This year, September 15 to October 15, marks an experimental season for the Atlantic Salmon. This is the event that so many avid Atlantic Salmon fishermen have been waiting for with readied gear since 1999 when Atlantic salmon fishing ended in Maine. To the more avid old timers, words like Black Bear, Belfast Killer and Cosseboom bring back memories of fly patterns of the heyday of Salmon fishing in rivers like the Narraguagus, Penobscot, Sheepscott, Pleasant, Machias and Denny’s. These and other rivers all the way to New York had healthy Atlantic Salmon runs at one time. This experimental season has very stringent special regulations and anyone getting the license should be sure and read them well. People, like me, who have never had the opportunity to fish for Atlantics in their home state, will want to grasp this opportunity as its future is tenuous at best.I am told by inland fisheries that the area to be fished will be well marked and the resident license is $15.00 and 3 day Licenses will be available as will non resident licenses. I am also reminded that there will be sufficient fishery personnel available to help with questions and be sure the special regulations are adhered to. Today a friend and I went to The Veazie Salmon Club high on the banks of the Penobscot River. The high position of this club gives it a sweeping view of the clubs Salmon Pools starting just below the dam on the West side of the river. There are two other Salmon clubs down river on the East side. The Eddington Salmon Club and the oldest of them all, The Bangor Salmon Club. Claude Z. Westfall notes in his article that 20,000 years ago Cro-Magnon man had etchings of Atlantic Salmon on the walls of their caves. He also mentions that Roman Legions around 1000 B.C. gave The Salmon the name “leaper”. The word Salmo is derived from the Latin “Salio”. Isaac Walton, in his 17th century writing “The Complete Angler” called the Atlantic salmon “The King of Fish”. What I found surprising was that Professor Westfall, a well known Atlantic Salmon fisherman, says that the Atlantic salmon’s closest relatives are the Brown Trout and Steelhead. In an article appearing in “Forest and Stream”, Volume XV, August 12, 1880, the Maine Salmon had yet to take a fly which was a problem and curiosity as Atlantic Salmon were being taken on the fly in other states. The first Salmon taken on a fly in Maine was taken by J.F. Leavitt and H. L. Leonard, on the Wassataquoik Stream. This stream empties into the East branch of the Penobscot. This would appear to be the beginning of a long and lasting love affair between fly fishermen and the Atlantic Salmon. Taking Atlantic Salmon on the fly definitely adds to the mystique of angling for the King of fish. In an article, Maine Sportsman, Volume 1, No. 12 May 28, 1894, Titled “A Unique Adventure, “ about legendary Penobscot River Angler, J. Henry Peavey. A Big fish leaped out of the water, striking him and knocking him over backwards. The Salmon, which weighed at least 25 lbs., fell into the boat, and then jumped out again. In the rumpus, Mr. Peavey broke his fine Salmon Rod! Atlantic Salmon cause great highs and great lows, either way it’s a pursuit of love of task.How important is this short season of catch and release, Cro- Magnon drew pictures and Mr. Peavey broke his rod, sounds like man has been stirred by this pursuit for some time.
Greg, thanks for the rich history of the “leaper”. I am pulling for you to land one in your home state. Those flies are brilliant, they must have taken a few hours at the vise. This year will be my introduction to salmo, hopefully I will have a run in like old Mr. Peavey. Awesome read
Great story Greg, VEry fiiting of the King’s return. Good luck this year as you are swinging for the king as I will make my pilgramages to the Champlain for the landlocked cousin of you fish. Very nice ties on the article as well, Is that a Floodtide up top? Superb!
Good luck.
Great read Greg. I’m holding out hope that you guys get into some Maine Kings. That would be a site to see for sure. Since the Penobscot hasn’t been fished in a while I think it is pretty much up in the air as to whether a number of fish will be caught or not. Can’t wait for the fish tales to come that detail your outings.
greg – excellent fish-tale … it is exciting .. especially considering the long history surround the atlantic salmon … a true survivor and certainly deserving of the name .. the “king of fish” … i hope to someday catch one … wouldn’t it be awesome to catch my first one in maine .. rather than having to travel to a foreign country … that would really be a dream come true … maybe you can help me out making that dream come true .. you certainly know much more than me about fly fishing for the king of fish .. and i am sure through your personal networks you might be able to get a good idea of where our best chances might be for hooking one …. would love to give it a shot. got a spey rod i could use? that is some big water. oh yah, got some flies i could borrow to? … i’ll buy the coffee and smokes.:)
I was wondering if there is anybody out there that is disappointed that they are having an experimental season on the penobscot this year? I honestly dont like the idea one bit. The river just started getting runs of a thousand+ fish and now that there is a reliable tricke of fish coming in, there is a now a season for atlantics. I think it sends the wrong message with respect to restoring and conserving the resource. This should have been done when the runs reached ten thousand ++ atlantics, which would be possible in not so long a time with the proper manangement of the runs and the dam removal projects along the penobscot. It seems that impatience got the best of policy on this one.
-Chrid
chris – i certainly do see your point and agree to some extent … i guess the only counter-point that could be made might be this … and it is somewhat ironic by nature ..
flyfishermen and all fishermen for that matter = license revenue for the state = money to go towards the conservation and protection of salmon and trout + flyfishermen fund through donataions and membership organizations like trout unlimited etc……
bottom line: i guess that in a strange kind of way, the only people who are REALLY going to care for the preservation of these fish are the same folks who are fishing for them … just like trout .. i think that one could argue that by bettering a fishery and making it accessible (of course with restrictions such as catch and release and 1 fish per day and flies only) … it might actually be the very thing that enhances the preservation efforts for years to come …
because of this years big buzz around the re-opening of the maine atlantic salmon waters … think of how many people are now at least AWARE of how special these fish are and what a delicate and valuable resource they are … these same people, and especially the youth of our world, are positively affected because now it is something they are aware of …..
so – take any young fly fisher in maine for example – if this years experimental season results in someone taking that kid to the penobscot to experience what “its all about” .. that kids very experience will further his/her understanding of the fishery and the fish .. and make it something they can relate to as opposed to just something their grandfathers did but certainly nothing they can consider their own or something they themselves can relate to…. and i highly doubt that in my lifetime there will be a run of “10 thousand ++ atlantics” but with careful attention to the future generations, my son might see those kind of returns … and, infact, if I have an opportunity to involve him in a way he can understand through actually fly fishing .. he will hopefull cary the torch of promoting preservation for not only the atlantic salmon but all species of trout/salmon that we will fish for … but, i think it is important, to not forget that the act of fishing is an important part of the equation … if everything is off limits and untouchable and forbidden for long periods of time .. well, it runs the risk of going extinct in peoples minds … and once that happens… extinction in the real sense of the word is almost innevitable. so, by keeping the atlantic salmon connected to the people in a way that most people can understand, might be the very thing that saves atlantic salmon……..
again though – this is just a counter-point … i see your point as being equally valid .. and like all good debates … there is no right or wrong answer … both sides have valid points … and every man is entitled to his own opinion … i think the key is, in everything, balance .. and meeting half way. but, often, that is a difficult task.
Thats true Jeremy. Attention to a resource by anglers can improve and protect a fishery. I think that the foundation of youyr counterpoint would be most effective though if there was more of a quality fishing opertunity. Right now, with the trickle of fish comin g in, fish of a thousand casts really comes to mind. How fast is that action gonna be? I dont think just becuase a child is atlantic salmon fishing he is automaticaly gonna be ingrained with all of the awe, mysticism and tradition of the great leaper. Children, for all their attributes and qualites are typically impatient creatures and need a faster action to remain interested then that of the slow, fishless days of no action that this season will probably provide. My counter to counter point is if this… If angler promotion and attention to a fishery is going to impove it, then a fishery that is productive will gain more benifit then one that is not. Sure, the allure of Atlantic Salmon fishing will draw crowds and excitement, but how long will that last if you go fishless day after day after day with little to no productivity. Now think of how much more effective the allure would be if there was Atlantic Slamon fishing and the action was good, with daily reports of multiple landings? Statistically, and logicaly, one has more of a chance of catching fish if there are more fish in a river. Your position would be much more effective and have a better efftect on the fishery in the long run if they had waited till there were stronger runs coming in.
Hope to bump into you again on the stream.
-Chris
I have been remiss in mentioning the water temp flags. There have been green and red flags used to indicate wether or not you can fish. The red flags were out the other day indicating the water was to warm and fishing was not allowed until the water cooled. The next day green flags were out indicating that fishing was again allowed as the water temp had dropped.