A great photo of a nice Atlantic salmon landed by Greg Heister
A great photo of a nice Atlantic salmon landed by Greg Heister the host of “Seasons On The Fly” an excellent fly fishing show on NBC sports. This 18 lb. salmon was landed early this year during the second week of June when we still had some water.
Underwater Salmon
Adams Pool June 2012
Its been a little tough getting photos from some of our guests this year. Here is one of Anthony and Deering with a nice salmon landed by Anthony during his trip to the lodge in the fourth week of June.
June 2012, Atlantic salmon from Adams Pool
RRL guest Steve Buckley with a nice Restigouche salmon
RRL guest Steve Buckley with a nice Restigouche salmon
Steve Buckley's salmon 2012
Kevin McDevitt’s Atlantic Salmon, England Pool
I have been a bit busy and not posting many pictures. Here is RRL partner Kevin with a nice Atlantic salmon, during this tough season.
Kevin McDevitt's Atlantic Salmon, England Pool, 2012
Charlies 14lb Hen
Charlie, with his first Restigouche Atlantic salmon. Nice job Charlie…
Charlie's 14lb Hen Salmon
Spots available for early season May 20th – 27th
30lb+ Atlantic Salmon Mann's Pool
Here’s a beautiful early season Atlantic Salmon from the Restigouche River Lodge’s Mann’s pool. We have spots available for the very water where this fish was taken from May 20th – 27th. This includes 14 sessions of fishing and all the RRL hospitality at a great price. Get in on this week and take a crack at these magnificent Atlantic salmon.
Contact wrhartnett@tahoo.com or call 201-788-2920
Seasons on the Fly
Greg Heister host of Seasons OnThe Fly will visit the Restigouche River Lodge to film an episode and fly fish the Restigouche River for those big first run Atlantic salmon during the first week of June 2012.
Greg has been producing award winning outdoors television for nearly 20 years. The accolades are highlighted by four regional Emmy awards won for a fly-fishing series and his coverage of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. He began tying flies at 8 years old and has parlayed that early experience into a life-long passion that has taken him around the world in pursuit of fish that will eat a fly. He has been a fly-fishing guide in Montana, Idaho and Alaska. His fishing combined with 18 years of on-air experience in television, including work for ESPN, FSN and many local television stations, makes him the perfect host and producer for this type of program. Many of the fishing shows today are produced by fishermen who don’t know television or by television producers who don’t know fly-fishing. With his award winning experience in television, his work as a fly-fishing guide and his 30 years spent on rivers around the world Greg Heister is the right man to create such a show.
Where Are “They”
Here’s a piece written by William Hartnett of the RRL. Something to enjoy and keep us in the spirit of Atlantic Salmon fishing.
WHERE ARE “THEY”
by William Hartnett of The Restigouche River Lodge
As we all relax in the comfort of our warm cozy homes filling our bellies with tasty morsels when we desire, do we ever wonder where they are. As we all anticipate the coming of the next Atlantic salmon fishing season, tying flies and sharing our stories of battles with large salmon from prior seasons. Still do we wonder where they are. Do we wonder how they are or do we just take it for granted that they will be there. What if they never showed up and disappeared – what would we do. We all have to know where they are and how they are and see to it that the land and water which sustains Atlantic salmon shall not be spoiled.
After multi- sea- winters spent feeding off the Greenland shores, gorging on the oceans bounty, increasing their lengths and fattening their girths, they are now on the move. As they make their way through the vast cold ocean, it won’t be long before they arrive in an estuary waiting for the right moment to enter a river. A river you might fish.
Let’s all give some thought and think about the life cycle our partners have gone through so that we may enjoy the sport we all love so much. Yes, the Atlantic salmon is our partner! Without him we wouldn’t travel to these distant pristine rivers. Rivers that run through forested mountains and valleys, fed by clear cold creeks and pure springs. Without him we would have no use for our fine rods, reels and fly gear we all treasure. Never to experience the friendships and good times spent during a stay in salmon camp.
As Atlantic salmon enter a river, they taste the scent of the water that has spawned their life, we should all ponder the millions of years and the passing of genes that make each river’s salmon, so unique.
The time is here as you meet your buddies and travel together to a salmon river of your choice. Soon you will arrive at the camp, and after settling in you’ll enjoy a hearty meal and then retire for a rested night’s sleep. Up in the morning you have a great big breakfast and soon are heading down to the river for the day’s fishing.
You open a fine box of flies picking out your favorite pattern. As you are tying it on the leader, you begin to enter another zone. You make your cast and the fly begins its swing. A resting salmon moves to take the fly, exploding through the surface he jerks the rod in your hand while ripping line off the reel. Your rod is now fully bent and the reel is singing as the salmon runs and leaps from the water. After a long heart pounding battle you land this salmon. Keeping the salmon in the water you take the time to marvel at his bright silver body while remarking on the size and power of your fish.
This Atlantic salmon that decided to take your fly and give you another thrill of a life time has kept his side of the partnership, now it is your turn. So you carefully release the fish watching the wake he leaves while disappearing into the rivers pristine water. Now you too have kept your side of this partnership.
As the day’s light fades the dark takes over. You sit in a lodge by a crackling fire sipping a spirited drink while sharing the day’s stories with your fly fishing comrades. You lean back and relax in a big chair and realize how fortunate you are to have spent a day, on an Atlantic salmon river.
View The Restigouche River lodge on The New Fly Fisher Show
The New Fly Fisher show is now being aired on the WFN cable network. This episode features Orvis’s Tom Rosenbauer’s July 2011 visit to the Restigouche River Lodge to fly fish for Atlantic salmon. Watch it on WFN or right here on our site.
2012 Atlantic Salmon Season Approaches
It’s getting close to the start of the 2012 Atlantic salmon fishing season. At the Restigouche River lodge we have only a few prime week rods left, so if you have not booked your salmon trip this year don’t wait much longer. Email Bill Hartnett at wrhartnett@yahoo.com or call 201-788-2920 for all the details.
