Local anglers travel for best black salmon fishing spots

Black salmon season is open and the fish are striking flies better every day. Regional anglers who have enjoyed this thrilling spring fishing experience realize that time is of the essence during the May salmon run and are already booked or currently making reservations. Area sportsmen unfamiliar with ice-out Atlantic salmon fishing in neighboring Canadian rivers are truly missing out on some memory-making fly fishing.
    Every summer and fall fresh runs of bright Atlantic salmon move from the ocean into their home waterways, the rivers where they were born. After spawning, many of the salmon spend the winter in the river and as the ice breaks up in the spring, these hold-over fish are anxious to return to saltwater. They are also very hungry and will strike a fly far more readily than on their inbound trip. These outgoing salmon are called black salmon, kelts, slinks and runners.
Over the years I’ve heard a few anglers make disparaging remarks about spring salmon, but on the whole most black salmon anglers are thrilled with the early season fishing. First of all, the salmon aren’t really black. They are not the bright chrome color of a fresh run salmon, but even that brightness fades within a month or less of being in fresh water. Spring fish are still quite silver. And while some fish lose up to a third of their weight during the winter, they still fight well and even leap once the water starts to warm in mid-May.
Spring salmon generally won’t strike a fly as hard as a bright summer salmon, but the high, fast spring water conditions work in the fish’s favor and make for some tough tug-of-war battles. Not only are spring fish more cooperative in taking a fly, but anglers can generally hook and land several fish a day. During the summer season, after one salmon or two grilse are boated the angler must leave the water for the day. One final plus to May black salmon outing is the chance to fish any pool or stretch of water on open rivers, even runs which will be private beginning June 1. Some of these famous pools are owned by exclusive clubs and the cost to fish for bright salmon runs at least a thousand dollars a day, if you can even get on the guest list!
Right now, the Miramichi River in New Brunswick, the Matapedia River in Quebec and the Restigouche River, which borders both provinces, are all offering prime fishing. Just last weekend a pair of my friends caught and released 14 salmon in one outing and not one of these was a grilse, which is a small fish of five pounds or less. Two of the salmon were over 40-inches, which translates into a summer fish of over 30-pounds and a current weight of 18-22 pounds.
Outfitters and guides galore are available on all three rivers, and all U.S. fishermen are required to utilize Canadian guides on the Miramichi and Restigouche waterways. With a guide, most anglers must provide for their own meals and accommodations, but outfitters offer rooms or entire camps, great home cooking and of course a guide, boat and plenty of first hand advice. Many area fishing friends make it an annual spring outing and form a group of six to eight anglers to occupy a full camp for two or three days. All of this for about a quarter of the price per day of summer salmon fishing at one of the exclusive camps.
Novice black salmon anglers needn’t worry about gear. Most camps have one or two spare rods and reels to lend out for a day or two. Outfitters generally rent rod combos, all rigged and ready, for a nominal fee and even have a supply of the best flies to sell at the camps. If you already own a 9- or 10-weight rod and a fairly sturdy reel that can hold 100 to 200 yards of backing, this should handle any spring salmon hooked, even in the really heavy current. A full sinking line and a sinking leader will assure the big 1/0 to 3/0 flies get down deep in the slow runs where the spring fish like to hold.
Since black salmon tend to hold right along the shoreline in slow eddies and in light current above and below islands, long casts aren’t needed. These fish aren’t as spooky as bright salmon either, and will often strike a fly only 20 or 30 feet from the boat. One important reminder to all rookie black salmon fishermen, May weather can be very fickle so pack a variety of clothes. I’ve fished wearing a T-shirt in the hot sun one day, in cold rain the next and in sleet and snow flurries on a third day in early May. Be prepared, and pack for any eventuality.
License fees are very nominal for catch and release fishing, especially a three or seven day trip. Many camps and outfitters have the permits on hand or are just a few minutes from a ranger station or the local licensing bureau. Just ask around at the local sporting goods store if you don’t personally know someone who fishes black salmon. They will know someone who does and who can answer questions for you. A call to the area Fish and Game or Rod and Gun club is another way to make contact with other spring salmon anglers in town.
If all else fails, call Pete Dube at the Restigouche Hotel in the village of Matapedia. He offers meals, room and fishing guide packages at great prices on both the Matapedia and Restigouche Rivers. For Miramichi contacts, give a call to Jerry Doak at Doak’s Fly Shop in Doaktown, N.B.; he knows all the regional guides and outfitters as well as what flies to stock up on.
Black salmon fishing is a great spring sport, and all three Canadian salmon rivers are only a two and a half to three hour drive from most Aroostook towns. If you try spring salmon fishing once, it could turn into an annual outing. May is prime-time and the fish are taking right now.