Welcome back to our weekly river and fishing reports . Time passes so quickly, it seems like just yesterday i was writing the last report for the 2018 season. Maybe it has something to do with getting older, that’s what they tell me, lol.
The excitement of the first morning of the season!
I have no idea of what the rest of the season will bring but we have sure started with plenty of water! All our rivers are running high and stained. Winter was long with more snow than I can remember and the spring has been cool with no major heat to speak of. Our snow is melting slowly in the hills and maintaining our water levels above normal for this time of the season.
Camp Bonaventure regular Fiona Gilfillan hooks the first one of the new season, Congratulations Fiona !
The Bonaventure is flowing at 80 cubic meters per second, normal for this time of the year is 40 to 50 range. The Petite Cascapedia only opens on June 15th but is flowing at 75 cubic meters per second, normal is 40. The Grand Cascapedia is at 150 where it should be in the 50 range. The Grand was in the 300 on June 4th, its falling quickly.
Camp Bonaventure guide Robert Benwell with a nice salmon landed by angler Marcel Caissie, nice one Marcel.
Enough about the weather and water flow, we’ll soon be praying for rain. The first week is always a exciting, everyone is looking for that first big fish of the season. This time of year we are fishing our high water pools from top to bottom, you just never know where a fresh salmon will be holding. This was true for Fiona Gilfillan from Ottawa who hooked into a nice fish on the lower end of Grassy pool on the Bonaventure, Unfortunately after five minutes on the line and a couple of big head shakes it was gone. She redeemed herself the next day with a nice 12 pounder at Kelly pool.
Francisco Citelli from Italy with Camp Bonaventure master guide Jean Marc Poirier, congratulations Francisco, nice start to the season!
The high tides of June began on Friday and will continue through next week, this brought in some nice first run salmon.
Orazio Gatti plays a nice salmon on the Bonaventure .
And the fight went well, congratulations Orazio!
Fly’s of choice have been the Nagli, Silver Rat, Stone Ghost and the Picasse in Sizes 2 and 4. Spey fly’s also work well at this tim of the season in sizes 1.5, 3 and 5. The Green Spey, Picasse and Jones Special are always good choices.. Sorry nothing to report on dry’s yet, water’s still too high and cold.
Looking good Nick!
We are pleased to introduce Nick Castilloux to our guide team at Camp Bonaventure. Nick is our new apprentice guide and will be out with the boys this year learning the art of guiding for Atlantic Salmon, welcome aboard Nick!
Until next week,
Tight Lines,
Glenn
