Fishing Conditions - Rainfall

Starting May 1, 2009, website www.rivermagic.ca has logged daily rainfall stats for the St. Mary’s River watershed. Around 3 pm each afternoon it posts rainfall measurements from six locations in and around the watershed. These six locations are: Trafalgar, Stillwater, Eden Lake, Beech Hill, Lundy, and Giant’s Lake. Measurements shown for a given date are for the 24-hour period ending at noon on that date. As I write this on May 10 2009, some of the site measurements are still not available, but they will be shortly, perhaps by the time you read this.

This free service is particularly useful to anglers concerned with fishing conditions on the St. Mary’s. Let’s say, for example, you check rainfall stats on Tuesday PM after a good rain on Monday night. Rainfall measurements for Trafalgar and Eden Lake are 45 mm and 25 mm respectively. This tells you that there was enough rain for fish to enter or ascend the river and that the West Branch of the St. Mary’s will rise more than the East Branch from that rainfall. It also tells you that you should take time from work to go fishing Thursday and Friday, then go home Friday night to take the family to the beach on Saturday & Sunday. Without these rainfall stats you might have arrived at the St. Mary’s on Saturday with the rest of the weekenders, missing the best of the fishing and getting yourself in trouble with the family for being away fishing on family time. So, this important service could easily result in better fishing and happier marriages.

Even if you live on or near the St. Mary’s these statistics can play an important role in helping you plan your time or advise friends regarding fishing conditions. Also, the Lundy, Giant’s Lake, and Beech Hill information can help determine conditions in eastern Guysborough and Antigonish Counties. These records will be retained for anyone wishing to use the data.

Fishing Conditions – Water Level at Stillwater Bridge

Environment Canada’s “real-time hydrometric data website” shows, in graphical form, water levels at various sites, including the St. Mary’s River at the Stillwater Bridge. The little building on the western downstream side of the bridge houses the recording and transmitting station.

The website describes its service as follows:

“The near real-time information presented on this website is received via satellite or land-line transmissions from hydrometric gauging stations owned by Environment Canada and its Partners. These data are normally posted (in graphical form) within four hours of observation.”

How to find these services

Go to Internet website www.rivermagic.ca , then  St. Mary’s River,  then Current Fishing Conditions. From there you can access both services.