"120 minutes, that’s all it took to hook my first wild Atlantic salmon and become enthralled with the species.
It was a crisp morning in July with frigid water rushing by my waders, a mist hovered over the river, with the sun about to crest over and into the valley with slivers of light already peering through. My good friend and mentor on this trip, Ramsey, took the first pass – I asked him to go ahead after I was offered the first drop. I was his student, I wanted to watch how he cast, how he presented his fly, what speed he swung it at, how large a step to take between casts, and just to take it all in… it was stunning, a moment burned into memory... not only of the moment I was in, but also of Ramsey’s generosity.
I stepped in the river where Ramsey had entered and made my first cast with "The Editor" I had just tied on. Ramsey was now 30 paces downstream of where he started. Cast, swing, step... cast, mend, swing, step… cast, mend, swing... WHAM! A jarring collision between fish and fly. The loop of line I held was ripped from under my finger, my arm was jerked forward, and my reel was already screaming – what just happened!?! I didn’t have any time to react before the fish known as “The Leaper” rocketed out of the water, threw the fly to the side, and returned to its gin clear waters.
What. Just. Happened.
I was in shock. I was in love. I was hooked.
Being from Toronto, even after entering the fly fishing industry, I never thought I could fish for wild Atlantic salmon in their native waters. Obviously because I needed a guide, I had to go to a lodge, I had to rack up a big bill… I couldn’t afford that on a fly shop clerk’s salary. Then the next hurdle, regulations – complex, overly restrictive, draws, private water, limited access water, floating lines only, only cast downstream, no sink tips, no fun.
Wow, was I was wrong, dead wrong.
Atlantic salmon angling turned out to be one of the most accessible and affordable fishing trips I’ve ever taken in Canada and all of North America. That first trip of mine cost around $1500 for the entire week – that included gas (I drove), daily river fees, my Quebec salmon licence, food I cooked myself, my camp site fees – I didn’t have (couldn't afford) a guide. I already had all the gear, minus a few flies. That week, on that budget, I successfully hooked and landed many fish, securing a new love and obsession. Since 2013 prices have increased, as everything else has, but the East coast Atlantic salmon experience remains affordable and achievable.
Since then, I’ve experienced Atlantic salmon angling in various ways, from remote lodge guided experiences, AirBnB rentals with occasional guides, and full-on DIY trips. As fantastic as every opportunity has been, doing it myself has been the most fulfilling and productive of all my trips. Many of our shop clients and friends who have ventured out on their own agree.
Sharing approachable Atlantic salmon opportunities with friends as been incredibly rewarding. Choosing our own pace, eating on the river bank, hanging out riverside, no expectations of time or pressure, no chaperone, meeting other anglers from all walks of life, experimenting with techniques and patterns, and immersing ourselves in everything that surrounds us – we’re there on our own terms.
“I didn’t know it was going to be that much fun”, “I didn’t know it was that easy”, "I can't 'believe I'm here" and “I never thought I could do this” have been the remarks every one of my friends have made during and after their first introduction to Atlantic salmon. Most have all gone off to introduce others to the same opportunities, with many now supporting the impactful conservation work of the Atlantic Salmon Federation.
Not everyone has a Ramsey, that's why you have The Upstream Mixer: An Atlantic Salmon Rendezvous "
Rob Cesta - Owner
Drift Outfitters & Fly Shop
