Just Ask the Crow

Here’s a letter we received last week.

Dear Slim,

Recently the Department of Fisheries and Oceans forwarded the St. Mary's River Association a copy of a resolution from the Nova Scotia Assembly of Mi'kmaq Chiefs which states "that there would be no recreational salmon fishery or any Mi'kmaq food fishery on any river in Nova Scotia not meeting spawning requirements." This includes the St. Mary's.

There are a number of astute observers of the St. Mary's River who believe that the salmon population is not as dismal as the DFO numbers would suggest. There are many who feel that DFO'S methodology in securing estimates is badly flawed and thus the information provided to the Chiefs is not reliable.

Closing the hook and release salmon fishery is totally counterproductive as a conservation measure. We contend that to close the river to fishing is to guarantee an open season for poachers. DFO or the Department of Natural Resources do not have the human resources to patrol and protect the river. In their absence anglers fill an important void on the 'protection' side. There are countless other sound reasons to have a hook and release fishery.

In 1856 the celebrated naturalist and philosopher Henry David Thoreau wrote in his Journal: "This bird [ the crow] sees the white man come and the Indian withdraw, but it withdraws not. Its untamed voice is still heard above the tinkling of the forge..... It remains to remind us of aboriginal nature.

Fast forward to the week of March 15, 2010 and the words of Bill Taylor, President of the Atlantic Salmon Federation: "First Nations and anglers want the same thing … a healthy resource”. That’s another way of saying “aboriginal nature." I am certain that is what the Mi'kmaq chiefs want for their people and indeed all people. And if you really want to find out 'who is in the know', just ask the crow!!

John F. Cameron Sr.

Founding President,  St. Mary's River Association.

Sherbrooke, NS

Winners of the RiverMagic 2010 Fly Tying Championship are:

Macdonald, Bob, NS           1^st                    St. Croix Imperial Fly Rod

MacNeil, David, NS             2^nd                   Okuma SLV Fly Reel

Lutes, Lloyd, NB                   3^rd                    Rio Windcutter II Fly Line

Clory, Nick, PEI                    4^th                    Fly Box with 12 coyote salmon flies

Campbell, John, NB             5^th                    Redington Fishing Vest

Bob MacDonald’s winning fly is a stunning interpretation of Poul Jorgensen’s Blue Rat. Bob’s highly acclaimed work has put his home town of Mulgrave on the world’s fly tying atlas in the last few years.

The Blue Rat

Thread:                       UTC G.S.P. 50 Denier red thread

Hook:                          Gamakatsu T10-6H or Daiichi 2161, size 4 – 2/0

Tag:                            Oval silver tinsel

Tail:                             Peacock sword

Rib:                             Oval silver tinsel

Body:                          Rear half: Blue silk floss, veiled on top with blue silk floss extending to the middle or end of the tail

Front half: Peacock herl

Wing:                          Grey fox guard hair (grey fox hair is black with a white or cream band in the centre. Guard hair from the back or side of a coyote is a great substitute, readily available in our neck of the woods).                 

Hackle:                       Grizzly hen hackle tied collar style

Sides:                        Jungle cock (optional)

Head:                         Red thread finished with 2 coats Angler’s Corner Clear Wet Head Cement

Please stay on the line …