Rivernotes
Rivernotes August 6, 2026
Phil Monahan
August 6, 2026
Editor's Note
by Phil Monahan, ASF Managing Editor
Welcome to Rivernotes, our weekly roundup of Atlantic salmon news and information from Québec, Atlantic Canada, Maine, and more.
Reminder: The row of buttons you see above will help you find exactly what you're looking for. Simply click a button and be whisked directly to the section you want to read first.
As the dog days of summer settle in, it's a good time to look at the season so far, and the news is almost all quite good: After a couple years of struggling returns, salmon counts and catch numbers are up almost everywhere. We've also got some exciting conservation projects in progress.
Saving Salmon Podcast
Have you listened to Saving Salmon yet? The eight-episode podcast, released last year, explores river systems and the wild salmon that depend on them for survival. Hosted by award-winning CBC journalist Bob Keating and ASF Communications Director Kristen Noel, Saving Salmon brings you a compelling blend of science and storytelling that conveys the enormous challenges wild salmon and other sea-run fish currently face.
The combination of Keating's reporting and brilliant sound design—which transports you to the locations he's visiting—make Saving Salmon a remarkable listening experience, and you'll learn a lot about the current state of salmon and ASF's work from Maine to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Torpedo the Dams
Frequent Atlantic Salmon Journal contributor Ben Carmichael has an excellent article in the latest issue of The Drake magazine about the massive restoration effort on Maine's Kennebec River. ASF is the lead partner with The Nature Conservancy on the project, which will ultimately result in the removal of four dams.
Pick up a copy of The Drake to learn more.
Angling Reports
A Milestone
Rivernotes reader Marc Gosselin sent in a photo of his grandson, Trey Morris, along with a proud grandfather's description: "It was quite an experience for Trey. Although he had caught a few grilse before, this was his first ever large salmon."
Public Water Fanatic
Reader Hank Rolfs wrote, "I am a big fan of Rivernotes and decided maybe I should attempt to contribute." Here's his story:
I have always been intrigued by stories of fly-fishing for Atlantic salmon, but I thought that all the best water is privately held by prestigious clubs and lodges. In 2017, a chance encounter with a fellow fly angler taught me that you can pursue bright, early spring-run Atlantic salmon on public water.
I've been visiting the Gaspé since the spring of 2018, and I have been rewarded almost every time with at least one trophy-size salmon. These special fish don't come easily, and a fly angler can sometimes go long stretches of time (10+ days) without as much as a rise to their fly. But these magnificent game fish are definitely worth the effort! When I am fortunate enough to catch one, I make sure to treat it with the utmost care, so it can get back to the business of contributing to the future of its kin.
For information on public access in Quebec, reach out to the zone d’exploitation contrôlée (ZEC) that governs your area of interest.
Summertime Stunner
Stephanie Gedeon Harrison, Assistant Director of Mi'gmaq Wolastoqey Indigenous Fisheries Management Association (MWIFMA), sent in a photo of a beautiful Atlantic salmon she landed on the Grand Cascapédia River, guided by James Thomas Lavigne.
Maine
ASF Piscataquis River Project Manager Jon Viti describes a riverside public-education session designed to answer questions for folks who live around the soon-to-be-removed dam on the Piscataquis River.
Last week, Eileen Bader-Hall of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and I held a riverside workshop in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, as part of ASF's dam-removal project on the Piscataquis River, which runs through town. The idea was sparked at a town meeting last March, when residents had a lot of questions about what's going to happen after the dam is removed. The goal of the workshop was to help people understand what changes are likely to occur along the river, which is currently the dam impoundment and will become a free-flowing river in the summer of 2028.
On hand were two experts who were able to provide information to residents: Mike Burke, chief engineer on the project, and Alan Haberstock, a wetland scientist on the project. ASF and TNC also produced a bound booklet for town residents. Inside the booklet, one can find all the topics that were covered at the workshop, such as vegetation changes, what you can do to cultivate native plants, which plants you should remove, and the laws surrounding work done in the shoreland zone. The booklet also outlines resources for purchasing native plants and photos to help identify invasive and native plants. The workshop was a success, receiving nothing but positive feedback from those who participated. ASF hopes that this can serve as a blueprint for other projects in Maine moving forward, and we will make the booklet publicly available.
The ASF team in Maine is excited to be actually digging in (literally) on a project in the Penobscot watershed.
Work is underway at Stinking Brook! ASF Project Manager Cat Morse and Josie Cornell were on site in Brownville this week to kick off construction with project partners from NOAA, Maine Department of Marine Resources, and Forest Society of Maine.
Despite the rain, the construction crew was busy at work clearing the site of felled trees and other debris. This week, they will be bringing in equipment, installing erosion-control measures, and digging out the channel for the new bridge and riverbed. The project will open more of the Pleasant River watershed to salmon and sea-run fish.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Program Director Matt Russell describes how cool nights and a lack of fires helped to extend good salmon fishing, but he also asks anglers to stay aware of rising water temperatures.
So far, the summer of 2026 has been a good one in Nova Scotia. We’ve been fortunate to avoid the forest fires and subsequent woods bans that have characterised the last few summers. On top of this, we’ve been treated to a long and fruitful Atlantic salmon season so far, avoiding warm-water protocol closures on the Margaree River. This is a huge improvement over last year’s historic closures, which saw the mainstem and Southwest Branch of the Margaree closed for 71 days.
Although warm-water protocols have not yet come into effect—thanks largely to consistently cool nighttime and early-morning temperatures—it is important to note that midday temperatures in the mainstem of the river (section 1) and the Southwest Branch (section 3) regularly exceed 20°C. Anglers are encouraged to continue following best practices while on the river. Pack a river thermometer or even a simple pool thermometer (whatever you’ve got) for your next outing, so you can always stay up to date on water temperature.
In next week’s Rivernotes we will feature an update from Nick MacInnis, Restoration Programs Manager of the Nova Scotia Salmon Association (NSSA), our Regional Council in Nova Scotia. In partnership with our local affiliates, NSSA leads an impressive range of restoration, monitoring, and preservation projects across the province and is coming off a record-breaking year, having restored 269,348 square meters of salmon habitat and installed 404 in-stream structures. Don't miss next week's edition for more on NSSA’s great work.
Québec
La directrice des programmes du Québec, Caroline Côté, présente deux graphiques qui témoignent de retours de saumons encourageants en Gaspésie, ainsi qu'un compte rendu en provenance du Nunavik, dans l'extrême nord.
Les décomptes de mi-saison sont encourageants sur plusieurs rivières à saumon du Québec. En Gaspésie, les rivières York (1 123 saumons), Dartmouth (875) et Saint-Jean (813) affichent toutes une progression par rapport aux faibles montaisons observées en 2024 et 2025. Sur la rivière Sainte-Anne, dans les Chic-Chocs, le décompte de mi-saison réalisé les 2 et 3 août totalise 446 saumons, un résultat supérieur aux deux dernières saisons à la même période.
La saison est toutefois loin d'être terminée. Les saumons continuent d'arriver et les conditions demeurent favorables dans plusieurs régions. L'Atlantic Salmon Federation est fière d'appuyer, avec ses partenaires, les efforts de conservation, de recherche et de suivi qui contribuent à une gestion proactive de nos rivières à saumon.
La rivière Delay : une saison qui dépasse les attentes
Depuis deux ans, Paul Ostiguy et son équipe sont les propriétaires-exploitants du camp Maricourt, sur la rivière Maricourt, un affluent de la rivière Delay, au cœur du Nunavik. « Nous avons encore beaucoup à apprendre de cette rivière particulière », raconte-t-il.
L'équipe est arrivée le 18 juillet pour préparer l'ouverture et les premiers pêcheurs ont été accueillis le 24 juillet. À leur arrivée, le niveau d'eau était bas, mais la pêche était déjà excellente grâce à un mélange de saumons frais et de saumons ayant déjà frayé (kelts). Une semaine de pluie a ensuite fait monter rapidement la rivière, ralentissant quelque peu la pêche, qui est néanmoins demeurée bonne : deux pêcheurs ont capturé 21 saumons — et en ont perdu tout autant — en six jours. Depuis le retour à un niveau d'eau normal, « le succès de pêche a augmenté et c'est maintenant presque uniquement du saumon frais ».
« Nous sommes ravis de notre début de saison. La pêche est excellente et tous les clients repartent heureux de leur excellent taux de succès. » Les saumons capturés pèsent principalement entre 5 et 12 livres et le camp affiche jusqu'à maintenant une moyenne de plus de trois prises par pêcheur par jour. Une observation retient aussi l'attention : tous les petits saumons capturés jusqu'à présent étaient des femelles portant des œufs.
Selon Paul, ce qui distingue la Delay est « la quantité de saumons et leur arrivée plus hâtive que sur les autres rivières de la baie d'Ungava. Il y avait déjà du saumon frais à la mi-juillet. » L'équipe recueille également des écailles et des otolithes pour les biologistes du ministère afin de mieux comprendre cette population. Selon les observations recueillies jusqu'à présent, il pourrait y avoir des saumons estuariens, des saumons qui vont à la mer et peut-être même des saumons qui demeurent dans la rivière après la fraie pendant plus d'un an. Des capteurs d'ADN environnemental (ADNe) seront aussi installés à la fin d'août afin de vérifier la présence éventuelle de saumons roses.
Située au cœur du Nunavik, la Delay est l'une des principales frayères de la rivière Koaksoak. « C'est un endroit incroyablement productif où les montaisons n'ont pas diminué. À moins d'une autre période de sécheresse, nous anticipons une très bonne saison. »
Québec (English)
Québec Program Director Caroline Côté shares two graphs that reflect positive salmon-return numbers from the Gaspé, as well as a report from Nunavik in the far north.
Encouraging Signs
Mid-season salmon counts are providing encouraging signs on several Québec rivers. In Gaspé, the York (1,123 salmon), Dartmouth (875), and Saint-Jean (813) have all rebounded compared with the weaker returns recorded in 2024 and 2025. On the Sainte-Anne River in the Chic-Chocs, the August 2–3 midseason count totalled 446 salmon, an improvement over the previous two seasons at the same point.
The season, however, is far from over. Salmon are still entering many rivers, and water conditions remain favourable across much of the province. Through its conservation, research, and monitoring programs, the Atlantic Salmon Federation is proud to support proactive salmon management alongside its many partners.
Delay River: A Promising Start to the Season
For the past two years, Paul Ostiguy and his team have operated Camp Maricourt on the Maricourt River, a tributary of the Delay River in the heart of Nunavik. "We still have a lot to learn about this unique river," says Ostiguy.
The team arrived on July 18 to prepare for the season, with the first guests arriving on July 24. Water levels were low at first, but fishing was already excellent thanks to a mix of fresh salmon and kelt. A week of rain quickly raised the river and slowed fishing, although catches remained strong: two anglers landed 21 salmon—and lost about as many—in six days. As water levels returned to normal, "success increased again, and almost every fish is now a fresh salmon."
Most salmon have ranged from 5 to 12 pounds, and the camp is averaging more than three salmon landed per angler per day. One particularly interesting observation is that every small salmon landed so far has been a female carrying eggs.
According to Ostiguy, what makes the Delay unique is "the abundance of salmon and the fact that they arrive earlier than on other rivers in Ungava Bay. We already had fresh salmon by mid-July." Camp staff are also collecting scales and otoliths for Québec Ministry biologists to better understand this population.
Based on observations to date, the river may support a mix of estuarine salmon, sea-run salmon, and perhaps salmon that remain in freshwater for more than a year after spawning. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling will also be conducted later this month to determine whether pink salmon—a Pacific species (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) that may have migrated from Russia's White Sea, where they were stocked for decades—are present.
Located in the heart of Nunavik, the Delay is one of the principal spawning rivers of the Koksoak watershed. "It's an incredibly productive place where salmon runs have not declined. Unless we experience another prolonged drought, we expect an excellent season."
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador Program Director Kim Thompson updates us on encouraging salmon counts, shares a season update from the Eagle River, and highlights some upcoming events.
Unlike the previous two seasons, weather conditions have been favourable for returning Atlantic salmon this year. This trend is reflected in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Atlantic Salmon Fence and Fishway Counts through August 2, 2026. Particularly encouraging are the strong returns recorded on the four monitored rivers in Labrador, providing welcome optimism for all.
Several DFO public notices remain in effect regarding environmental protocols for the island of Newfoundland, including full river-closure and morning-only angling restrictions resulting from extremely high water temperatures and/or low water levels. Anglers are reminded that a morning angling restriction permits fishing from one hour before sunrise until 10:00 a.m. each day. Rivers are then closed to angling from 10:01 a.m. until one hour before sunrise the following day. For current river conditions and restrictions, visit the DFO In-Season River Status page for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Soaring Eagle
To complement the encouraging DFO counts from Labrador, Dwight Lethbridge, owner and guide at Pratt Falls Salmon Lodge, shares his firsthand experiences from the Eagle River:
“It has been a stellar year up to the end of July. We had fantastic runs of large fish, and it seemed like a high volume of grilse. The runs were about a week late compared to average years. A brutal heat wave in the last week of July slowed the action greatly and became difficult for fish and anglers alike. Still plenty of fresh fish coming in, but they are not active in the heat."
"Overall a great year for the salmon and our lodge. Our guides tallied 769 hookups to the end of July, of which 132 were large. Largest landed estimated at 23 pounds, and a couple lost estimated at 25 to 26 pounds. Under less-than-ideal conditions, we are very pleased with the numbers!”
Upcoming Events
Salmon Cove Town Hall
If you have ideas about the future of the Salmon Cove watershed, the Salmonid Association of Eastern Newfoundland (SAEN) and the Town of Salmon Cove want to hear from you. Join them for an evening of conversation about Atlantic salmon and local waterways, and help guide the future development of the Salmon Cove Watershed Management Plan.
When: August 12, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Salmon Cove Community Centre, 170 Main Highway in Salmon Cove.
Salmon Conservation, Mi'Kmaq History, and Science Camp
(NEW DATES!)
Intervale Associates Salmon Conservation, Mi’Kmaq History, and Science Camp in the Bay of Islands! Join a fun-filled few days of hands-on activities, learning, and outdoor adventure exploring the importance of protecting Atlantic salmon and their habitat. Whether you're interested in fishing, conservation, or just looking for a great summer experience, there's something for everyone.
When: August 18 and 19, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: The Salt Box, Benoit’s Cove.
For more information or to RSVP please contact ericbennett@intervale.ca. Limited spots available, so be sure to reserve your place!
New Brunswick
New Brunswick Program Director David Roth says that, while there may be a late-summer slowdown in fishing, there is no rest for researchers or law enforcement on the water.
From an angling perspective, the past week was relatively uneventful, which is to be expected, as we move through the peak of the summer period. While I did not receive any catch reports, that certainly does not mean there are no salmon in the river. Anglers continue to report seeing fish holding in large schools in areas that provide both cover and opportunities to conserve energy during the warm summer conditions. Sami Duis visiting from Remels, Ostfriesland, Germany kindly shared a drone video showing one such impressive school of salmon holding in the Miramichi River.
From our own monitoring work on the Miramichi, our remote telemetry system recently alerted us to a malfunction in one of our Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) telemetry antennas. As a result, Karl Phillips from ASF's Research Department and I are currently in the river troubleshooting the system to restore full operation as quickly as possible. Maintaining continuous operation of the array is critical, as we continue to monitor returning adult salmon from our tagged smolt cohorts.
I also want to recognize the outstanding work of enforcement officers from the RCMP and Fisheries and Oceans Canada over the past several weeks. Their efforts have resulted in the removal and seizure of multiple illegal nets from our rivers, as well as several individuals being caught in the act of poaching and now facing prosecution. These successes are a direct result of the officers' dedication and persistence, often involving long hours and overnight operations. On behalf of the salmon conservation community, we extend our sincere thanks to everyone involved for their continued commitment to protecting Atlantic salmon and ensuring our rivers remain healthy for future generations.
Research and Environment
ASF's Research team describes the overarching framework that drives all of its field work, as well how what we learn informs where we direct our conservation efforts.
From Egg to Ocean, One Team at a Time
Every summer, our field teams fan out across the range of Atlantic salmon. This summer has been a particularly important one so far, with many new projects being implemented while we wrap up others, ensuring we’ve learned everything we can from them. Different rivers, different crews, and different bits of projects, but one shared purpose: to collect a piece of the Atlantic salmon life-history puzzle.
Summer is when we gather the pieces. Winter is when we build them into something that drives our conservation decisions. Starting last fall, we've been integrating that data into a single egg-to-ocean research plan, tracking salmon’s full life history from river to marine phase in one framework, rather than as separate snapshots.
An egg-to-ocean view lets ASF and our partners direct restoration and management effort at the life stages where mortality is highest, instead of spreading resources evenly across a life cycle where survival bottlenecks are anything but even. That is what turns a summer of fieldwork like this one into conservation gains that compound over the following seasons.
We are not done yet, with many days of collecting important information remaining. But one key piece is the team itself and how everyone supports each other—sharing skills and knowledge—and the partners who support our activities. They are too numerous to name them all here, but from Maine to the North of Quebec, many organizations and people give us a hand along the way. And this is the beauty of working on this iconic species: We do it together!
