On average, an adult Atlantic Salmon will weigh 2-10kg and measure 50-100cm in length, but some have grown to remarkable size. A record 38kg fish was netted in Ireland in 1882, while a fish weighing 36kg was taken in Norway in 1928.

Salmo salar
Coloring: brown, green or blue on top; silvery on sides, and silvery white below.
Common Names: Kennebec salmon, sebago, sebago salmon, grilse, kelt
Found in Lakes: Bras D'Or, Margaree, St.Mary's River

The Atlantic salmon has been honored throughout history. The Gauls and Romans prized its many qualities, and Britain's Magna Charta even granted it rights of protection.

Despite its venerable past, this valuable sport and commercial fish has been overfished, and its breeding lakes polluted. From 8,000 eggs the female salmon lays-4,500 survive alevin stage while 650 survive fry stage of development, 200 to parr, 50 to smolts and 2 spawning adults are the result. Besides humans, the ocean predators of the salmon are cormorants, seals, lamprey's, sharks, cod, osprey's, tern's, gull's and eels. Fresh water predators include Kingfisher's, Merganser's Heron's and Otter's.

Though most Atlantic salmon spawn in fresh water and then spend some of their life in the ocean, they return to the streams of their birth to spawn. It is during this trek to their home pools when the salmon are vulnerable.

Though Atlantic salmon may spawn two or three times during their lives, self-propagating stocks have not yet developed. But fisheries scientists still hope that some experimental strain of Atlantic salmon will be found that has the genetic makeup to survive and reproduce in order to increase in numbers and the odds of their survival in the streams and oceans.

As a result of declining stocks and international conservation methods, the reported world catch of Atlantic salmon ( recreational and commercial combined ) declined from 1980 to 1994 by more than half. Anglers still successfully cast for salmon in the waters of Canada, England, Wales, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, the U.S. and Russia.

Enjoy the fishing and you are encouraged to practice catch and release in order to perpetuate the stock of Margaree salmon so a future generation can enjoy the lure of the river and the rush of landing the king of sports fish- the Atlantic Salmon.

The salmon season on the Margaree begins June 1 and continues until October 31. Many fishermen enjoy the peace and tranquility of the fall fishing season in comparison to the spring run. They say the salmon are better fed in the fall with more solid underbelly and pinker flesh. However, this is left to each individual angler since they have developed their own theories and spots to fish over the years of being on the Margaree.

Another wet fly that has been used in the Margaree River since 1923 since its inception is the Cooseboom. Every angler has landed a beautiful catch at least once in their lifetime using this fly which makes it one of choice on the Margaree,s and essential in your fly collection. Several experienced fly-tyers in Margaree can produce beautiful flies for your needs and arrangements can be made to view them at work or go to their shop at the front deck at The Margaree Lodge.Photographed below is the Cooseboom with some interesting data concerning its use.

This fly was first used on the Margaree River in 1923 and is one of the most famous American salmon fly patterns. Head: Black Tag: Embossed silver tinsel Tail: Olive-green silk floss, cut off short Body: Olive-green silk floss, moderately dressed Ribbing: Embossed silver tinsel Wing: A small bunch of Grey Squirrel tail hairs extending to the end of the tail Hackle: A lemon - yellow hackle tied in as a collar after the wing is applied and slanted backward to merge with the top of the wing. Cheeks: Jungle Cock (optional)

The Blue Charm is a wet fly that has been used on the Margaree with success by many anglers. It is a relatively simple British classic pattern which can be used everywhere and is highly favored in anglers fly boxes. The low water version is dressed very sparsely and simple on long shanked, light wire hooks. Head: Black Tag: Two or three turn of fine golden wire Tip: Gloden yellow floos.(left out on low-water pattern) Tail: A Golden Pheasant crest feather Butt: Black Ostrich herl (left out on low-water pattern) Body: Black silk floos, quite slim Ribbing: Oval silver tinsel or fine silver wire Throat: A deep blue hackle, wound on as a collar and pulled down before the wing is applied (the hackle should be very short and sparse in the low-water version). Wing: Strips of mottled brown Turkey or brown Mallard, veiled with an over wing of narrow strips of Teal along the upper edge (the Turkey wing is set upright). Topping: A Golden Pheasant Crest feather.

RUSTY RAT: This fly was originated by Dr. Orrin Summers and many anglers consider it to be the best of the series. The tag is oval gold tinsel with a tail of three or four Peacock Sword fibers tied short. The wing is constructed of guard hair from a silver grey fox, hence the name the rusty rat.

The Oriole is usually considered the most important of the Gruber originals and is used extensively not only on its native Miramichi River, but on many rivers such as the Margaree. (Also called "Gruber's Oriole") Head; Black Tail; A few fibers from a red body feather of Golden Pheasant Body; Black nylon wool, cigar shaped Ribbing; Fine oval silve tinsel, with two turns taken under the tail as a tag Throat; A brown hackle, two or three turns of which are wound on as a collar and pulled down before the wing is applied. The fibers extends two-thirds of the way to the point of the hook. Wing; Underwing: Several fibers of the brown-red body feather of a Golden Pheasant Overwing: In four sections, two on each side, of Grey Mallard dyed green drake color. The wing is applied low, to hug the body.

Of the over 40 pools which comprise the Margaree River a variety of flies either large hooked ones for high water or smaller ones for low water may be used. Basically we have given some information on some of the most common flies used but there is such a variety of them that it is practically impossible to say that a fly performs best in the Cranton Bridge Pool exclusively or the Little McDaniel Pool or Hart's Pool.

Bugs of various colors and are classified as dry flies can be used in any of the 40 pools which comprise the Margaree River System. They range from the Green Machine to the Black Bug.

Muddlers may be used and they come in a variety of heads and wings. The most distinguishing mark of these muddlers is the fact that their heads are shaved close as you can view in this photograph.

The Brown Bomber is a wet fly that has been used extensively in most of the pools in search of the Atlantic Salmon with a high degree of success.

Fishing Tackle
A one hand rod of 9 to 11 feet class 7 to 10 or a two hand rod of 13 to 14 feet class 9 to 11. Lines should be consistent to the class of rod. Types of lines vary from floating, sink - tip or intermediate, depending on the water level.

The reel should have a good brake and store 100 yards of backing line.

Please bring your waders with you on your fishing excursion. Happy fly fishing for the Atlantic Salmon on the mighty Margaree River this fall. May your flies be tight and the fishing great!