Photos: The Atlantic Salmon of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula

Written by: Scott McEnaney, Eastern ELOG Director

All the salmon landed by the author took dry flies off the surface.
All photos courtesy Scott McEnaney

Occasionally I get to escape and head north rather than south. Since I live in Vermont, that is not usually the case, but in this case I was given a reprieve from heading to the “more populated” areas.

I went on a lodge visit to Tuckamore Lodge, on Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula. As is often the case, most of what I know about the area I discovered right before I headed up there. Newfoundland is not talked about as much as many other Atlantic salmon destinations, but is an area rich in fishing history as evidenced by the following facts:

1. An astonishing 68% of North America’s salmon rivers are in Newfoundland.
2. There are more than 200 rivers with wild runs of salmon.
3. Some of these rivers have annual runs up to 30,000 fish.

Tuckamore Lodge is located in the center of a vast region of exceptional natural beauty.

My guide, Junior, told me he has been fishing the river full-time for 19 years and that it had gotten better and better every year for the last few years. He spoke a lot of the conservation efforts as well as the importance of the “net buy-outs.”

While at Tuckamore, I fished the Salmon River, which is easily accessible by boat from the lodge. (I even saw my first caribou while on this short ride.).  Normally, there are a number of options of water to fish, but low water limited with our choices. That said, the Salmon River should hardly be thought of as a consolation prize. It is a beautiful, medium-size river that has some great holding pools right near the lodge. The river was teeming with fish, and every time I started to lose concentration to stare at the beautiful surroundings I would immediately be brought back to reality by a jumping salmon waking me up. While most of the fish a caught (all on dry flies!) were on the smaller side, I did see a number of larger fish.

Catching salmon on dry flies in low water was a great visual experience.

Barb Genge the owner and host at Tuckamore Lodge is very active in conservation and has been a longtime advocate for responsible use of natural resources.  She is a very neat lady. By the way, a  “Tuckamore” is a low tree beaten down by intense wind to the point where it never increases in size.  (Wow…makes me want to be there in January.)

Newfoundland is a beautiful place, and the four-hour drive from the airport in Deer Lake seemed to fly by because the scenery was endless.  Enjoy the pictures, and add Newfoundland to your list – you will be glad you did!

Scott McEnaney is Orvis’s Eastern ELOG (Endorsed Lodges, Guides, & Outfitters) Fishing Director.

The salmon weren’t large, but there were lots of them.

The salmon runs in the region have been getting better and better.

Great action on the dry fly!