Our second week of the season has been great and we’re very encouraged with the beginning of this new season. After last year’s lower returns we are all waiting to see what this year will be. Salmon typically begin entering our rivers in late May and early June with the peak runs beginning any time after June 10th. The first fish are usually big females that run straight through to the top of the river. I was reading some of my June reports for last season, everyone was waiting for the salmon to show up, they finally did but much later than normal and in fewer numbers. Not the case this year, we have fresh fish in all section of the Bonaventure and Grand Cascapedia. The Petit Cascapedia opens on Monday the 15th so we’ll have more news next week. yesterday I was speaking with one of the wardens on the Petite, he told me there were fresh fish in the river.
Charles Dewhurst with a nice fresh Grand Cascapedia salmon, Congratulations Charles.
Water condition are great on all there rivers. Last week’s rain maintained our rivers at early June levels. The Bonaventure is running at 52 cubic meters a second which is a little higher than normal for this time of the season but great for the salmon. , The Grand Cascapedia has been effected the most and as of Saturday morning it’s running at almost 100 cubic meters per second but falling quickly. The Petite Cascapedia is flowing at 47 CMS up for 40 on Monday.
Paul Booth plays a BIG Salmon on the Grand. The salmon won this battle but there’s always next time.
We are seeing fish and catching fish in our lower pools on the Bony on a regular basis. The middle and upper sections have also been fishing well for this time of the season. Water temperatures are still cold in the 44 to 48 degree range and fishing from a canoe is the best approach at the moment. The Grand Cascapedia has fish throughout the whole river system, the pools are not loaded with fish yet but they are there. The Grand is in the 48 to 50 degree range.
Salmon On!
Higher water levels call for bigger fly’s. We have been catching our fish on no. 2’s and 4’s, patterns working the best this week have been the Silver Rat, Green highlander and the McPhail Piglet. Spey Flies have also been doing well for us, patterns such as the Green Spey, Picasse and the Jones Special in sizes 2/0 and even 3/0. It’s still a little too early for dry’s as the water is cool, we did however have a few fish up to take a close look.
Charles Dewhurst plays a nice one on Montgomery Pool .
Our new moon is on the 16th which will give us higher than normal tides. The second moon of June has always brought us a good run of fresh fish.
We were pleased to have expert fly tier Steve Silverio with us at camp this week. Steve is a regular at Camp Bonaventure and always bring the guides some very sexy new patterns to try. Not only do they look great they also work! Steve is also the North American rep for Partridge of Redditch and Regal Vise.
We were honored to welcome Alexandre L’Hereaux to the lodge this week. Alex is an incredible painter and his work is a must see. I have been in the fishing business for over 35 years and have been fortunate to know many famous and wonderful artists, Alex stands among the best.
Until next week.
Tight Lines,
Glenn
