e have received a number of requests for predictions on the upcoming 2004 season.

Head Guide Tom McWhirter and Sport Ron Doucet

Apparently our increasing white hair has lent us a look of sagacity (I stand by my statement that the hair is not white, merely deet-dyed blonde). So after having cut the chicken open and spent several minutes studying the entrails we have determined that 2004 should be as decent as last year.

We will see at least as many salmon as last year, but I believe that we will have a greater degree of variety of size classes. What I mean is, I suspect we will see a greater number of grilse as compared to last year and probably more salmon in the 20-30 lb class. I am basing the grilse prediction upon spawning numbers 4 and 5 years ago. The increase in 2+ MSW salmon is based upon the number of grilse two years ago, as well as a large number of 2 year MSW salmon last year. I am thinking that some of the grilse that were in 2 years ago will return as significantly larger fish (~12 lbs+) and I am hopeful that many of the fish that were in last year, including a decent grilse base, will return this year as well.

The great thing about the Little Cascapedia River is the variety of size classes coming in. While there are a large number of grilse in most years, there are also a good number of MSW salmon. Obviously as you go up in size the number of fish in the run decreases. Still this variety allows for a spreading of the resource that will lessen the impact of any one disaster (be it man-made or natural). Basically the old "all your eggs in one basket" theory applies in this situation.

ell, we've discussed fluorocarbon leader material in past articles, and as

Use the Nail Knot to attach the line to the leader

The Uni-knot has it’s advantages in that it can be backed out and re-used, Dentists should note that pliers are used instead of teeth when tightening the tag end

many will agree the key is in the knot and this is the case regardless of leader material type, but especially so when using fluorocarbon. Deciding on proper knots to link line with leader, leader with leader and fly to leader is as important as fly selection, or even more so. Any knot requires lubrication, whether it is tied under water or with a liberal dose of saliva,

Use the Blood Knot to attach leader to leader creating a tapered leader section, never go down in size more than 5 lbs at a time, use a minimum of 5 twists on each side

The Turtle Knot, used for wet flies, will not slide to the sides of the eye, giving perfect presentation as the fly swings through it's arc

in order to reduce friction as the knot tightens. With that in mind here are a few knot types that we suggest using with fluorocarbon leader. In many cases the same knots can be used with fluorocarbon as with the maxima except that more twists would be required). To attach the leader to the line a nail knot can be used. Blood knots can be used to create a tapered leader but with a minimum of 5 twists on each side. To attach the fly to the line two knots of note are suggested, the ever faithful turle knot or the uni-knot. The uni-knot has it’s advantages in that the knot can be backed out and used again to re-attach a new fly without losing any leader length.

If, like me, you are still going to use the old Maxima chameleon leader then I would use nail knots to attach the leader to the line; blood knots to create a tapered leader and a turle knot for wet flies or a clinch knot (as opposed to the improved clinch knot, and put 7 twists instead of 5) for dry flies. Many folks won’t taper and some never change their fly...so if that’s the case eyeball the knots every now and then to make sure their not damaged. Finally, for god’s sake make sure the backing is attached to the reel!

ly speed is as important an issue as anything. When your fishing a wet fly down through a pool,

Brûlè Head Guide Tom McWhirter

casting out at 45°degrees and letting the fly swing through it’s arc, check out how fast the fly is moving. I can’t remember the number of times I’ve seen a salmon start to move on a fly and then turn back, or even worse leave a big old, nasty boil on the surface, and no pull on the line. It’s possible that the salmon missed the fly. So many times the fish will be laying in a pool where there’s a good current along and the sport gets the line out and let’s it swing. Sometimes that fly is just moving too fast, and as bad as that fish may want the fly he either can’t catch it or he misses it on the strike.

Slow the fly down in fast water and speed it up in slower water! How? Mend it. A simple thing, the mend is an important technique. Using your rod, flip the line over either to the right or left to either decrease the angle of line in the water to slow it down or to increase the angle to speed it up. Mend the line right after the cast. The more face the line has in the water the faster it will travel through the swing, decrease the face of the line and you will slow it down. The mend will allow the fly more hang time in the fishes vicinity.

The size of the mend is key also. The bigger the mend the greater the results. Also it may be necessary to mend more than once through the swing of the fly. Either way try it. If you know the fish is there or you have raised him then try different fly speeds, using the mend to get him back.