Anglers looking for salmon — and some optimism — as concerns grow about the Codroy River

Although my success there over the years hasn't been anything to write home about, I've always enjoyed my time salmon fishing the Grand Codroy River, arguably one of Newfoundland's top rivers.

Southwest coast rivers serve up early runs of Atlantic salmon, which is why that part of the island is the first destination of the season each June for thousands of anxious anglers.

I usually hook at least couple of fish in nearby Robinsons and Fishell's rivers most years, even a scattered one at Southwest and Crabbes. But Codroy? Mmm, not so good the past six or seven years. Yet I still head to that river most every year for a day or two.

Why?

Perhaps it's the scenery, the tranquillity, the adventure, the challenge and anticipation of hooking an early season "large." I'm at the point now, though, where even a four-pounder would get the Codroy monkey off my back!

I hope to be there again in mid-June, even though from what I've been reading, hearing and — to a lesser extent, experiencing — the past two years, things have changed quite a bit.

Whether the result of major storms, fish farms, seals, warmer ocean temperatures or a combination of all of the above, there's growing concern for the future of the Codroy's once-prolific salmon stocks.

A number of salmon rivers across Newfoundland are facing similar circumstances, but I'm focusing on the southwest coast here because that's the first area I'll be hitting in 2024.

"The Grand Codroy was an amazing river, but sadly the fishing the last two years has been terrible," said Cory LeRiche of Port aux Basques, who has fished there "hard-core" for almost 30 years.

"Salmon farms on the south coast, 50-100 seals in the barachois every day are huge factors that can be easily dealt with, but our Liberal governments don't care," he said. He'd rather see the farms moved on land to better protect wild salmon and more seal hunting licences issued.

And with ocean temperatures rising, he said, he believes we will continued to see decreases.

"There are other factors as well, but to me, these are the biggest," he said. "And I talk to a lot of river rats; the fish just ain't there."

Avid angler and waterfowl hunter Levi Harris-Hogan of St. John's is another fan of the river and Codroy Valley in general. He agrees with LeRiche's assessment of the various reasons for the decline in salmon numbers, but believes hurricanes and other storms have caused more damage than many anglers realize.

"Damn storms, turning productive big fish holding spots into ankle-high water," he said.

"The fish aren't holding in the same places they have in the past, which forces you to relearn the river; it takes years to figure out where the fish are holding.… As well, it seems there's more seals than fish, then there's fish farms going up everywhere, faulty fish counters stopping fish from going up river."

Every year, conditions get worse, he said.

"It's sad, but I believe we only have a few more years at this racket."

This isn't what you'd call "encouraging reports" for those of us with plans and bookings made a year in advance. But there are several more productive rivers in that area. And besides, as salmon fishing goes, we won't know if 2024 will be a blast or a bust until we get there. In the meantime, I'm open to any positive news or outlook.

On March 14, I attended a "Taps & Ties" session, hosted by Atlantic Rivers Outfitting, that featured a Grand Codroy River presentation by Ian Gall, one of the most respected anglers this province has ever known.

Among other information he shared, Gall had a few pools mapped out that I wasn't aware of, plus he listed the types of flies with which he's had success over the years.

His talk gave me a bit of renewed hope, and then there was this uplifting comment from LeRiche as our interview was winding up: "On a plus side, the early season — with its large fish — seems to still be good. Last year I hooked more large than grilse."

Well then, perhaps there's a chance the chimp will be coming off my back in June after all.

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