Atlantic Salmon Season: Our Top Flies (So Far!)
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With the Atlantic Salmon season approaching its midway point here in Newfoundland and Labrador, we figured there's no better time to talk about the flies that have treated us well this summer, and in summers past!
1 & 2. Blue Charm & White Wing Blue Charm
You'd be hard-pressed to find any Newfoundlander without a couple of Blue Charms in their fly case – it's easily one of the most popular flies across the province. The main difference between these two patterns is, of course, the wing color. You might also spot variations with different tip colors (like yellow, chartreuse/bright green, and red) or even some subtle krystal flash tied into the wing.
3. None of Your Business (NOYB)
I remember my Dad telling me a story from fishing the Gander River some 30-odd years ago. He'd just asked a feller who'd hooked a fish, "What fly were you using?" The response? "None of Your Business." My Dad, not overly versed in all the fly patterns at the time, just assumed someone was being a bit rude and went on with his day.
Fast forward to a couple of years ago, we were out fishing, and this time he asked me, "What fly are you using?" I responded, "None of Your Business." He looked absolutely gobsmacked, given that we’ve always shared our fly choices after a rise or strike. It was then that I clarified the name of the fly truly was "None of Your Business," and that's how he finally understood the misunderstanding from three decades prior.
Moral of the story: If someone says "None of Your Business" on the river, they're probably not being an arsehole!
4. Paddy Francis
A blue Paddy Francis might just be one of my personal favorites to fish. After a good couple of years away from the sport myself, it was the first fly pattern I hooked a fish on during my first full season back it. Because of that, it carries a lot of mental confidence for me personally! Honestly, I have no idea if a blue one actually works any better than any other colored Paddy, but it's almost always the first fly I tie on whenever I'm fishing. Paddys come in a ton of colors too, so you can work through different variations based on the river.
5. Green Machine
Almost everywhere I've fished this year, the question, "You got something green?" sounds like the default greeting when you first get to a river. Well, a Green Machine is usually my answer (though sometimes a green Paddy gets tossed on too!). There are a number of variations of Green Machines out there, but regardless of the specific tie, this fly seems to reliably produce province-wide.
6. Bombers
Bombers come in a ton of color variations, but their main difference from other flies is that they're designed to float right on the surface of the water. Just lather them up in some gink or mucilin to help them stay afloat. One of the absolute best experiences in salmon fishing is watching them rise up for a perfect dead drift!
Honourable Mentions
- Undertaker / Blundertaker
- Thunder and Lightning
- Silver Tips
- Black Bears
- Green Highlander
- Silver Doctor
- Dirty Bombers