River Report

Camp Bonaventure Fishing & River Report September 16th to September 22nd, 2019

It’s very hard for me to believe that mid-September has already arrived. Our favorite season – the Atlantic Salmon Fishing Season that is – is quickly coming to an end. There are less than 10 fishing days left and I can only imagine what they will have in store for us. This season has been truly amazing! Our three rivers continue to deliver consistently and I believe it’s safe to say that our wonderful guests from this week are heading back home with amazing memories and new fishing stories. 

Mike Haskell landed this beauty on the Bonaventure River! Congrats Mike! Hope to see you again next year!

Mike Haskell landed this beauty on the Bonaventure River! Congrats Mike! Hope to see you again next year!

Just when we thought summer was a thing of the past and fall was upon us, Mother Nature threw us for a loop. For the most part of this week the weather was cool and refreshing. Sweater weather was in the air and the fall colours were beginning to show face as the leaves on the trees began to turn yellow, orange and red. As the weekend got closer, the weather got warmer. Our days were back into the 20 plus degree range and the sun was once again warming up our afternoons and rivers. 

We welcomed Jamie Childs for the first time as our guest at Camp Bonaventure this week! Here he is with a beauty landed on the Bonaventure River! Nicely done Jamie!

We welcomed Jamie Childs for the first time as our guest at Camp Bonaventure this week! Here he is with a beauty landed on the Bonaventure River! Nicely done Jamie!

The Bonaventure River has been sitting pretty all week in the 10 to 11 cubic meters per second range. These are very normal levels for the Bonaventure River during the month of September. We are expected to receive some rain this upcoming week so hopefully the weather man’s predictions hold up. 

Our dear friend Fred Benere landed this great salmon on the Grand Cascapedia! Nicely done Fred! See you again next year!

Our dear friend Fred Benere landed this great salmon on the Grand Cascapedia! Nicely done Fred! See you again next year!

The water levels of the Grand Cascapedia have been slowly decreasing as the week progressed. We started off at 28 cubic meters per second and found ourselves at 17 cubic meters per second at the end of the week. These are very comfortable levels for the Grand Cascapedia at this time of year. Our salmon are holding nicely in their pools and the river conditions (level and temperature) are keeping them happy campers. 

Gardi Willis was our guest this week at Camp Bonaventure for the first time and I do believe the rivers treated him very well! Here he is with his wonderful salmon landed on the Bonaventure River!

Gardi Willis was our guest this week at Camp Bonaventure for the first time and I do believe the rivers treated him very well! Here he is with his wonderful salmon landed on the Bonaventure River!

The Petite Cascapedia remained at 9 cubic meters per second this week. This is exactly along the lines of what we expect from the Petite Cascapedia during this time of year as opposed to last week’s fluctuations. 

Our first time Camp Bonaventure guest Dave Edwards landed this fresh beauty on the Bonaventure River! Congrats Dave!

Our first time Camp Bonaventure guest Dave Edwards landed this fresh beauty on the Bonaventure River! Congrats Dave!

The flies that caught the attention of the salmon this week were the Red Francis, Alley Shrimp, Silver Rat and John Olin. The sizes that were used varied according to the river fished and its levels but since the Grand, Petite and Boni are all lower at the moment No. 6, 8 and 10 were mostly used. The dry fly action has seemed to come to an end like our warmer weather but it never hurts to try a dry fly in the middle of the afternoon when the river temperatures increase. 

Dan Davala our Orvis Travel Rep. is a great friend and has been coming to Camp Bonaventure for many years! Here he is with a beauty landed on the Bonaventure River! Nicely done Dan!

Dan Davala our Orvis Travel Rep. is a great friend and has been coming to Camp Bonaventure for many years! Here he is with a beauty landed on the Bonaventure River! Nicely done Dan!

 All the best, 

Tight Lines, 

Julia