Nova Scotia Fall Salmon
My favorite salmon season is just around the corner. The FALL SALMON SEASON is spectacular! It starts as early as September in some rivers and as late as the end of October in others. The salmon season ends October 31 for the whole province (the time I renew my prescription for prozac).
Not all rivers have fall runs and very few rivers have both a summer and a fall run. The most notable exception is the Margaree. The main portion of the fall run on the Margaree starts about the middle of September continues through the end of October There is reason to believe that some salmon arrive well into November in some rivers.
The timing of the runs depends predominantly on water levels. Certainly the first big rain towards the end of September or the first of October will bring in a run of salmon.
These fall salmon are different than the spring/summer run fish. Firstly they are darker in appearance (slightly coppery in color). They are predominantly larger salmon with fewer grilse. The fish have "shoulders". They have had the additional benefit of having fed in the ocean for the summer. The males have a more pronounced kype of the lower jaw. My experience indicates that the females enter the rivers first followed by the males.
Generally speaking, the fall salmon are not as acrobatic as their summer brethren. They are regarded by some as not providing the same fight as the summer salmon. I would say that this is partially true but I would add that they fight differently. They are bulldogs. Summer fish are the gymnastic team, the fall run are the weight lifters! They do not jump as often but they will give you a tug of war that you will surely not forget, sometimes sitting on the bottom and refusing to move. The fall fish usually take better given good water conditions. Your chances of getting a fish over twenty pounds are much greater in the fall.
 | The additional benefit in fall fish is the surroundings. There are no bugs, the leaves are turning and the mornings are crisp and fresh (alright, sometimes downright cold) and there are fewer fishermen (except the Margaree between September 1 and October 15). I love the fall in Nova Scotia. |
The flies used for fall fishing are quite different than those used in summer. Generally larger, brighter flies are used in the fall although traditional summer flies can work on occasion. Because the water temperature has dropped, it is rare to raise a fall salmon to a dry fly in most rivers but it has been done.
Some of my favourte fall flies are:
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- The Sneaky - Several Spey patterns - Long winged egrets - General Practioner (tied with a dubbed body) - Cardinelle - Mickey Finn - Salmon style Grey Ghosts - A no name smelt style fly with extremely long white bucktail |
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The reason that some salmon choose to wait until the fall to enter the rivers is unknown. Perhaps it is a genetic difference that mother nature has provided to protect the species should summer runs not get up river due to adverse weather conditions. Regardless, I am eternally grateful for this phenomenon. Some of my favorite fishing awaits. In the meantime, I am off to the river.