Atlantic Salmon and Brook Trout Fly Fishing Trips on South
West River and Bottom Brook, Newfoundland, Canada
Atlantic salmon and brook trout fly fishing vacations on South West Brook
Fishing remote sections of SW Brook is a wanderers paradise. South West Brook, June, 2007
can be readily had as this turbulent wading stream is located 30 minutes
from the town of Corner Brook and 35 minutes from the lodge in Steady Brook
(see map). Access is via the Trans-Canada
Highway and the remote route 340 (Burgeo Highway). This turbulent stream tumbles
its way through a river valley with canyon like features in some stretches.
The mountainous terrain insures a fast run off on this somewhat steep pitched
river. Like the Serpentine and other rivers in steep terrain, following
a large rain fall this river will return to fishable levels faster than
other nearby larger and less steep rivers.
We use this to our advantage after a significant rain or
spate which has flooded our larger rivers.
After most of the snow
has melted off the hills of the headwaters (usually after June 15th),
the river typically rises and drops in 24 hours.
The river is fairly clear and the fish can be seen in many of the pools.
The river usually does not become
very dirty or turbid after a reasonable spate, but can become a little more brown or tannic
after a significant spate - but not to an unfishable degree. The river bottom varies
from bedrock covered in smooth river boulders to small stones to sand with
a number of small passable falls or ledges running over a limestone/dolomite/sandstone
or shale bed rock. This light colored bottom on many pools allows
viewing of the fish despite a very very slight stain in the water
from tannin. Under typical water levels of June, July, and August
the river can provide good but challenging wading for miles while an angler
moves from pool to pool or pocket lay to pocket lay in ankle to thigh deep
water and uses very short casts. However, in June and/or after a
heavy rain fall the river can quickly flood making wading very difficult
and one has to walk along shore on a trail or drive from one stretch of
river or set of pools to another. The river is approximately 30 km
or 20 miles long to a waterfalls that ends the legally fishable water and
is dotted with pools, eddies, and runs of virtually every type, speed,
and size. There are many large
deep pool where fish take cover, but watch out for the boulders while
playing fish! The water usually remains very cool until mid
July when it can get a little warm in mid afternoon (70+oF).The
headwaters rest atop 1000 foot hills but the outflow from the lakes is
rather shallow. The water is a little stained with tannin and dirties with
any amount of rain, but is generally very clear.
Virtually all the upper reaches in this stream can be crossed with waders
but a few can not and an angler must circle around them to cross.
The structure of some of the pools changes frequently as the river bottom
is pebbles stones and large boulders that the spring ice and floods can
shift. The pools on the very lower section are more stable but deeper
and will require you to move to a shallow area or mini rapids to cross.
Most of the pools are within a short walk down stream of each other but
some are as much as a 10 minute walk apart.
The Runs This river is estimated to have approximately 2000+ salmon in an
Fishing Rock Pool on the lower section of SW Brook
a small ledge like mini waterfalls is just below the angler and out of
frame. One can watch the salmon leap the falls and then settle in one of
the traditional lays. Nothing like knowing your fly is over a fresh running
salmon! Rock Pool South West Brook, Sept 2003 very low but cool water.
annual run. Most of these are grilse of 2.5 to 4 pounds. While generally
smaller than those found in most nearby rivers, the grilse of SW Brook
are built for speed and provide terrific and "nail biting" fights in this
turbulent boulder ridden river. The first run occurs in late May and very
early June and consists of both grilse and mature salmon of 8 to
15 pounds and a few rare
18 pound fish. There is a small run of sea run brook trout at this time
also. The main grilse run starts in late June and is usually slowing by
the end of July . A second run of sea run brook trout occurs in late July
and August.
The Fishing
This river is ideally suited to guests that need very little guidance
while scouting for lays and are good stable waders. In many stretches
the river could produce a take from a salmon laying beside virtually any
rock and guests generally "Goat Fish it" by casting short lines to boulders
and pockets with small wet flies for a few minutes and then on to the next
potential lay. Much of the river is fished like this, but some pools like
cliff pools, mine pools and the gorge area can produce excellent
dry fly or wet fly fishing
with dozens of salmon in a calm defined pool. The smooth round rocks and
a "rock garden" river bed can produce difficult wading if the water is
high and even the guides get wet on occasion - bring your wading staff
or pick up on eof the many beaver chew sticks along the shore. If
you like wandering a few miles of river and like casting short lines to
boulders and pocket lays; then this is the river for you. The daily tides
seems to greatly affect daily run timing on this river and the outlet has
a few excellent tidal pools. During early morning and late evening anglers
often see a salmon running and jumping along as it works its way upstream
and can present a fly to the next upstream boulder or pocket lay. The fish
on this river generally come to a fly rather quickly during the time periods
we
Balancing on a smooth boulder, the angler casts
a dry fly to a pool perched on the top of a mini water falls or ledge during
very low water. Wandering is the order of the day and a wading staff. Rock Pool, South West Brook, September 2003.
fish it and we have had good success on this small river, but we only fish
the appropriate pools during ideal times. Typical guided catch rates average
about 1 or 2 grilse a day with larger 8 to 15 pound fish hooked in very
early June when grilse are rarer. We only rarely fish this stream for trout
and then usually it is combined with pursuing salmon. Favorite
pools include stretches of river including
rock pool, cliff pool, bridge pool, Alexanders run, Willy Wulffs pool,
seal pools, the gorge, and
mine pools. Most pools are only a few minutes walk apart and often the
angler can fish the pocket lays down stream to the next large pool. See
the map page for a list of pools and be sure to visit our SW Brook photo album page.
Favorite salmon flies for this river include: small black, bright green,
or silver bodies flies; and small dry flies. Trout anglers have had successes
with all manner of dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. Rod weights can vary
from 5 to 8 weight and leader sizes vary from 8 pound test in early season
to light 4 pound test clear leaders during late season.
Fish on at rock pool! Timing this pool on the tides helps!
This set of pools has produced at least one fish every time we have visited them in June save once in 10 years!
Our guides can provide these "secret" spots.
Heart thumping time!
Voila.
A Little Video of Fishing the Upper Waters of South West Brook
