[zamboni-guy]

I just want to start a topic to help new or not so sure friends .. as far as what to do on the river. please post to help not hinder any new person .. just so they know what to expect .. when fishing ..I think that this will be very informative for many ppl.

 

[ipop]

for salmon you first need to decide if you are going for atlantic salmon or land loch's. you can fish for atlantics in the rivers and streams east and north east of the province, while land lochs are in lakes in the south west.
most fish land lochs and black salmon in the early spring, then it's almost all about the atlanics for summer and fall. so the season, where you live and how far you can travel dictates which you fish for.

atlantic's are exclusively on the fly, mostly barbless. land loch's are mostly cranks, spinners and bait but can also be taken on a fly.

there is endless info about salmon, are you into c&r or would you like my latest recipe?

 

[zamboni-guy]

when starting out the key thing is watch and observe .. see what ppl. are doing .. if you are still unsure just ask..chances are you'll get more info .. then what your looking for

 

[fish4life]

I think the most important thing is to work on the cast, having a good cast and knowing where you should cast into a pool is very important. Next would be the flies learning how to tie knots and observing what others are doing. you will never learn it all but you can love to learn all about it
oh and a lot of patience

 

[Riverboy]

I would suggest any new salmon fisherman first go with an experienced fisherman so he can show you where to start in the pool,when to start your turn in the rotation and hopefully, he will tell you to move if you get glued to one spot in the pool,by accident or design.This approach can save a thin skinned, new salmon fisherman a whole lot of grief and humiliation.

 

[jeff]

I would suggest any new salmon fisherman first go with an experienced fisherman so he can show you where to start in the pool,when to start your turn in the rotation and hopefully, he will tell you to move if you get glued to one spot in the pool,by accident or design.This approach can save a thin skinned, new salmon fisherman a whole lot of grief and humiliation.

I would take riverboys advice so far.. Quarryville is not the place to "learn" to fly fish for salmon. Ask for help from someone that knows what they are doing. Someone who can help select a rod, reel and line, someone who can show you basic knots and select flies. Then go to the NW or LSW to a pool where there isn't anyone else and just do it.

 

[A River Runs Through Me]

I would take riverboys advice so far.. Quarryville is not the place to "learn" to fly fish for salmon. Ask for help from someone that knows what they are doing. Someone who can help select a rod, reel and line, someone who can show you basic knots and select flies. Then go to the NW or LSW to a pool where there isn't anyone else and just do it.

I agree as well. This might be the single most important piece of advice thus far. Do yourself a favor and head out with an experienced fisherman for your first few trips out. There is just too much information that is not likely to be learned from a book. If you're new to the sport, have a friend bring you to an uncrowded location and teach you where to stand, where to cast and when to move. Learning what to tie on for each location and time of year and honing your casting will all come with time...and patience.

 

[Bull's Eye]

All good points indeed, especially when you're fishing overcrowded areas for sure.

Dummiest advice I can give to any newcomer (and sometimes refresh the concept to old timers) boils down to 3 basic rules I have forged over the years for myself:

Keep your fly in the water, and don't overshoot a pool (way too many anglers throw the line over the fish, and not the fly);

More time spent on the water = more takes (it's that simple) the best local anglers on any river are the ones fishing on a regular basis, independant of the time of day, temperature, water level, etc.;

Know how to identify a ''taker'' and prey on that particular fish (an entirely different topic altogether LOL!)

Thight lines,

 

[Fletch B]

For someone looking to learn some of the more text book stuff in regards to salmon fishing (i.e. tying knots for leader, hooks, leader-to-leader, casting technique, etc) check out Youtube. This is an amazing how-to resouce;I have used it for everything. I use it more when I want to practice stuff before the season or inbetween fishing trips. I learned how to ty tappered leader; different knots; casting technique; how to find where trout lay in the seam; and tons more. I know your not out on the water, but if your home baby siting, or at work fiddling your thumbs you may as well be learning about fishing. Just makes sense to me.

My last tip is to never give up...because as I am still learning myself, fly fishing is truly an art. Don't get too frustrated when you see someone that can throw a line 4 times as long and straight as yours. It took them years to perfect that skill.

And like someone else said, get out and on the water, because no matter how much youtube you watch, it will never hook a salmon for you.

My two pennies worth,

 

[Well Hooked]

A tip I give new salmon fishers is to read Mike Brislan's book "Bugging Atlantic Salmon". It's a short and productive read for any salmon fishers. Since over 1/2 of the salmon are caught on green machines and other bugs it's important to know how to fish them properly and Mike's technique is dead on and he explains it well.

 

[gdog]

A tip I give new salmon fishers is to read Mike Brislan's book "Bugging Atlantic Salmon". It's a short and productive read for any salmon fishers. Since over 1/2 of the salmon are caught on green machines and other bugs it's important to know how to fish them properly and Mike's technique is dead on and he explains it well.

Do you know if this book is online?

 

[Bones]

Do you know if this book is online?

There are only a few pointers I can give to a new Salmon fisherman:

Learn to cast and land a fly properly with a fairly straight line. Do not try and throw more line than you can handle. I see it all the time. Most times shorter and straighter is better. You will become a better caster as you fish more.

Having an experienced fisher give you some tips is not to be taken lightly. Ask. Most will help.

Use a similar cast down through the pool, about the same length each time at the same angle
(which angle depends on the water flow and some experience). Hold the line between your index finger and the rods grip, this helps if you get a pull in setting the hook. Cover the water.

If you raise a fish, consider it a taker and on most occasions will take on the next cast. Change casting angles slightly and length of cast to a more stubborn fish.Do not get fixated over a single fish and stand in one place. Move with the crowd or if in an isolated pool fish through and try the fish a second time.

Wear polarized sunglasses. You will see more fish.

Keep up with the pool rotation if fishing in a crowd.This is very important on the Miramichi public pools.

With crowd fishing try not to change flys multiple times through the pool.Pick a favourite or popular pattern and fish it.

Enjoy your time on the water and if you hook a fish try to duplicate what you did (cast lenght, fly speed, line angle,etc) and use it again.

 

[Well Hooked]

Don't know if you can get the book online but Doak's and Escape Anglers probably have it in stock.

 

[compleatangler]

Hey to all, I would suggest Atlantic Salmon - A Fly Fishing Primer by Paul Marriner, great resourse book. Its for the regular joe fishing from the cheap seats (public waters).