Hey guys, thought I would share, first salmon on glass, 22 inch
black salmon from a small stream here in Downeast Maine.
Tengas, Fenwick, and Marryat photo by Alpago |
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First Salmon on glass
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 fingernail |
First Salmon on glass |
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Guide
Posts: 64 (05/17/09 15:09:24) |
Hey guys, thought I would share, first salmon on glass, 22 inch
black salmon from a small stream here in Downeast Maine.
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flyboy912 |
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Master Guide
Posts: 306 (05/17/09 17:18:22) |
Hey Fingernail, that's great. What may I ask is it that you call a black salmon? On the west coast, a small/immature King/Chinook is called a blackmouth.
But, I thought you east coast guys only had Atlantic salmon. I recently had a discussion with Yuhina about doing a painting of a salmon for me. But, I told him
that salmon only come bright chrome, that is the good ones. The red stuff comes in when the salmon are about to give their all for the next generation, and who
want's to eat that? I've hob nobbled with tons of salmon (commercially), and I wouldn't touch a partially red, or very dark salmon with a ten foot
pole. Your salmon looks great. How far up from the saltwater did you get him? What was the rod and line? That fish is perfect for the Weber. Just butterfly
him, lay him on a sheet of tin foil, a little white wine, butter and seasoning salt and do till he is barely done. Perfectomissimo. And, if your Opinel
isn't sharp, fall back onto guacamole. Makes trout taste like---well, I won't say anything about trout. A nice small salmon is it, it, it. Glenn
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fingernail |
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Guide
Posts: 65 (05/17/09 19:47:17) |
Hey Glenn, The rod is a 6ft Powell 4/5wt, gave me a nice little fight. This one is a landlocked Atlantic salmon, really nice for its size, black salmon refers to the
condition of the fish, it dropped out in the fall, spawned and then over wintered in the river, right about now they make their treck back to the lakes to feed
and recondition. Last fall it would have been about 2/3 pounds. I work for the Atlantic salmon commission, we deal with their counter part the Sea run salmon.
They are listed as an endangered species and illeagal to fish, we are doing all we can to get the population up to sustainable levels, but seems more of an
uphill battle these days. Here's a photo of one of our fish, thats me working it up.
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flyboy912 |
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Master Guide
Posts: 309 (05/17/09 21:34:35) |
I know that salmon can survive the breeding cycle and return to the sea. I know that the black condition is typical to them when in the river for some time.
Short runs do not get black or dark, mostly the longer run do as they have a long way to go. The "chrome" is sea bright and lasts but a short while
in the rivers. But, the Atlantic is different than the west coast, isn't it? Can't remember, but there is something. If they are landlocked, like
kokanee and Great Lakes how many breeding cycles can they go through? Glenn
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fingernail |
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Guide
Posts: 66 (05/18/09 05:02:03) |
The Salmon can live for about 5 to 6 years typically. Landlocks can breed every year the sea runs every two. They are very different from west coast salmon. I
use to live on Kodiak isl. as a kid. I do remember the salmon runs. Really different around here.
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Cameron |
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Posts: 3390 (05/18/09 05:15:50)
Administrator &
Chat Room Host |
fingernail...there are few things that I can imagine as being more enjoyable than to catch LLS on a fiberglass fly rod. Now...a 4/5 weight might be a little
light of a rod for the job...but it looks like you got it done.
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yuhina |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1215 (05/18/09 09:49:02) |
Very cool report! Fingernail... thank you for sharing this...
I was wondering are you working for some salmon recovery program? if so, Could you elaborate it a little more... I am really interested in the current status of Atlantic Salmon. also I would like to know what kind fly you use (if not secret... : ) )? Thanks! Mark |
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gypsy |
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Master Guide
Posts: 479 (05/18/09 12:59:57) |
"A wild river framed by sky and forest, edged by rocks and ledges, tumbling and gliding toward the sea is an isle in Nature's great cathedral. Present
here is the King of Fishes-with a challenge to the angler inherent in it's name. There is something special about fishing Atlantic Salmon. It gladdens the
heart and nourishes the soul and offers a way of life too seldom enjoyed by those of us who like to pit our wits, knowledge, and skill against the gleaming
silver leaper."
Joseph D. Bates, jr. in Fishing Atlantic Salmon The flies and the Patterns. Fishing for wild Land locks out of Lake Sebago tributaries is probably as close to real Atlantic Salmon fishing that I'll ever get but man it sure would be nice. Atlantic Salmon on a fly rod is pretty much the Holy Grail of fly fishing for me. Nice Land lock with the Powell glass fingernail, I can imagine how great it would have been to catch him on a glass rod. Glorious. |
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fingernail |
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Guide
Posts: 67 (05/18/09 14:21:27) |
It was quite amazing, the stream where I caught it is small. So when she came out and nabbed the fly my heart skipped, amazing the rush you get from adrenaline
when a big fish is hooked. I'm by nature a trout bum so salmon are not quite the caveat, but this stream has been on my to do list for quite awhile. I
caught it on a mudder minnow right on surface. I know a 6ft 4/5 weight might seem bold, but these salmon here in Maine seem to easier to hand line in. I know
guys that fish Grand lake stream on a 3wt, not a feat I would attempt, I don't think I'm that good. Anywho working with sea run salmon is a lot
different than these landlocks.
MARK I work for the Atlantic Salmon Commission for the state, if you would like I can get some pics of spawning sea runs for you this fall they are absolutely beautiful and very large. As far as Sea run populations, adults are a rare item, this I think is our biggest hang up. Our rivers here in downeast are listed as endangered, just for an example on the Dennys we only had 8 returning adults to the river last year, the Dennys is a small beautiful river they use to run anywhere from 600 to 800 fish, so 8 is a far cry from healthy. Unfortunately as of July the Penobscot will be listed this year. The Sea Atlantic is the last salmon I need to get to complete my cycle of salmon. If anyone has any Q's regarding Sea runs please pm me. We are working really hard to get our fish back. There is nothing in this world we want more than to have our anglers back on salmon. |
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ratfacedmcdougal |
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Master Guide
Posts: 295 (05/18/09 15:24:28) |
Fingernail, you have to hook up with me. I live on the border of Downeast and make many trips to LLS water. Last Friday I fished GLS and had great luck in
spite of the unbelievable crowd. You have me baffled though. I've never heard of the LLs called black salmon, just hold over Atlantics.
A 6' 4/5wt is not really too small for the LLs. I used a 6' #3 spooled with a #4 for quite a few years and the largest fish landed on that rod measured 28" and took only 4 minutes to the net. Give them the butt and hope the tippet and knots hold. I belong to The Friends of Craig Brook Fish Hatchery, where you probably know they rear Atlantics that are stream specific. I love to look longingly at those huge breeders and dream of their return to the Narraguagus, hopefully in my lifetime. In the meantime there are Landlocks and plenty of them and they are nothing to sneeze at. The weekend after this one is open for for more fishing. This weekend is fishing on the "Stream Who's Name Must Never Be Mentioned" for LLs and great food and company. PM me and maybe we can fish GLS on the 29th or 30th.Usually fairly crowded but usually fairly good fishing. I'm in Blue Hill and 2 hrs from the stream. Cheers RFMcD |
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yuhina |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1221 (05/19/09 10:58:48) |
fingernail wrote: Thanks fingernail! It would be my honor to see those photos! Kudos to you guys in the ASC. Conservation is such a tough task! All the hard field work, deal with local people, water, and the politics... Thanks for sharing this with us! |
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Steelheader69 |
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Sport
Posts: 50 (05/19/09 23:35:04) |
flyboy912 wrote:I always thought the Atlantics are more closely related to the Char then their Pacific Brethern. But not 100% sure. But I do know that most (if not all) West Coast salmonoids (excluding the steelhead) die once they are done spawning. I've fished them all my life in the rivers, and know that they're falling apart as they're spawning. Which, leading back to flyboys original statement. You'll find TONS of fresh chrome bright salmon in the upper rivers. In fact, just because they have markings doesn't mean they are spawners nor does it mean they aren't edible. If the belly is white and the cheeks at the gillplate are a nice pink, you're good to go. But, once that cheek area starts turning tan or whiteish and the belly goes black, the fish goes back. Let it be the food for it's spawn. I'm a Steelheader and I'm a Fenwick Man! If I'm fishing glass, you bet it's gonna be a Fenwick!
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flyboy912 |
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Master Guide
Posts: 312 (05/20/09 20:53:08) |
What do you call the "upper rivers"? I wonder what the transition from chrome/to dark is keyed to? Maybe it is distance from salt as a percentage of
its programed journey? Glenn
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- Welcome, Messages, Claves, News, and FAQs
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- Rod Building & Tackle Tinkering
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- Fiberglass Fly Rods For Sale
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