It is our hope that the following discussion will help you to prepare for your Atlantic salmon fishing trip. If you have some further questions, then please feel free to contact us before you come to the lodge. We will be pleased to help answer your query. We want you to have the fishing experience of a lifetime, and the best way to ensure this is to be well prepared. So read on, fellow Angler, and get ready for some truly tight lines!

The Law

On the Margaree River the Salmon season extends from June 1 to October 31. Salmon may be angled for only by means of fly fishing. Weighted flies are forbidden The trout season extends from April 15 to September 30 (in September just catch and release).

Only salmon of 63 cm (24.8 inches) or less in fork length may be retained. Larger fish must be released alive. Two grilse may be retained in any given day. An angler may retain a maximum of eight grilse in a season, "If you're gonna kill'em, you gotta eat'em."

There are separate Licenses for salmon and for all other species in Nova Scotia. A salmon license, good for the season, costs $ 120.75; a seven -day license costs $ 46.00. A general (trout) license costs 46.00 for a season or $ 23.00 for seven days. (for Non Resident)

Tackle

The typical salmon outfit on the Margaree is based on a rod of 9-10 ft. Casting a #8 or #9 line to cover all eventualities. Your leader should be fairly long, at least 9 ft, and your leader should be a little heavier than it would for trout. Of course, fly size is the determining factor. A fully dressed wet fly will be used with a heavier leader than a similar size dry fly. Flies are available at the Lodge, as are tying materials and the use of tools.

The River

The Margaree River has essentially two runs of fish. The early run usually starts in June, and the late run usually begins around the middle of September. This means that there are always fish in the river throughout the entire season. The two runs are genetically distinct, with the Fall run comprising more large fish and fewer grilse. However, the river produces about 75% large fish on average, so a good mix of sizes is present at all times.

The Margaree is always fished by wading except in its lowest stretches. Lightweight waders are fine in July and August, but early-and late season fishermen are advised to wear neoprene or insulated waders.

The pools range from quiet flats to some quite fast runs where caution is required when wading. Casts beyond 60 ft. are seldom necessary, but then we all know that the best fish are always just a little farther away than we can comfortably cast. However, many fishermen defeat themselves by casting long lines to empty water while salmon rest, safe and comfortable, on their boot-tops.

Trout

Brook, and brown trout are available in the Margaree River as well as in neighbouring bodies of water. There is a good run of sea trout in the Margaree and an early run in the Middle River.

Salmon are unpredictable. No one knows why they bite a fly, and the fact is they usually do NOT bite a fly. Really. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of flies go drifting past a given salmon's nose, then suddenly he grabs one and scares the hell out of the guy on the other end of the line. Many people fish for salmon for a season or two without catching one. Then one day it seems like they can't avoid hooking fish, and they haven't done anything differently except be in the right place at the right time.

So, we can almost certainly put you over fish. Will they bite? Consult your favourite deity for the answer to that one. All we can promise is that we will do all we can to put you in the right place at the right time with the right fly.

After all that you may not believe us, but we really do want to see you in Big Intervale, and we really do want to see you catch fish!