Fall Magic
It’s only August,
but already I hear people discussing plans for their fall fishing. There’s something fresh and exciting, almost magical,
about the start of a new season that I suspect motivates this behavior.
Prospects of cooler weather, fewer biting insects, and brightly colored foliage are certainly appealing.
The sights, sounds and smells of fall are somehow different. We often hear people say “Today feels like fall”.
Fall does feel different. The wild taste of an apple from a fishing trail can add to our fishing experience. The coming hunting
season adds a whole new dimension to fall as we spot upland birds and look for deer sign in our travels. Some even combine
bird hunting and fishing – they call it “Cast & Blast”. Autumn in Nova Scotia is a wonderful time to
be outside, and fishing is a great reason to be there.
But the main reason for folks to get excited about fall fishing is the Atlantic salmon. It’s our salmon
that attract visitors from all over, benefiting rural communities such as Inverness County to the tune of $2.5 million annually.
Our salmon is truly “the King of Sportfish” and we are so very fortunate to have them in our rivers.
Another fine sportfish is the saltwater striped
bass. Nova Scotia has a great opportunity to develop another major fall fishery as our striper population rebounds.
Winter can seem a lot shorter if we store up as
many fall memories as possible, and photos can help us relive those memories and share them with others. Winter’s a
great time to edit and frame photos, to create art from them, or to carve a replica of that really big fish that was released
alive. Then, as winter continues to slip away, it’s time to tie flies and prepare for the fishing seasons to come.
Here’s a popular fall salmon fly tied by
Nova Scotia’s Damian Welsh.
Cardinelle
Thread:
Fluorescent red
Hook:
Daiichi 2271,
Size 2
Tail:
None
Body:
None
Wing:
8 strands of black Krystal Flash
Hackle:
Fluorescent pink marabou, followed by yellow marabou
Head:
Fluorescent red
Please send comments and suggestions to slim@rivermagic.ca
Please stay on the line
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