During my 6 days fishing from 23rd of July 2004, I landed 6 salmon, and lost another 3 and experienced my best atlantic salmon, for big salmon to date. Duncan Hall.
My week at Eureka Outdoors with Bill Bryden Starting 23rd July 2004.
'I haven't seen the river this low for 40yrs' remarked Lawrence my guide, looking at the water at Mistaken Point on the upper Humber. This was a vast river valley with shale rocky sides and a boulder strewn river, with a few holding pools. We had arrived 'early' at 07.30, after a 30 minute walk to the river, and had passed other returning fishermen with bowed head, and mumbling of, 'nothing taking'.
Five hours of hard casting trying all the patterns of my fly box were received with the same lack of results as the other dozen fishermen, still flogging the water. A strong upstream wind made casting with a single handed rod impossible, so I changed to my 15 ft double handed rod, and with it a 10ft PolyLeader, (a detachable sink tip) in case the salmon were lying deep in the pool. Second cast and I was into my first 'Newfie' salmon, a 16lbs fish, which took a 'Silver and Blue' sized 8. That was followed two casts later by another of a similar size, then two more hooked and lost in the next few minutes. Again I cast with the same method and this time hooked into a very solid fish. It didn't jump for the first five minutes but when it revealed itself it was a large salmon. It then proceeded round the pool, before moving down to the tail-out some 70 yards downstream, there were murmurs from my guide that, if it left the limits of the pool it would be gone, and seeming to hear this, the salmon swam upstream, where it was eventually tailed and released. Sadly my only reminder of this fine fish was a poorly positioned photograph with most of my head missing!
I have had four previous trips to North America's West coast in search of Steelhead and Pacific Salmon, but this is the first time I had been to the East coast and Newfoundland to target the more enigmatic Atlantic salmon. I had booked a week's fishing with Bill Bryden, and Eureka Outdoors and had been told of the large fish of the Humber, but hadn't dreamed that when I'd boarded the plane to cross the Atlantic I could have had such a day as had just ended. I drank from the cold Labbatts beer that had been cooling in the clear Humber river and scanned the horizon of this amazing river, before turning and walking the 30 minutes back to vehicle.
With depleted water, the Lower Humber remained the best prospect for the rest of the week and although we did go back and try the Upper Humber the river height had dropped still further and the 'tell tale sign' of river banks devoid of fishermen told me everything; the previous day was indeed a one off.
The Humber is a massive river, the second largest in Newfoundland which can rightfully claim also to have both the largest runs and the largest size of Salmon. Since the closure of commercial fisheries in 1992 the catches of both are destined to increase.
I have fished for Salmon for many years but I had never really grasped the importance of fishing lies. Salmon will lie in certain 'holes' that protect them from the force of the current and in such a large river as the Humber, these fishing holes remain unchanged over the years and more importantly unmarked to most anglers. My guide used an ingenious method that I've sworn not to reveal; to position the boat at the precise angle to cast and cover the fishing hole. After covering the hole with a wet fly, my guide suggested I use a Dry-fly more aptly a Yellow-bomber or 'bug'. Casting with a Dry-fly required a gentle presentation using a single handed rod and a 12 foot leader, which as always, was Maxima. I had rapidly become a convert to Maxima leader, with it's greater elasticity, in place of our European fluorocarbon products, costing 4 times more, but snapping more readily.
The initial short casts were slowly lengthened to cover the entire fishing hole and the 'bomber' then replaced with a larger version, which was always well greased with Mucin to sit high on the water. Although salmon can be caught skating the fly along the surface, the dead drift is the preferred way to ensure hooking a large salmon. The secret was a gentle presentation and persistent repetition, to induce a take. It's all too easy to gaze at the scenery, and not focus on the fly. Marble mountain with it's steep ski runs rising from the river's West bank had been "skied" many times in my mind, as I fished away in a state of sublime reverie, but here concentration was important.
On three consecutive evenings when all the ingredients were right, the well placed fly, free from any drag, rose a fish. This was not a fast aggressive take of a trout but a slow 
purposeful take, as the salmon irritated by the repetitive casting, took the 'bomber' and descended to it's hole. This was the third and largest of the fish that I had risen to the bomber and as I tightened the hook, I felt the resistance of a large fish. The fish was played for 10 minutes from the boat and as it was hooked from the left bank, a suitable gravel bar on the rivers left bank, was selected to land the salmon, ensuring that consistent pressure remained on the hook.
I jumped from the boat rod, in my right hand and video in my left, this time I wanted to get something on film. I handed my video to a fisherman on the bank, and I am grateful for him for an excellent job in capturing the moment. This was a large salmon, which my new found cameraman labelled a 'brute', I took this in an endearing way, as it certainly was a fine fish perhaps of 20lbs which was only landed after numerous runs before it succumbed to being tailed in the shallows.
Among my exceptional fishing experiences, that are indelibly retained in my memory, one must certainly be reserved, for an Atlantic salmon rising to a dry-fly.
Could things get an better I thought as I inhaled the clean mountain Canadian air on the last morning. Paradoxically I was keen to catch one salmon under the 63cm size so I could take one fish back the UK; not that I was grumbling at catching only large salmon. I fished in earnest, every run, over and over without a single take. The sun was beginning to drop over the steep eastern bank and my cast were becoming more haphazard. I caught my cast several times in these waning minutes and my guide, a rightful perfectionist, insisted on checking my fly and leader. With this done he retuned the fly and line over his shoulder, which was met almost immediately by a leaping salmon, just behind the boat. Realising a fish had probable taken the fly and slack line I tightened just in time to set the hook. The salmon was subsequently netted and to my now characteristic run of luck measured 62cm. This salmon re-crossed the Atlantic, this time at 30,000 ft and graced the diner table back home. It really was the tastiest salmon I have eaten and a great reminder of the wonderful fishing experience I had had with Bill Bryden.
There are really 4 variables with fishing a salmon fly, the size, pattern, speed and depth. I frequently go through these when I can't induce a take, as I am sure every salmon fisherman does; but two thing that have really made a difference to my catch rate as was the case during this week of July, were the use of Polyleaders and my double handed rod. PolyLeaders, for those not familiar with them, are detachable lines in 5 or 10 ft sections with 
loop ends and various sinking rates from 1.5ins/sec to 6.5ins/sec. When it's cold, or there's a strong North wind, it can be worth trying to get the fly down, and PolyLeaders rapidly achieve this.
The other is the double handed rod, or more specifically the cast it performs called the Spey cast, from the River Spey in Scotland where it evolved. This is not just a means of casting a long line, but more a method to cast a line avoiding a back cast with it's inherent danger and to modify the cast, so as to always keep the fly downwind by means of either the double or single spey cast. On rivers like the Humber it is ideal but not for casting the dry fly where the single handed rod is king.
Fact File
Fishing Runs Grilse Run Starts from the 15th June
Multi Sea Winter Run Late July and August with runs of large 2SW salmon and multi-winter first time spawning salmon (12 to 30 pounds) and a relatively high percentage of 3SW to 5SW repeat spawning salmon running and holding throughout the 15 km of fishable water.
Fishing Flies Size 2-4 On the Lower Humber
Size 10-16 on the Upper Humber
Fly Patterns Wet Flies Blue Charm, Silver and Blue, Cosserboom
Dry Flies Yellow Bomber.
The Humber river is 150 miles long and divided into the lower and upper sections by Deer Lake . It is one of the most productive Atlantic Salmon river in North America, notable for big salmon which are increasing since the closure of the commercial fishery in 1982. A maximum of 6 salmon under 63cm can be retained per year, any larger fish are catch-and-release. The water is so clean you drink it.
