pdf - Fly fishing at Tuckamore Lodge

Transcription

pdf - Fly fishing at Tuckamore Lodge
Tuckamore land
Tuckamore is a typical Newfoundland term for the stunted balsam fir and spruce trees that
grow in some alpine areas and along the coast. All along the shoreline of the Great Northern
Peninsula and the Labrador Straits, you can find this rare and peculiar vegetation. Even
more unusual, at certain times of the year, this vegetation can produce a very nice fragrance.
This odor becomes stronger especially after a little rainfall or when trees are covered with
dew. On windy days, the costal air can reach far inland and the people in Newfoundland
call it the smell of Tuckamore. Personally, I describe it as “the perfume of the wild”.
By Hans van Klinken
the most important lessons in my
him, I became a willing listener as he
fly fishing development. The man
discussed his philosophy of fly fishing
was very generous, and willing to
and his deep respect for nature and
help by giving me useful tips and
wildlife. His conclusions were eye
information about the river and the
opening for me. His stories and fly
In the early eighties I had an
area. His stories became even more
fishing attitude touched my heart and
unforgettable meeting on the
amazing when he explained fairly
innermost feelings so deeply, that it
banks of the mighty Klara River in
detailed how he personally connected
caused me to make major alterations
Sweden. I saw an older angler who
fly fishing with nature and wildlife. I
in my early developing writing style.
was having much more success
was completely in awe of his stories
Years later, in the mid and late
than I, and I was so interested in his
and experiences. We invited him to
nineties while we were visiting Barb
skill and achievement that I struck
join us for a nice shore lunch at our
Genge’s Tuckamore Lodge in the
up a conversation with him on the
humble little campsite. We did not
wilderness of Newfoundland,
riverbank. For me, this particular
fish anymore that day. Instead, while
meeting turned out to be one of
sharing a fine bottle of wine with
How words and
feelings come to life
➥
Tuckamore Land
I experienced a similar awakening.
water levels, water flows, bottom
several grilse and even a few real
When she expressed her long held
structures and weather conditions
salmon on a dry fly. However, very
points of view about nature, wildlife,
which I had gained in Norway. The
few people believed me. This forced
and ecotourism, I could not help but
only study material I had available
me to continue my exploration on
find new inspiration for many of my
was some very detailed information
my own. By the end of the eighties, I
Newfoundland & Labrador stories
on what I had written in several of
was successfully able to catch grilse
that were still in progress. Their
my fishing diaries over the years.
in the northern part of Norway using
willingness to teach me and to share
Since the early seventies, I had caught
dry flies quite easily. However, my
their special feelings have been a
great source of motivation over the
years.
Why Atlantic Canada?
The answer is quite simple. I wanted
to study and discover the crucial
similarities of an Atlantic salmon
taking (dry) flies in Norway as
opposed to Atlantic Canada. My
ultimate goal was to find out why a
salmon takes a dry fly aggressively
in certain rivers and yet refuses to
come to the surface in other streams.
In addition, I wanted to test twenty
years of knowledge of water quality,
| 78 |
Chasing Silver Fly Fishing Magazine
Tuckamore Land
success was limited to only seventeen
river systems in central and southwest
the State of Maine, USA.
My Klinkhåmer Special was
Slowly, utilizing old fashion snail mail
and handwritten letters, I started to
garnering more international
build up an intense correspondence
recognition and as a result, I was
with Al and Warren. It didn’t take
I made was my success in catching
able to make many new contacts.
long before we were swapping flies,
salmon with dry flies was limited
With help from great friends like
discussing our fishing techniques,
to warm or even extremely warm
the late Alan Bramley from the Uk,
and of course sharing our many
weather conditions. A similar striking
and the late master fly tier Hans P.C
experiences in catching Atlantic
observation was that nine of the
de Groot from Holland, I was put in
salmon by dry flies on both sides from
17 rivers were either tidal, or still
touch with other well known fly tiers
the Atlantic. Al and I have developed
in estuary regions with nice tidal
and fly fishermen, such as Warren
a deep personal relationship although
current. The salmon or sea trout I
Duncan from New Brunswick and
we never had the opportunity to meet
caught in these rivers were some of
Al Worthington from New Hope Pa.
one another in person. He imported
the largest I have ever landed.
Beginning in 1981, Alan Bramley
quality capes and saddles and was the
Norway.
Another important observation
In the late eighties my interest in
was the owner of the famous hook
owner of the Hackle Hut. I still have
dry fly fishing for salmon and sea trout
company Partridge of Redditch and
about 40 letters from him, all written
had become so intense that I began
a big sponsor of my workshops and
on his Hackle Hut note paper and
to look for any article and story about
seminars. In 1989, he produced the
some envelopes postmarked to me
Atlantic salmon caught by dry flies. My
special Klinkhåmer hook after my
from his fishing residence in Nova
search quickly lead me to fly fishermen
own design. It was Alan who put me
Scotia. All are filled with his latest fly
and fly tiers who were familiar with
in touch with his very good friend
fishing information, catching reports
fly fishing in Atlantic Canada, New
Warren Duncan. Hans de Groot
Brunswick, Quebec and even in parts of
introduced me to Al Worthington.
➥
www.chasingsilvermagazine.com
| 79 |
Tuckamore Land
and fishing techniques. Sadly, I lost
communication and friendship we
to share with me some of his fly
all the letters from Warren during a
slowly lost touch with each other. I
fishing secrets which only widened
house renovation several years ago.
allowed my free time to become more
my respect for him. I had the pleasure
But I consider myself very fortunate
limited due to more conscientious and
of meeting him once and the last
that I still have some of the flies that
time-consuming job responsibilities.
time we corresponded by letter was
he specially tied for me to try on my
In my eagerness to learn as
in early 1990. Thanks to reading his
trips to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
much as possible about dry fly fishing
books and watching several of his
and Newfoundland & Labrador. I
for salmon, I am most pleased
videos, my excitement to visit Atlantic
confess I have never tried them; they
with the personal correspondence
Canada had grown to a fever pitch! A
simply were too beautiful to fish with,
I shared with Lee Wulff. We began
few years after Lee’s tragic death I was
so I copied them and have used the
with very technical correspondence
able to make one of the most exciting
copies instead. Warren was a great
in which we mostly discussed his
fly fishing journey imaginable.
teacher and mentor to me, especially
dry fly experiences and successes in
A fly fishing trip in which I actively
in perfecting my own hairwings. I still
Newfoundland and mine in Norway.
fished in the footsteps of Lee and
marvel at his ability to create these
Later, Lee was touched by my story
visited several of his favourite fly
tiny little heads and have always been
and the fact that few people in Europe
fishing spots in Newfoundland. I
impressed at some bulky hairwing
believed me about my catches of sea
needed four trips and much support
patterns as well. Unfortunately, I
trout and salmon by dry flies. I think
from friends to realize what I call “
only able to meet Warren once and,
this alone, must have motivated Lee
the great fly fisherman’s dream”.
for me, he died much too soon. Even
to help me. He sent me a few of his
today, it remains impossible for me
books and video tapes in return for
to adequately express my thanks and
some of my Klinkhåmer flies. I had
deepest gratitude for what Warren
included a handful of them in my
and Al taught me and the information
first letter to him. I, for some reason,
they shared freely with me. It is also
doubted that he would reply to me.
In the mid nineties, my wife and I
with regret that after several years of
But he did, and he even was willing
began taking extensive trips to fish
| 80 |
Chasing Silver Fly Fishing Magazine
Barb Genge
“The Lady of the Wild”
Tuckamore Land
the Salmon Rivers in Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and
Labrador. And fish we did! Although
we learned a lot, we found the most
successful fly fishing techniques we
employed on theses trips were not
so much different from what I had
been using in Norway for so many
years. For us, Newfoundland quickly
became our favourite destination
to catch the elusive Atlantic salmon
on dry flies. That is not to say other
provinces in Atlantic and Eastern
Canada are not also spectacular
for dry fly fishing. To explain this
you need to understand the work
schedules in our regular jobs only
allowed for travel in June and early
July. Fortunately, this period of time
coincided with the Newfoundland
salmon runs. In addition, we had
many friends who were willing
to guide for us and that made the
Newfoundland trips easy to organize.
➥
www.chasingsilvermagazine.com
| 81 |
Apri l’s Fav Land
Tuckamore
Five
few hours. I just let the words flow
without restraint and allowed my
emotions about the subject matter fill
in the blanks. When I evaluated the
reactions I received from the readers,
I was able to very quickly evaluate
why these people had such favourable
opinions about my story. The positive
feedback I received had a profound
impact on the way I like to write today
What is so special about
Tuckamore Lodge?
Barb’s Tuckamore Lodge is a
magnificent first-class wilderness
accommodation that almost entirely
is engineered in Scandinavian style.
The lodge was built on the banks
of Little Pond and fits beautifully
in the landscape. After a huge
renovation which started in 2004,
Tuckamore lodge has turned into
one of the best looking lodges I ever
have seen. And because the lodge
is accessible by road, it allows for
outdoor activities year round. It is
no wonder that Outside Magazine
has recognized Tuckamore Lodge
Although I dream of fishing some
and her everlasting motivation and
as one of the six best lodges for
of the marvellous runs in autumn
enthusiasm that I wrote a story about
encountering Canada’s great outdoor
while enjoying the Indian summer, I
her and named it: “The lady of Wild”.
activities. The lodge is situated in
am afraid that will have to wait until
Although this article was actually
the north-eastern tip of the pristine
I am fully retired. Anyway, during
meant for publication in Canada only,
wilderness of the great Northern
all these wonderful trips we stayed
I received some nice feedback from
Peninsula. The exact location is about
at many great locations and fished
points far outside North America.
2.5 kilometres from the small village
with experienced and knowledgeable
And I had no way of anticipating the
of Main Brook, and just a twenty-five
guides: guides like Tony Tuck,
positive reactions I received from
minute drive away from St. Anthony
Gord Robinson, Barry and Janice
many non-fishermen. I must admit
airport. The area is renowned for
Sweetland, John McCarthy and not to
the positive and varied responses to
its abundant populations of moose,
forget Tuckamore’s Junior. But in the
my work made me proud, but there
caribou, and black bear. Black bears
end, whenever we went we seemed
was something else. I had learned
and the elusive even lynx are more
to always end up at Tuckamore lodge
another very important lesson of life:
difficult to spot and you will need
with Tuckamore Barb. I have been
be yourself.
some wildlife experience or help
continually amazed by Barb’s skills
“The Lady of the wild” was my
from a professional guide to find
and her ability to bring people back
first story that actually had nothing
them. But rest assured at early
to nature with her stories of the wild.
to do with fly fishing or fly tying.
morning and late evening you should
I became so impressed with Barb
To my surprise I wrote it in just a
always succeed in locating moose
| 82 |
Chasing Silver Fly Fishing Magazine
Tuckamore
Apri l’s FavLand
Five
with your camera or binoculars.
and explore. We have driven our
is you do not require a four by four
The Caribou we discovered either
favourite roads on more than one
and when driving carefully you can
from a far distance in small herds
occasion and each time we ran into a
navigate most of these roads with
on the barren, or the occasional lone
new experience or adventure. It can
your normal car as well. I vividly
individual encountered on a long
easily happen as you pass the nest of
recall how we might first observe
wilderness hike to fish remote pools.
an osprey four or five times before you
whales and icebergs before getting
With Caribou we learned they seem
really notice it. You find that you have
near the end of a road. There are
to always show up at places and times
been busy watching too many other
other times when you will spot an
when you least expected them.
things.
The ability to stay at Barb’s and
➥
The good news about access
sightsees by car or boat around the tip
of Newfoundland’s great Northern
Peninsula has been one of our most
favourite none-fishing activities. The
shoreline is hypnotic, even mystical
at times, and by just following the
coastal network of roads freely you
will pass the many historic fishing
villages and breathtaking landscapes.
The photographic possibilities are
simply unlimited and unbelievable.
I found that many of these roads
dead-end at the coastline and most
tourists generally bypass them. I can
assure you that they are absolutely
worth the time and effort to discover
www.chasingsilvermagazine.com
| 83 |
Tuckamore Land
iceberg from a distance and try to
of it all. Most of the icebergs that you
Ecological Reserve - one of the most
find a road which will get you closer.
will see in this area have been calved
important botanical sites on the
Occasionally they may be hidden by
from glaciers along the Greenland
Island of Newfoundland. These
the landscape and your first glimpse
coast the previous year. Scientist
are just a few of the many outdoor
of them will be just around a turn
estimate that between 35,000 up to
possibilities that exist at Tuckamore
in the road. In summertime the
40,000 reasonably sized icebergs
lodge. You can find more by visiting:
coastal waters are home to many
calve annually in Greenland, but
http://www.tuckamorelodge.com/
species of whales and sometimes in
less then a thousand of them will
activities-and-tours-cat.htm
large numbers. Personally we have
make it as far south as St. John’s. It is
spotted most whales in the month
interesting to know the glacial ice that
of July very close to the shore and
icebergs are made of may be more
have not experienced this later in the
than 15,000 years old. The numbers
Not many people will ever appreciate
season. The entire coastal region is
of Icebergs varies enormously year
that Tuckamore Lodge has survived
the summer residence to millions
by year and most experts say that the
solely because of the perseverance and
of seabirds and many are building
highest numbers and the biggest ones
dedication of one great Lady. Barb
their nests on small islands and
are usual seen in spring and early
Genge found herself in a marriage
rock croppingss offshore so their
summer. We have been very fortunate
and an outfitting business, both of
eggs and chicks are protected from
to observe this and take some very
which had just broken down. Facing
the predators that inhabit the main
spectacular photographs of icebergs
huge debts and all by herself, except
island.
on our sightseeing trips.
for her 12 year old son, many people
A short distance from Tuckamore
just wanted her to give up and go
to Newfoundland’s southern most
Lodge you also will find special
away. It was hard times and she
eastern shore, you find yourself in
attractions such as L’anse aux
was entering a male dominated
Iceberg Alley, and the tip of the Great
Meadows - a 1,000 year old Viking
business. Knowing there would be
Northern Peninsula is in the centre
settlement, and the Burnt Cape
no support from government and no
From the east coast of Labrador
| 84 |
Chasing Silver Fly Fishing Magazine
Blood, sweat and tears
Tuckamore Land
hunting licenses available; she began
employees became her big secrets.
grounds required an enormous
the journey of recovery. She found
Somewhere along the way,
strength in knowing and believing
Barb also became more creative
watchful leadership, a few dedicated
that anything worthwhile never
and flexible. She was not afraid
enthusiasts and highly motivated
comes without hard work. Although
to experiment with new ideas
individuals began cleaning up the
Tuckamore Lodge originally started
related to the outdoors. It is my
Salmon River with their bare hands.
as hunting lodge, she was quick to
understanding that she was one of
Thanks to them, we now have a new
realize she needed to give the Lodge a
the first innovators who seriously
and much larger generation of salmon
new identity to be successful. Getting
introduced ecotourism into Canada.
in record numbers. It was not an easy
the salmon to return in serious
And she did it in a lasting and proper
task for Barb to achieve her dream of
numbers again would be her goal. In
way. Her dedication and hard work
creating a real fly fishing paradise in
addition, she knew she would have
has given new hope and direction
the north. However, each guest and
to improve her personal skills. She
to a lot of people in the community
returning angler is in awe at what
studied hard, read the books that
of Mainbrook……and preserved
she has accomplished at Tuckamore
were available, attended courses and
Tuckamore Lodge.
Lodge.
seminars, and learn she did. Her
clean up program. Under Barb’s
The first step in her effort to
The past, present and future
strong commitment and need for
get the salmon to return in serious
self-realization would have made
numbers again, was to restore
even Abraham Maslow very proud. As
the nearby rivers from the neglect
During our very first visits to
she strove to be the best-of-class, she
and the aftermath of the logging
Tuckamore Lodge, Barb was already
improved not only her knowledge, but
industry. To ensure that returning
offering her fly fishing guests a real
her management style as well. That,
salmon would be able to follow their
coupled with and a handful of faithful
way upstream to the best spawning
➥
www.chasingsilvermagazine.com
| 85 |
Tuckamore Land
fishing paradise. The nearby Salmon
six and ten pounds. Real salmon
of flies, for example, were absolutely
River and Southwest River were
(salmon over 3 kg and longer than
great under those circumstances. We
perfectly suited for my research in
one year at sea) I caught only in the
also caught a lot of Brook trout in
identifying any connections between
Salmon River and the number of real
some inland lakes where guide Junior
my fishing successes in Norway and
trophy fish grows more and more
took us.
those salmon that took the dry fly
each year. In addition to the Salmon,
so well in Newfoundland. The travel
for serious fly fishermen there is also
for Atlantic salmon that I ever
time from the lodge to the nearby
the challenge of Brook Trout, Arctic
experienced happened to me in the
rivers is short, and the watercourse,
Char, and Sea run Brook Trout. Newfie drought of 1999. It was a
current and bottom structures were
While fishing the Salmon River
The most difficult fly fishing
terrible year for a fly fishing tourist
very similar to the rivers I had fished
and Southwest brook quite extensively
to be in Newfoundland because
in Norway. The similarity of the
in those days, I was also lucky to deal
DFO (The Department of Fisheries
river systems was very important to
with some exceptional weather as
& Oceans) had closed most rivers in
test and evaluate my Norwegian fly
well. I ran into very cold temperatures
the south and southwest already. It
fishing techniques in an objective
and experienced very high water
was a really bad year for most of the
manner. Some of my conclusions I
levels, but also had to fight a serious
fishing lodges as well. The fishing
will relate to you in the more specific
heat wave in which the water had
in Mainbrook also had become very
fishing sections within this story.
dropped to dramatic levels. poor, even with plenty of fish in the
In the past, I always found a
Air temperatures around 10
river. Using small dry or wet flies
good run of grilse in the Southwest
degrees Celsius and lots of rain during
was useless, which we had already
brook and Salmon River. The salmon
our 1997 trip were responsible for us
discovered by experience in the
fishing season begins in late June
not doing so well with our dry flies,
south, and I wracked my brain to
and continues to the early days of
but we finally succeed while using wet
find a solution. It is not that I can’t
September. The Atlantic salmon in
flies in much bigger sizes than most
stand it when catches are poor or
this area weighs, on average, between
local people used. My Bondal series
nothing; it is more the kick to catch
| 86 |
Chasing Silver Fly Fishing Magazine
Tuckamore Land
one when everybody fails. It was
under the surface, and when I could
was too slow and I didn’t strike or set
always a personal challenge when
move it with a very slow retrieval, it
the hook either. No, it was hooked
people would tell me that fishing
maybe could work. It’s a technique
properly, and it was a big salmon and
will be useless. Realize well that we
that is extremely popular for catching
it gave me a really good fight. About
were fishing with air temperatures
whitefish by fly, and if you know that I
20 minutes later, the same happened.
far over 30 degrees Celsius, with no
use several of my grayling techniques
Again and again it was a salmon and
rain for several weeks. There were no
to hook salmon by dry fly, why this
another one, landed and released
other fishermen as crazy as we were,
couldn’t work as well? I prepared a
before an hour was finished. In just
but therefore we had the rivers to
new leader and tied on a 4 lb. almost
2 hours I had caught the day limit
ourselves and that is an unbelievable
2 meter long tippet, instead of the
and all were salmon, and if no one
feeling. I think a lot of people can’t
normal 6 lb. I believed any trick to
had seen it, you probably would not
understand us, but if you are fishing
present the nymph as deep as possible
believe it. wild places and salmon are leaping
under the surface could improve my
everywhere, it is still very enjoyable
chances.
just to be there. While I studied the
When my equipment was ready,
Now, in present days and
almost ten years after my last visit, I
could not wait to see how the fishing
Salmon river well, I discovered that
I gave it another try, and at first it
had further developed. I was totally
at several places the current was
didn’t look very hopeful. I started
amazed because the salmon runs
rather slow, almost dead. When
to experiment by giving the nymph
had improved again, and success
most fish rolled at the edge of each
more time to get down, and started
in fly fishing had increased a lot
current, it came to my mind to try to
to use the Brooks method to present
as well. There also were some new
tempt some fish by using some small
the nymph as deep as possible. Maybe
salmon rivers to try, and we did some
unweighted nymphs. I never tried
a dozen of casts later I hooked a fish,
amazing fly fishing in one of the
it before in Atlantic Canada, so the
and it felt like a big one, too. I was
estuaries. It is now estimated that
challenge was born. I could use the
afraid I false-hooked it, but I also
dead water to let the nymph sink well
had my doubts because the retrieval
➥
www.chasingsilvermagazine.com
| 87 |
Tuckamore Land
about twelve to eighteen thousand
darkness was completely new to
strength for their upstream journey
young Atlantic salmon return to the
me. The fishing is allowed until 100
and spawning. nearby rivers each year. I knew that
meters before the underground hole
Tuckamore Lodge would deliver many
and it is absolutely worth to give it a
fishing, and I always have to keep in
catches to their visitors each day, and
try!
mind what Lee Wullf once told me:
when it keeps improving like this,
the fly fishing at Tuckamore will be
something really special for the future
“The only definite thing that you can
Lessons learned by experiences
and a good observation
as well.
For less experienced fly fishers
I don’t like rules for salmon
say about salmon, is that you can not
say anything definite about them” and I
really believe this rather strongly.
From earlier lessons and experiences,
Another striking lesson that I
or when it is simply too windy to fish
I have learned that as soon the air
learned well in Atlantic Canada was
the Salmon River or Southwest River
temperature got higher than the
that fishing rising water was not so
it is very nice to visit the Beaver Creek
water temperature, that is when you
good across the Atlantic, but from
and also have a look at the famous
can start using dry flies for salmon.
the time it has peaked and started to
“underground hole” which can be
It is even used as a rule of thumb by
drop, it is prime time for many rivers.
seen was a real geological wonder. As
several of my close friends, but when
(In Norway however, the best wet
far as I understood is this the only
air and water temperature gets too
fly fishing for salmon I experienced
place in the world where Atlantic
warm it doesn’t work anymore, of
was exactly the opposite, and caught
salmon swim through underground
course. When in mid summer the
most fish during rising water) In both
chambers and holes to reach their
water temperature gets too warm and
places I found dry fly fishing the best
spawning grounds. I heard stories
the oxygen have dropped to critical
at normal and low water levels.
that blind salmon reached their
level, most salmon hiding in deep lies
spawning grounds but that they
with their nose down at the bottom
to see fish move to be successful, and
migrate underground in complete
and prevent any activity to save their
if you are in a pool that you know
To fish a dry fly, you do not have
holds fish, you can cover the water
in a general way just as effectively
as with any wet fly. I often fish a
good looking pool with the picture
of an empty chess board (or blank
spreadsheet) in my mind, which I
place over the pool. I only number the
rows, and use the columns for when I
start moving in the water. The nearest
row I give number one, and I make
the rows as long as the fish can have
their lies.
I don’t walk through the pool
right away, but just fish it from the
most upstream position first, and try
to cover as many rows and squares as
I can by casting slightly upstream and
working my way downstream through
my invisible grid. Every time I fish for
salmon, I see lots of people getting in
the water as far and deep as possible,
and take their position exactly at the
place were the salmon have their
lies. The next mistake they make is
| 88 |
Chasing Silver Fly Fishing Magazine
Tuckamore Land
tannic acid colour that you see in
many rivers in Atlantic Canada. It
was a huge link to my successes in
Norway, because most rivers in which
I succeed all had concentrations
of tannic acid. Unfortunately,
I never performed any serious
testing with regard to the correct
concentration of tannic acid, which I
really regret nowadays.
On both sides of the Atlantic, I
discover that when rivers are getting
low, and fish stay longer in the pools,
they come up for much smaller flies.
I strongly believe that the longer
salmon stay in one pool, the better or
stronger their old feeding memory
returns. I remember very well how I
did my fly fishing in three huge pools
directly below a big waterfall in the
Nordelva river in Norway. At the
time, this place did not have any road
access at all. It is one of the few rivers
casting too far out, and letting their
keep them down, so in those rivers,
that I know of, where salmon first
flies cover water that actually holds no
the above method is a powerful trick
start to run upstream when the river
fish at all. Therefore in small rivers,
that works extremely well.
is extremely low, because the only
I even try to not get in the water at
By other experiences and
way for them to get up this waterfall
all when I begin with this useful and
observations in my dry fly fishing,
was at very low water. The pools are
very powerful trick. When I have a
I discovered that there isn’t so
deep and hold hundreds of fish, but I
pool all to myself, I always will start
much difference in fishing large or
only succeeded when fish start head
as much upstream as I can, and try
small rivers, as long you know the
and tailing, and while using small
to cover as many rows and squares
places that hold fish. However, a
flies presented with an absolutely
as possible. Each square I imagine
smaller river has my preference, and
drag free drift. The fish only porpoise
about eight steps wide and long.
personally I love fishing rivers that are
for about 20 minutes, and only once
This makes the fishing both much
about 40-50 ft wide, because you can
every four hours or so, but each time
more effective and well organized.
cover all the water from just one bank.
I caught fish, and that has been going
If I have finished all the rows within
In spite of this preference, I
my casting range, I make eight steps
have had some great experiences with
had exactly the same experiences in
downstream. I do exactly the same
fly fishing in estuaries, sea pools and
several of Newfoundland’s rivers too.
process, starting from my second
brackish water in Norway, I hardly
The most extreme example of any
column and by starting, covering row
have had any in Atlantic Canada, and
small fly success is my catch of four
number one first. This is how I work
my recent experiences have led me to
grilse in the same day on a # 16 dry fly
myself through the entire pool, with
believe that it matters not how far you
in the Salmon River, and all fish were
casts sometimes not much longer
are away from the sea when using a
head and tailers. ■
then 10-12 ft.
dry fly in the rivers in Newfoundland. I am a big fan of long drifts, but
I really don’t like coloured
on like that for many years. I have
The story continues in the next issue, and
I also discovered that in some waters,
water for dry fly fishing, and I
Hans will be digging deep on catching
too many long drifts scare the fish and
absolutely don’t mean the brown
Atlantic salmon with dry flies.
www.chasingsilvermagazine.com
| 89 |