Reports from up & down the river were of strong fishing this morning. Guide from Wilson’s reported 6 taken, observed fish being taken at Pond’s Report and Don B reported good fishing at Ponds Rapids. We watched fish move through during the day.
This evening the water had reached 28.2C (73.3F), that’s warm, nothing hooked in this pool although I raised a fish behind a rock 8-10 times. It was a good day just being out there.
Found this article discussing effect of warm water and thought I would pass it along having found a large salmon dead on the bar in the pool.
Sun and Water Temperature
The ideal water temperature for catching salmon and brook trout will vary between rivers found throughout the geographic range. Obviously a salmon from the Hunt River in Labrador (one of the coldest areas on the planet Atlantic salmon are found) will be more comfortable at a water temperature of 8oC than a salmon from Maine. Conversely, a salmon from Maine is more likely to be more comfortable at a warmer temperature. This north-south range of comfort zones is true for virtually all animals found on the planet. However, having said that, the experts say 56oF (12oC) is ideal for brook trout and 58oF to 62oF (13oC to 15oC) is ideal for Atlantic salmon. One fairly consistent level seems to be the temperature at which salmon have trouble reviving from a fight - 18oC or 64.4oF and even more so at 20oC or 68oF. Try fishing next to cold water inlets under these temperatures as you will both catch and easily revive more fish.
When presented with warm water conditions (>66-68+oF) try going subsurface with clear leaders and tiny wet flies that do not have hollow hair in the wings. Salmon often will rise from the bottom and hit the warmest band of water near the surface (top 6 inches to 2 feet) and turn back down to the cooler water. The fish may want a fly but are not willing to swim through the hot water to get to it. Moreover, the metabolism of the fish is in overdrive in the warm water and the oxygen levels are much lower (colder water dissolves more O2 gas).
These "awww the water is too warm" conditions can produce great fun if one finds a cold feeder stream or spring. Most of our rivers have salmon packed into these types of lays like sardines under the right condition. Virtually everything that affects salmon behaviour can be used to an anglers advantage.
Mind the sun on bright sunny days and fish subsurface if you can. Never cast to a lay such that the fish has to look at the sun to see your fly.
Fresh large salmon will "sun bath" on very shallow shoals during mid day on sunny days. This might sound strange to someone who has not seen hundreds of fish in various rivers do this, but it is true. One might suggest that this allows the melanocytes (camouflaging pigment cells) in the fish's skin to change color to match the surrounding river bottom. None the less the biggest fish often takes the shallowest lay. This is usually only done in spots with deep water nearby - for example the edge of a shoal.
Rain - A Blessing and a Curse
This is the one single factor that will increase the migration rate of fish more than any other factor. Fresh running fish are usually much easier to hook than holding fish. There are many "old sayings" or adages, and "wives tales" about how water levels affect Atlantic salmon. Here is my 2 cents worth. The day before the rain (fish feel barometric pressure changes) and the first days of the rising water usually produce great fishing. Rising water levels increase the thyroxin levels in migratory salmonids and thus increases the "feistiness", agitation, and general metabolic levels in preparation for migrating. This increase in thyroxin can be triggered by an increase in water flow rate alone and is genetically programmed into the fish. Hence the reason salmon take off up stream after dead low tide in many tidal pools. One old saying is catch them while it rises and AFTER it stops dropping. Another adage suggests that the second half of the drop provides good fishing. What I will agree with is that for a short time after the crest in the rising water the fishing seems to be slow (sometimes). Dirty or raging water is very bad for fishing and you might as well go back home and tie flies.
Bill Bryden
Newfoundland Guide,
Wendy & Shane
Moonshadowcottage.ca
