The Atlantic salmon is so much fun to watch jumping clear of the water. And of course fly fishing for the Atlantic salmon can be an adventure of a life time. I have been enjoying our New Brunswick rivers for about 3 decades now and I haven’t even scratched the surface of all the available salmon waters here.

This Video Shows Atlantic Salmon Jumping Up Rapids

One of the most famous Atlantic salmon rivers in New Brunswick is the Restigouche river. My wife Jenny is from Campbellton New Brunswick, right on the Restigouche river so when we would visit her parents I would usually drop Jenny off at the house and I would head up to Tide Head until it was completely dark, fishing trout and Atlantic salmon.

Atlantic Salmon Fishing The Restigouche River, New Brunswick

My first experience with salmon fishing on the Restigouche was at Tide Head New Brunswick, back 30 years ago. I was actually fishing brook trout at the brook the flows into the main river. It’s so much fun with light line and a tiny trout flies.

It was actually dark but of course I had to make just one more cast and that’s when I hooked into my first Restigouche salmon, I think. Well, like I said it was dark and I either hooked into the biggest trout I’ve ever had on the end of a line or it was a big ole Atlantic salmon. I guess by the way I’m writing this you can already tell I didn’t get to see it, but I did get to hear it clear the water a few times and smack down on the surface.

It sure sounded and felt big but we will never know but at that moment it didn’t really matter because I would have released it. I love allowing the bigger fish to return to breed more bigger fish. I was still shaking from the excitement once I returned to Jenny’s parents home for a late evening dinner of lobster.

Jenny’s dad, Arnold Jardine or Saddie as most knew him, had a big ole salmon ready for the next day’s dinner though. I miss going up to Campbellton since Dot and Saddie passed on.

Before closing here is a video from the Fishin’ Musician and TourismNB, enjoy.

I live in New Brunswick Canada where I love fly fishing for the powerful Atlantic salmon. I am sure anyone here older than 10 years would have heard about Atlantic salmon, perhaps not by their scientific name, Salmo Salar, as I was in my 30s and already fly fishing for Atlantic salmon before I heard that term.

Personally I can’t get enough of the fight the Atlantic salmon puts up and they taste so good on the BBQ and Atlantic salmon sandwiches are great. But I also like to just sit on the river bank with a nice hot mug of coffee and just watch these leapers jumping out of the water.

I have also camped right next to salmon pools and find that they tend jump even more during the night. It’s kind of frustrating when you are actually in the water and they are jumping every where except on the end of your line.

Black Salmon

The salmon we catch in the rivers in the early spring, those that have been in the river all winter are known as black salmon because they get so much darker the longer they stay in the river. They start as bright silver from the ocean and then slowly take on the colours of the river and it’s bottom.

The Atlantic salmon can be found in the north and south about as far south as Maine, USA, only returning to the river that spawned them so they can spawn in the same place. Because the spawn takes place in their home rivers salmon are born into fresh water where they stay until for a while and then move out to the ocean for 2 or 3 years before returning to that same river to spawn, although they may not actually spawn on their first trip home.

Today, due to fishing pressure by commercial fishers, you will find a lot of Atlantic salmon being farmed instead of taken from the wild.

We are not allowed to keep adult salmon here in New Brunswick but we can keep a few grilse for dinners with the family.  Grilse are Atlantic salmon smaller than 24 3/4 inches.

I prefer to BBQ my salmon steaks but I also enjoy stuffing the entire salmon grilse with onions, tomatoes, salt and pepper. That’s how my wife’s parents enjoyed it as well.

Check out more Atlantic salmon facts.

The Coleman Sundome Tent (10-Feet x 10-Feet)

I am sure you have heard of Coleman. For most of us their name just says camping and fishing.

I have enjoyed camping with my family for more than 50 years now. We have so many great memories of camping and they almost always include Coleman products.

I must admit that I enjoy camping a whole lot more when there is fishing involved. When my son and I get the opportunity to pick up our fishing rods and head out camping for a weekend to catch a few Atlantic salmon and some brook trout. Mmmmm

We’ve had a few tents over the years but the first few we bought didn’t last very long with a kid and a dog but once we bought a Coleman tent that was it, we didn’t need anything else as they are very durable.

Check them out the Coleman Sundome Tent (10-Feet x 10-Feet) as it speaks for it’s self in my books.

Specifications

• Center height: 72 inches
• Fly: Polyester taffeta 75 denier
• Mesh: 68-denier polyester
• Floor: 1,000-denier floor, 140 g/m2
• Flysheet and inner tent coating: 450mm polyurethane
• Base dimensions: 10 by 10 feet
• Poles: 11mm fiberglass
• Country of origin: Made in China
• Warranty: Limited 1 year

I take a few trips into some back country for Brook Trout and Atlantic salmon fishing here in New Brunswick and usually take my float tube with me.

I can only drive so far and the rest of the fishing trip is on foot so I have to pack light and that means I can’t bring the bigger Coleman tent so it’s my backpack Coleman tent. It only has to be big enough to get out of the weather for the nights

My wife and I won a Coleman cooler that came with a smaller cooler inside, just big enough to take on a backpacking fishing trip and is the perfect size for the canoe trips.

I have tried sleeping under the stars without a tent and it’s just not for me, especially when the skies open up and there’s thunder and lightening. I really do prefer a Coleman between me and the elements.

Coleman Product Features

• Spacious 5-person tent with 10-foot-by-10-foot base
• Exclusive WeatherTec system is guaranteed to keep you dry
• Adjustable Variflo ventilation and vented Cool-Air port for comfort
• 2 shock-corded steel poles, continuous pole sleeves, and InstaClip attachments
• Center height of 72 inches; rainfly covers doors and windows

Coleman has many other products that make our camping and fishing excursions more comfortable and enjoyable.

Most fisherman and fish lovers recognize the name Atlantic Salmon. What you may not know is the scientific name for this fish is Salmo Salar. The Atlantic Salmon is known under several names including Black Salmon and Sebago Salmon. This fish can be found in a variety of areas including part of Portugal to the Arctic Circle, in the Northern Atlantic waters between Iceland and Greenland and even from Quebec to the Connecticut River. Known primarily as a freshwater fish, it is not at all irregular to find these salmon migrating from saltwater bodies to freshwater for the purpose of spawning. While Atlantic Salmon typically spawn many times during their lives, once they are spawned out, they die.

If you have mistaken a brown trout for a salmon, you are not alone. Given that they both take on a deep bronze color, it may be difficult to distinguish them until you realize that the brown trout tend to take on red spots through the length of their bodies while the Atlantic Salmon primarily have these spots only around their heads. In saltwater, an Atlantic Salmon will appear to be silver and have black spots in the shape of an X on their backs.

Anglers have a variety of bait options for catching Atlantic Salmon, but one thing must not be overlooked – these sturdy fighters will require a stout line and a good solid knot if you wish to keep your line. A variety of baits are suitable for landing Atlantic Salmon, and while lures, flies and plugs will get good results, you may find that that you have better success with live baits such as egg sacks, crustaceans and worms. Prawns work well for Atlantic Salmon – one reason these live baits are often more effective is the Black Salmon will be naturally attracted to the movement of these live baits.

When casting in saltwater or freshwater for Atlantic Salmon, remember that each type of catch requires completely different equipment. While the freshwater can use a lighter weight tackle, if you are casting in saltwater you will need a far heavier tackle and equipment. Don’t forget that because salmon do die after they have their final spawn, it is usually wise to catch them before they spawn, as they are entering the freshwaters.

Recreational anglers love the Atlantic Salmon for their fight. They are fun fish for catching. Restaurants value the salmon because of the variety of meals that can be created from the meat. Today, you will find that recreation and farms are the two primary uses of Atlantic salmon. Farming has become a necessity as the demand for Atlantic Salmon has grown. Most restaurants are not serving fresh salmon; they are most often serving the farm-raised salmon. In addition to farming, Atlantic salmon are under catch and release rules to help preserve these fish for angler enjoyment in years to come.

When you are getting prepared for a saltwater fishing adventure, having the proper equipment is essential. Some of the most popular products on the market include okuma reel and van staal reels.

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• Getting That First Time New Brunswick Atlantic Salmon Feeling (thejoyofflyfishing.com)

I love fishing but definitely have a passion for the Atlantic salmon here in New Brunswick Canada. The Miramichi River is one of the best fly fishing rivers for Atlantic salmon, hands down.

Fly Fishing the Miramichi River New Brunswick

Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures in Sillikers, New Brunswick is just one of the many places you can get skilled Atlantic salmon fly fishing guides. I will put up a few more videos from different outfitters in the future.

Hope you enjoyed this video and are now thinking about your next fly fishing adventure to New Brunswick.

I like hearing stories from those who hooked into their first Atlantic salmon that they managed to land and photograph. Well even if they didn’t get to photograph it, like my first salmon, but that’s another story.

A guy who has become a good friend, Jamie, who has also taken me on so many fishing trips got to go on a salmon fishing trip and got his first salmon.

Take a minute or two and read Jamie’s Atlantic salmon fly fishing experience. I always love the excitement when someone is sharing.

For most amateur fishermen or women one of the toughest parts about salmon fishing is being able to obviously identify which particular type of salmon that they have caught. Since fishing regulations are based on species it is highly critical that you can tell each from the other to prevent being in violation of the license and probably facing fines or more serious outcomes. Learning about salmon fishing and assorted species isn’t too troublesome, and the general outlines provided below should be all that is needed to spot the salmon species.

The following tips about salmon fishing species identification will apply only to grown up salmon and may not apply to juveniles and smelts.

Chinook - it’s important to recollect when talking about salmon fishing that many species go by different names. The Chinook is also known as the King and blackmouth. It’s the largest of the Pacific salmon, and is simply identified by the distinct black coloration to the lower gums. They’re olive or brown in coloration on the back with darker black coloration on the sides. They have many small, dark spots on the back.

Coho - AKA Silver salmon, are smaller than the Chinook or King salmon. They’ve a bluish green color to the skin on the head and back. Depending on the time of year the sides of the Coho might be wine colored or even a very brilliant red. The cover of the gills will be extraordinarily reddish across the year.

Chum - one of the less common salmon it is important to understand about salmon fishing this species to achieve success. They will generally not move far inland and will stay close to salt water. Buddy is the second largest of the Pacific salmon species and are simply distinguished by their red to purplish blue color and horizontal bars. They also have a particularly distinctive and pronounced set of teeth.

Sockeye - this salmon is terribly red in color and may occasionally be mistaken for the Coho because of the coloration. Sockeye spend up to 2 years in a fresh water lake before moving out the sea, and are unique in this aspect. They have no distinct spots and the female is less brilliantly colored than the male. Male Sockeyes have a noticeable hump on their back just before the dorsal fin.

Kokanee - this is the actually land locked salmon, living its complete live cycle in a fresh water lake, never venturing to the salt water. In physical description they are almost identical the Sockeye, being red in color and males having the dorsal hump.

When learning about salmon fishing and fish identification it is a brilliant idea to bring a salmon identification book and don’t forget to practice conservation and return fish to the water whenever limits are reached.

For more information about food and useful cooking tips, check out cooking101.org and also have a look at canning smoked salmon.