The Good Ole’ Days

Some of us old-timers recall the structure pictured in July, 1992 and some of the happy faces peering out. We recognize two of the four anglers, Ray Buckland (right), and fishing buddy Hud Hayne (second from left). They, along with Wilson MacLeod (missing from photo), led the project to provide comfort to anglers fishing salmon in the West River runs between Harrison’s and Silver’s Pools on Nova Scotia’s St. Mary’s River.
 

From its humble beginnings as a picnic table, the structure was given a roof for shade, a rod rack, painted pure white, and finally also became a work of art, a fine tribute to the good life and fun we enjoyed on our favourite salmon stream.

Below these runs is Silver’s Pool, the confluence of the East and West branches of the St. Mary’s River, believed to be occupied by salmon at all times of the year. Below Silver’s is a glassy stretch of the finest dry fly water imaginable, known simply as “The Wire”, named for a line that brought power or telephone service across the river. One season we were entertained by a bald eagle family nested high in a big pine over this pool, even as the young eagles learned and practised flying. Just above Silver’s bridge, on the East Branch, is a small run beside a little island that often provided great salmon fishing. It was also the site of several fantastic underwater salmon photos captured by Dutch artist Gilbert van Ryckevorsel and home to a large snapping turtle that he also photographed.

I spent many a great day fishing the Silver’s area of the St. Mary’s River, nearly always finding fish, adventure, nature’s wonders, and the company of old friends or new acquaintances. My very first salmon was caught in Silver’s Pool in 1974 on an orange-hackled Cosseboom that I had tied, one of my many priceless memories from the St. Mary’s River.

Will these times ever return? Such miracles have occurred elsewhere. They all start with hope, determination, and a willingness to work together. Attitude, in other words. Other necessary evils like science and money are all around us, but we’re really short on attitude.

That’s why you should attend this year’s Zone Management Advisory Committee meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, May 26th, 2010, 10:30 AM, at the St. Mary's River Association Education and Interpretive Centre, 8404 Hwy 7, Sherbrooke, NS. At this meeting the 2010 Atlantic salmon angling season for the St. Mary’s River will be discussed, along with DFO’s science presentation, management considerations, and resolutions from the public. It’s your chance to question or let DFO know what you think. You may start another miracle!

We are still hopeful that we’ll have a salmon angling season this year, and Sherbrooke fly master Michael Bingley has been busy tying his ultrafine Bombers, Buck Bugs, and other salmon flies. Here are a couple of Mike’s dry flies that have that special salmon appeal:

Bingley’s Bombers

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

Hook:                          Partridge CS42 Bomber Hook, size 4 or 6

Tail:                             White calftail

Body:                          Natural grey or tan deer body hair, spun and clipped

Hackle:                       Brown or grizzly cock saddle hackle over clipped body

Head:                         Black thread finished with glossy head cement

Please stay on the line …