Originally published by the Salmon Preservation Association for the Waters of Newfoundland (SPAWN)

During the Canada Winter Games in 1999, I was General Manager of Marble Mountain Ski Resort at Steady Brook, NL. One evening, after skiing, my good friend Harvey Bishop and I were having an après ski beer in the Knotty Pine Lounge with some people from the south. Now, as Newfoundlanders, when we conjure up images in our minds-eye of the south, we see radiant sun, white sand beaches, palm trees swaying in the warm breeze, and bikini-clad girls. Well, these people were from the south of us alright. Actually, they were from the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.

With my limited knowledge of French and their broken English I learned that this was an annual pilgrimage that they take with their families. About a hundred or so men, women and children from St. Pierre come to Marble Mountain Ski Resort during their annual winter break for some good family winter fun skiing and tubing. They generally charter a plane or two, depending on their numbers, and fly from St. Pierre to Stephenville airport. Once there and they clear customs, some rent cars and others use buses to be transported to Corner Brook and Steady Brook where they stay at the various hotels, motels, cabins or Bed & Breakfasts. They also enjoy the shopping, dining and the night life the area has to offer.

During one of our après ski conversations that Harvey and I were having with some of the men from St. Pierre, they mentioned that they fished for trout, but would love to try salmon fishing. When they mentioned salmon fishing, Harvey, being the avid angler that he is, regaled them with stories of big fish caught in our past, abundance of grilse in some o our rivers, the great trips, the good times and the large fish on the mighty Humber River. Well, in my 36 years of selling automobiles, I never witnessed anyone do such a selling job on a group of people. Before I knew it, Harvey had me volunteered. He had a date set for the boys to join us in July to fish Big Falls and had a cabin arranged from Bill Bell at Sandy Lake. Actually, some of the boys at the table were staying at Bell’s B&B and Bill or Bill’s son Gord had offered them their cabin. We arranged the trip the winter before and in early July the boys arrived from St. Pierre and we all proceeded to Bell’s cabin.

When they showed us their fishing gears we realized they had mostly trout gear – small rods, light lines and small reels. Fine for trout, but this gear would not do for the large salmon on the Mighty Humber, When Harvey and I had a quiet moment alone, we discussed our dilemma and decided after getting their licenses, we would go up to Big Falls for the experience, views and vistas. We also decided that as I have a cabin at Flat Bay Brook and with their light gear we would be better off fishing the various small rivers that flow in Bay St. George. We fished Big Falls and, as expected, did not do much with it. We returned to Bell’s cabin, where we had a marvelous meal and a good night’s sleep. In the morning, we packed our gear and headed out to Bay St. George, stopping along the way at Barnes’ Sporting Goods for some much-needed gear. Some of the boys upgraded their equipment. All bought some wet and dry flies, especially Smokey Ball’s famous Orange Bug, different size leaders, some lines and 4 inch reels. Now we were anxiously on our way to my cabin on Flat Bay Brook.

At the cabin, after settling in, Harvey, having brought along his fly-tying kit, showed the boys how to tie flies. We spent the next week guiding them on how to cast, read the water, tie various knots, what size flies to use and when was the best time to fish. By the end of the week, they had all raised, caught, lost or hooked and released some salmon. This was the start of a wonderful journey for all of us. When the boys arrived now from St. Pierre, or should I call them Fishermen, they are all sporting Sage, G. Loomis, Fenwick or some other fine rods with 4 inch wide-arbor reels decked with Cortland 444 or other fine lines. They have the best of waders and fishing vests full of fly boxes and all the other necessary utensils. Actually, they all look like they just stepped out of the L.L. Bean catalogue.

Over the past number of years with the Guru of fishing, Harvey Bishop, guiding them and me adding my two cents worth whenever I got a chance, collectively they have all caught salmon. The first to catch a salmon was Nicholas Cormier and then Yann Blin and Joel Detcheverry. At Walker’s Pool, Stephane Fouchard got his first one. He was so excited I asked him what fly he was using. He said, Bob, me, I caught it on the Blue Charmer! Then it was Jean Claude Girardin’s turn. For the last two years, Denis Disnard joined us, and last year Stephane’s son Eric, who was home from France where he is studying to be a chef, came along for the first time. Eric displayed his culinary skills in fine style in the art of preparing sumptuous meals for us, and oh yes, he caught his first salmon. Life is good!

Best of all, they are very conversation-minded fishermen, fun to be with, superb cooks, or should I say chefs, and great anglers. This year, July 8 2007, we are all meeting in Labrador at the famous Forteau River Salmon Lodge for a week of good fishing and camaraderie. You never know what good things can happen to you as you discuss salmon fishing over a beer in the winter time. The transition from skiing to salmon angling was so easy. Merci mes amis et à bientôt!

Bob Mercer
Corner Brook, NL