Salmon Season: The Fish of a Thousand Casts

WRITING ON THE FLY

By GEORGE LISET

    Fishing season is slowly coming to a close. Except for those few rivers that have special regulations, the season will end at the end of October. It is this time of year that many fly fishers head for the rivers and tributaries that flow into Lake Winnipesaukee hoping to catch a Landlocked Salmon.

    I have been driving around the Lake looking for any signs that the Salmon are heading upriver to spawn. A sure sign would be fly fishers lined up shoulder to shoulder along a stretch of river. For some reason when it comes to fishing for trout or other fish, this behavior is not acceptable. A fly fisher is usually accorded their space, for solitude and space are an important part of the sport. However, when it comes to Salmon, all bets are off and almost anything goes. It is a gentlemanly free for all.

    The last time I drove by a stretch of river that I fish, I saw a few gentlemen fishing. I pulled over and politely inquired as to how they were doing. They both replied they were not having any luck, but they did say that somebody said that somebody else heard that someone had caught a Salmon. That was good enough for me so I planned to get my gear together and head down the next day.

    Fly fishing for any fish is a challenge when they are spawning, especially for Landlocked Salmon, because they are not thinking about eating. Fly fishers surmise that if you can get them to bite it is because you are bothering them or because they are protecting their spot. Getting the Salmon to bite is almost an impossible task. That is why Salmon are referred to as a fish of a thousand casts.

    The next morning was clear and crisp. As I was scraping the frost off my windshield, a flock of about 50 Canadian geese flew overhead honking their way south. A clear sign of what was to come. The drive up to Winnipesaukee was beautiful. The fall colors hadn’t faded yet even with the previous day’s wind and hard rain. When I pulled into the river I knew my work would be cut out for me. There were quite a few cars and trucks with fly rod carriers mounted on them along with the standard fishing decals decorating them.

    I arrived mid-morning and planned to fish until early afternoon. A group of guys were finishing up and were heading out. They indicated that they caught a trout earlier and that the pool where they had luck was currently open. So, I headed over to give it a try. It was the same pool my son Reed had caught a monster Salmon a year ago. I tied on an orange Wooly Bugger and started working the pool.

    There is much debate as to which fly works the best for Landlocked Salmon. Most fishers would choose a Wooly Bugger in either orange or olive color with a small beadhead. I have seen people land them using a small smelt pattern or a beadhead nymph. I saw one person land one using a fly that looked like my grandmother’s feathered hat. There is no rhyme or reason, but today I went with the orange Wooly bugger.

      I worked the pool for about an hour for a couple of reasons. The first being that the Salmon would be on the move and staying in one spot is not unusual when fishing for Salmon. The second and most important reason was that the scenery was beautiful. I could feel my blood pressure falling with every cast.

     After I lost my fly to a log monster across the river, I decided it was time to move down river. Many of the fishermen I passed I recognized from previous years. Most were not having any luck. I ended up fishing at a pool that Reed had caught another nice Salmon in the past. Notice a theme here?

    I had tied on an olive Wooly Bugger with a lot of crystal flash. I thought that with the sun being out it might act as an attractor. I had been casting for a while taking in the scenery and wildlife. Another flock of geese flew overhead and an eagle had perched on the top of a tree across the river.

     Then all of a sudden my line went taut and the water exploded as a huge, no, giant Salmon broke the surface of the water and tail danced to try and dislodge my fly. I could hear Reed in the back of my mind reminding me to take my time and not bulldog the fish in. Five minutes later I landed a beauty. My blood pressure was down, but now it is up, but for a good reason. After a couple of pictures I released the giant Salmon to spawn another day. I decided to head back to the truck.

    There is a little time left to try my luck again, for I am sure that luck has a lot to do with fishing for Landlocked Salmon. Now, if I could only hit Powerball!

 George Liset of Dover is an award-winning outdoor writer and avid fly fisherman who shares insights of his time on the water exploring New Hampshire streams and rivers as well of those around New England. George is a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and the University of New Hampshire. His column Writing on the Fly has been honored by the New England Press Association and the New Hampshire Press Association.