lower Pond, Mobile
River, Cape Broyle River, Aquaforte River and Renews River.
The provincial brown trout record of 28 pounds (13 kg) was caught on a small black fly in 1968. Several fish over 20 pounds (9 kg) have been caught since 1980. In most years, a fish of over 15 pounds (6.8 kg) is caught, while fish between this figure and 10 pounds (4.5 kg) are caught every year. Witless Bay Lower Pond produces most of the big fish . There are numerous other rivers which I know of that have fish over 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in them . On the east and southern Avalon these are the Cape Broyle River, Chance Cove Pond, Salmonier River, Colinet River, and Little Salmonier River.
In the Conception Bay area, Seal Cove Brook, Topsail Beach Pond, Manuels River, Avondale River, Colliers River, South River, North River and Salmon Cove River have produced fish in the 6 to 10 pounds (2.75 - 4.5 kg) range. The season runs from early February to the first week in October. When the Brook Trout season is closed for a short period after ice-out, the bottom parts of the previously named rivers remain open for sea-run browns only. March and April can be good months for sea-run browns. Another good period falls around the third week in July, which corresponds to the highest tides of the summer. In late evening or very early morning at this time, fishing can be good.
In early Spring, I have found large nymphs along with a sinking line very productive, while on occasions I have used a large nymph on the tail and a small nymph such as a Hare’s Ear on a dropper. I also use short leaders of six- to eight-pound breaking strain. As the season progresses, I start to reduce the size of the nymphs.
In summer, I often use small midge nymphs along with small Hare’s Ear and small Caddis Pupae. Small, dark Caddis and medium-size Mayflies are good dry flies in late Spring and Summer.
Sea-Lice patterns around size 10, in dark colours such as brown and black, are excellent flies to use in the Spring. Local anglers use a small, black, spider-type wet fly in sizes 14, 16 and 18 for sea-trout, using spinning gear. They have a wooden floating plug as the casting weight and fish with two or three small flies on droppers. With this arrangement, they can cast long distances and often have very good catches.
Eastern brook trout are found throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Huge brook trout are found in Labrador in the Minipi River system southwest of Goose Bay and in the Eagle River system to the east of Goose Bay. Elsewhere there are numerous rivers and ponds with good stocks of "brookies". In the Minipi system, brook trout of 8 pounds (3.6 kg) are not uncommon. All along the south and part of the north Labrador coast there are good concentrations of sea-run brook trout in all streams and rivers.
On the Island of Newfoundland there are some areas where brook trout are found in good numbers, although not as big as the Labrador fish. On the Northern Peninsula, Ten Mile Pond, which is part of the St. Genevive system, has some large fish. In central Newfoundland, Maelpaeg Lake, Victoria Lake, Red Indian Lake, Grand Lake and Rodney Lake have some large fish. In the Indian Bay watershed northeast of Gander there is a very good brook trout fishing area. A local Watershed Management Association has done sterling work on some of the ponds with excellent results. Brook trout of 2 pounds and above are now quite common. Not all of the ponds in the area are under the watershed management umbrella and indeed some of the ponds next to the road have excellent stocks of brook trout.
Around St. John’s there are ponds within a half hour’s drive which have small brook trout in good numbers. Larger brook trout can be caught in the wilderness area south of St. John’s and in the area to the west of the Salmonier River.
Small mayfly wet, dry and nymph patterns work well, along with caddis larva, pupa and dry flies, dragonfly and damselfly nymphs and small streamers and leeches. A large black woolly worm is an excellent producer, followed by a brown woolly worm.
There are several ponds within close proximity to St. John’s with excellent fishing for wild rainbows. The rainbows are descendants of fish brought from California in the latter part of the 19th century. The brown trout were introduced from Scotland and Germany around the same time. The season for rainbows is from the 1st of June to the first part of October in designated ponds. Fish up to 8 pounds (3.6 kg) have been caught, with fish from 2 to 4 pounds not uncommon. Fishing peaks for rainbows in late July and August. Evening and dusk fishing is excellent during the peak times.
Good patterns for rainbows are large dry flies such as the White Wulff and Royal Wulff in size 6. I found a number 8 dry fly similar to the White Wulff very good. A bright orange hackle was substituted for the badger hackle. Smaller flies, such as emergers, caddis pupa and nymphs work well at times. The Muddler Minnow is the most productive streamer pattern. There is a good hatch of Hexagenia mayfly in the ponds around dusk in late July and August which produces excellent sport.
Anyone requiring further information can contact me by e-mail at ngall@avint.net
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