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The water is murky. The riverbanks are narrow, or completely submerged. And the water is moving too fast to present a fly well.
Blown-out rivers are making for difficult fishing, but this is a good thing. Spring has kicked off with somewhat normal snowmelt and rain in many areas, and everyone is hoping it’s a sign of good water levels to come. It’s just a matter of being patient…
Some areas are experiencing surprisingly good fishing though. Like on the Miramichi.
“Pretty much every day we’re picking up some fish, and throughout the river it seems like everyone is picking up fish,” said Tyler Coughlan, of Country Haven Lodge and Cottages, just outside of Blackville on the Miramichi River. “It was a lot better than I ever expected it to be after the numbers last year.”
Typically, Tyler says the first week of May is usually pretty good for salmon, and it can sometimes stay that way for the entire month. But when the water gets warm, and the striped bass move up, that pretty well shuts down the kelt fishery for that year.
“We can be booking 5 or 6 or 7 salmon a day, or whatever, and a couple trout. And the minute you get the bass … that’s it for that area for salmon,” he said.
Everywhere else in the salmon world is wrapped in anticipation.
In this week’s Rivernotes, we have reports from all areas of good water levels and encouraging starts to the angling seasons that are open.
In PEI, this week’s report focuses mainly on the brook trout tagging study, as well as the data that is coming in from previously tagged fish, which has some interesting results.
The field season is beginning in New Brunswick, and preparations are being made to deploy the smolt wheels on several rivers. This week’s report also sheds some light on the life cycle of young salmon in our rivers at this time of year, the “trap and truck” program, and provides a few reminders.
Our report from Newfoundland and Labrador highlights some of the presentations and workshops at the DFO Inland Compliance and Resource Conservation Salmonid workshops, an update on the smolt wheel on the Terra Nova River, and a few upcoming events to keep in mind.
ASF’s Vice-President of Research and Environment, Valérie Ouellet, contributes a special update on smolt wheel preparations, and acoustic tagging efforts that will begin very soon.
We also have our first angling story submission of the season from Nicholas Krichew in Nova Scotia, about their pursuit and newfound love for early season trout fishing.
ASF’s Atlantic Salmon Journal editor, Martin Silverstone, also contributes a story about the ASF’s 41st Spring Banquet held in Montreal on April 16th.
Like much of eastern North America, Prince Edward Island has had encouraging snow melt and rainfall this spring. Jordan Condon, the Science Coordinator for ASF’s Wild Salmon Watersheds program, provides us with some early reports following the opening of angling season, as well as some numbers from the early phase of a brook trout tagging study. Both have some surprising findings! Jordan writes:
“The 2025 angling season opened on April 15 for Islanders, with favorable water conditions. Water levels have remained stable thanks to regular rain events, and the snowpack cleared from the Island landscape by early to mid-March. Overall, Islanders have enjoyed a productive start to the fishing season, with reported catches including sea-run brook trout, reconditioning kelts, rainbow trout, striped bass, and even a few brown trout — a rarity in PEI waters.
One concern raised by anglers and local watershed groups, however, is the low number of smelts returning to freshwater to spawn.
In addition to the strong start to spring angling, the PEI Forest, Fish and Wildlife Division is conducting a brook trout tagging study on the Morell River and Winter River. This spring, 83 brook trout were tagged on the Winter River with Carlin tags, building on the 74 fish tagged in 2024 on the Morell River. Data gathered from reported tag recoveries, along with creel surveys, will support a mark-recapture study designed to estimate population size, survivorship, estuarine movement, and growth rates of sea-run brook trout.
Although the study is still in its early phases, Freshwater Biologist Rosie MacFarlane has already noted some interesting findings. Several tagged fish were recaptured in different river systems than where they were originally tagged; one was found 30 km away. One brook trout was even caught twice in the same day. And, notably, a brown trout capture was documented this spring in the Winter River for the first time.
A key component of this research is angler participation. If you catch a brook trout with a tag, please report your catch using the phone number on the tag—and don’t forget to claim your prize!”
David Roth, New Brunswick Program Director, writes:
Across New Brunswick, a wet, rainy weekend has transformed the rivers. The increased discharge cleared the last stubborn sheets of river ice, and all waterways in the province are now running high and fast—a true sign that spring is fully here.
In April, New Brunswick’s salmon community is traditionally focused on the spring salmon (kelt) fishery. But now, as the season shifts, so too does our attention—to the next generation. In the hidden gravel beds beneath our rivers, last year’s Atlantic salmon eggs have hatched, and tiny alevins are stirring. Still tethered to their yolk sacs, these fragile young salmon remain out of sight but are vital to the future of our rivers.
This often-overlooked stage is beautifully captured this year by wildlife cinematographer Nick Hawkins, who is shining a spotlight on the secret life beneath the riverbed. Be sure to follow Nick’s work on his website or on his instagram in the weeks ahead for a closer look at these early chapters in the salmon life cycle.
David continues:
“Meanwhile, longer days and warming waters signal another critical event — the start of the smolt run. Across New Brunswick, young salmon are beginning their migration from freshwater to the ocean, embarking on an incredible journey. For ASF and many of our partners, this also marks the beginning of our field season. Over the coming weeks, ASF staff and affiliate groups will be out on the Miramichi, Nepisiguit, and Restigouche rivers, deploying smolt wheels, installing receivers and tagging out-migrating smolts together with our local affiliates. By tracking these young salmon through the rivers and as they move toward the Strait of Belle Isle, we continue to build our long-term data set to monitor their survival in freshwater and early marine environments.
This spring also marks the second year of the Trap and Truck project — an innovative effort to give smolts a better shot at reaching the ocean by bypassing areas of high predation. A detailed update on changes for 2025 is coming soon, but in the meantime, you can catch up on last year’s efforts here.
Reminders for anglers:
With a stormy spring in Newfoundland and Labrador, our Program Director, Kim Thompson, gives us an update on the start of some exciting projects, a recap of some interesting workshops and presentations that were recently held in the province, and a reminder of a few ASF sponsored events that are coming up soon that you don’t want to miss:
“What’s the old saying ‘be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.’ It’s been a cold wet ending to April with even some wild snow days mixed. It’s weather that most people are sick of by this point but weather that will certainly be of benefit for ensuring cool normal water levels for salmon!
Kim continues:
“Congratulations to the organizers and presenters of the DFO Inland Compliance and Resource Conservation Salmonid workshops that were held in Gander and Happy Valley- Goose Bay. Very informative presentations were given by DFO Resource Management, Science (Salmonids, Coastal & Freshwater Ecology), Conservation & Protection, Fish & Fish Habitat Protection, and Indigenous First Nations. Of particular interest was the Environmental Studies Research Fund findings-to-date by Dr. Martha Robinson. You can follow this work on the ESRF Atlantic Salmon Facebook page. Additionally, Dr. Ian Bradbury presented on eDNA based monitoring of climate associated changes in anadromous fish diversity in Labrador. See https://bradburygeneticslab.com/
Freshwater Alexander Bay Ecosystem Corporation (FABEC) acted on the proverb ‘strike while the iron is hot,’ or in Newfoundland, ‘go when the sun shines.’ Last week FABEC assembled the rotary screw trap (smolt wheel) and put the main cable across the Terra Nova River for the 2nd year as part of the Wild Salmon Watershed program. Stay tuned for regular updates on this project as the smolt wheel goes into action for the season.
And finally, we’re left with the details of a few sponsored events we hope anyone nearby can enjoy:
IF4 Thursday, May 8th the Bruneau Centre @ MUN, St. John’s for tickets go to: if4/St. John’s: The FlyFishing Film Festival Gala
Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters 2nd Annual Outdoor Show, May 9th – 11th, Steele Community Centre, Gander. ASF will be present at the event and also showing several films about conservation and angling.
Hooké Scale of Change Film Showing May 21st at Banished Brewing Limited, in Paradise. For tickets go to: www.scaleofchange.org “
Jason Valliere, a Marine Scientist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, gave us a short but sweet update on conditions from his corner of the region, the Penobscot River, along with early counts of passing fish:
“River temp was 9.1C (48F) this morning. We have passed 4 white suckers and 204 river herring so far. This weekend’s rain will likely delay things for a few days. It brought river flows up from appx 20,000 CFS (cubic feet per second) to 32,000 CFS. As flows recede and with sunny days in the forecast, it shouldn’t be long before things get busy!
Until next week!”
We have our first submission of the season from an angler in Nova Scotia. Nicholas Krichew recounts his discovery, and newfound love for brown trout fishing this spring. While brown trout are not native to our regions, they are found in many salmon rivers in Nova Scotia.
“This is the first year we set out specifically to target brown trout early in the season.
Brown trout have always been in the back of my mind in Nova Scotia, but we’re always relegated as a fill-in between other fisheries, or as bycatch. But the quality of this fishery here continued to cement itself in my mind. With great water conditions in April, the decision was finalized.
We set out mid-April to try our luck and we were instantly rewarded, seeing fish moving from the banks, aggressive follows and takes, and a handful of fish to hand in the 12-16 inch range. The highlight was a much larger fish being coaxed out from under some structure and committing to the fly. Although that fish never made it to the net, we knew we had to return as soon as possible!
We were on our way back less than a week later, with the goal of getting this fishing dialled in. We spent hours fishing around structures along the banks and deep holes in the pools, fishing large articulated streamers and smaller bait fish patterns, and we found ourselves tightening up more often than not.
The first highlight came the first evening. After letting my fly drift under a log I was tight to a chunky brown that made his way into the net after an intense fight. I kept him from diving around the logs and burrowing under the undercut bank. Buttery brown, with the signature blue cheeks, this fish had been eating well and measured over 20”.
The following day found more success, with a number of takes, culminating in all three of us hooking up multiple times in the same pool, and landing several. My angling partner pulled in a beautiful 23” male after it aggressively broke the surface to chase down the fly.
It’s safe to say, we are hooked (pun intended). This is a fishery that would be bragged about, coveted and highlighted in many places around the world, and although gaining in popularity, it is still largely slept on here in this province.
We’ve barely scratched the surface, but we won’t be neglecting this resource any longer!”
Valérie Ouellet, ASF’s Vice-President of Research and Environment, is right in the middle of the preparations for the smolt wheels and acoustic tagging stations that will be deployed very soon. She writes:
“Our snow has quickly disappeared in the southwest region of NB and that moves us into to field season, so we are dusting off the boats and canoes and are preparing to hit the water!
Gear is being prepared to load up for the beginning of field work. We have 240 V8 acoustic tags to use for smolt tagging; 80 for the Southwest Miramichi, 100 for the Northwest Miramichi, and 60 for the Cascapédia. The receivers have their batteries and are ready for the plunge! Receiver deployments may start as early as next week and we hope to have it completed for May 9th.
Smolt wheels and tagging stations will be set up ahead of the smolt run. These will be in place at the beginning of May in many rivers, working with numerous partners, our Wild Salmon Watersheds team, and David Roth to coordinate all the work!”
From Montreal, we have a special contribution from Atlantic Salmon Journal Editor, Martin Silverstone. He was at the ASF’s 41st Spring Banquet, and captured some of the energy for us:
“At 6 pm, four candidates took the stage at the Radio-Canada offices in downtown Montréal for the first of two debates that would help decide the federal election. At 7 pm the puck dropped at the Bell Centre where the Montreal Canadians were playing for their play-off lives. At 7:30, a block away, dinner was served at ASF’s 41st Spring Banquet, a lovely dish of roast veal and vegetables with a vegan option of a cauliflower steak.
Perhaps not entirely oblivious to the events taking place just blocks away—there were a few phones and a lobby TV tuning in to the hockey game—the dinner crowd was treated to a hopeful outlook on the salmon population by ASF’s vice-president of research and the environment, Valerie Ouellet.
As a light dessert of rich chocolate fudge and ice cream was served, auctioneer Charles Cusson banged his gavel, appropriately a ‘priest,’ the tool once used to dispatch fish before live release became the norm. People roared as bids on a variety of auction items rose into the thousands of dollars making the 41st edition of the Montreal Spring Banquet a great success in terms of fundraising for Atlantic salmon conservation and just plain fun and excitement.
Perhaps Stephen Bronfman summed it up best when he leaped to the stage at the close of the festivities, and raised his arms shouting, “Les Canadiens sont la!” Probably to announce the local hockey team had won, but he might just have been referring to another tremendous show of generosity from the group of Atlantic salmon supporters.”
