Atlantic Salmon and Brook Trout Fly Fishing Trips on the Lomond River Newfoundland, Canada

Dennis Lowney and Pete Mello from Mass., USA working the Pulpit on their way to the Pocket and Middle Pool. Lomond River, Newfoundland. July

Access to this partially remote river is via route 430 and then turning off at route 431 (click here to see a map). Several small dirt roads (which may require an ATV) produce access to 80% of the entire river system. The river is about a 40 minute drive from the main lodge located in Steady Brook.

Wildlife commonly seen while traveling along or fishing this river include: beaver, mink, birds of prey, occasionally a fox, and frequently a caribou or moose. Adequate foot paths and game trails are found along much of the river and wading is relatively easy in this limestone river with the exception of a couple pools with slippery "algaefied" rock (eg middle pool in late July and August) most of the rock are relatively algea free. Fishing is done from either the river bank or while wading and casting space is not a problem. Salmon can be taken with dry flies on virtually all pools, however a few will require a wet fly for best results. The salmon on this river like to be teased for 5 minutes before a proper presentation is given. That is,

Looking from Campbell's Pool past Middle Pool, the Pocket, and the Pulpit, to the Glory Hole and the Falls on Lomond River, Newfoundland, Canada. July

the fly is first presented so the salmon laying in a pool can see it but it is too far upstream of the fish to induce a strike, then once the fish are "teased", the correct presentation is made. A local fly called a Lomond River Special is a favorite wet fly pattern while much of our fishing is done with dries on the main pools. Similar to SW Brook in both structure and fish habits, this river is best "goat fished" - that is to say, waded while casting to small rocks that migrating fish rest in front of, beside, or behind with a very short line for a short period then moving to the next rock or lay a few steps away. Below Little Bonne Bay Pond the river is fairly fast moving with long straight or meander bend pools with a fine stone bottom spotted with a some smooth stones. Generally, we do not fish salmon above Little Bonne Bay Pond. However, for the adventuresome angler the stretch of river between Little Bonne Bay Pond and Big Bonne Bay Pond is beautiful with pools and runs that are excellent for both salmon and trout.

We know from both catch and the counting fence statistics (that all migrating fish must pass through) that this river is primarily a grilse river (salmon 3-6 pounds) but some double and multisea winter salmon (10-18 pounds) are available. I am yet to see a fish over 18 pounds landed on this river, but I know that 20+ pound class fish are caught annually. The run of salmon in this very small river is between 700 and 1000 fish annually. The annual brook trout run numbers in the thousands with huge 5 and 6 pound specimens available, but usually only 1 to 3 pounders will be caught.

6.5 pound Brook Trout! Wow!

This river is well known for its strong run of large sea run brook trout. While using nymphs will catch more trout, fish will also be taken on steamers and dry flies. These silvery trout start running the river in mid-July and average between 1 and 3 pounds. Like most of the small rivers we fish, trout fishing on this river is a wading affair and the more river one walks/fishes the more trout will be caught. Each pool we fish will usually give up a few trout before it will need to be "rested" and the angler must wait or move to another pool. Like most runs of sea trout in our rivers, the trout in Lomond River migrate en mass. That is, a pool that is full of lovely fat trout one day may empty after a rain as the entire school moves up stream to rest in another pool. Hence, knowing which pools they hold in (the guide's job) will help prevent wasted time while looking for trout. Some salmon pools will also hold brook trout. Some colored brook trout (non-sea run) will be found in most pools and in both the Steady and both Little and Big Bonne Bay Pond.

Typical guided catch rates are 1-2 salmon and/or 10+ decent sized trout per angler per day. The river is best fished by no more than one angler at each pool at any given moment and exploration is the order of the day with 1-3 km of river being fish per day on average. Below Little Bonne Bay Pond, this river is best fished in

The lower part of Campbell's Pool on Lomond River, Newfoundland Canada. July

July and early August when both salmon and sea-run brook trout will be found in good numbers. Fishing the early morning and late evening high tides (false and true) in the tidal pool at the river's mouth in July and August will also produce both salmon and trout. This is especially true during the highest tides of the month and at the start of a good rain as large schools are likely to enter the river. Fishing above Little Bonne Bay Pond is best saved for August and the first week of September. Fishing two days after a good rain will result in fish that are fresh from the ocean and waiting in shallow pools between the deeper holding pools. The run of salmon on this river is in increasingly better shape with 2002 numbers better than a 10 year average. It seems the runs in this river are increasing since the close of the commercial fishery. If you fish this river be sure to view the schools of salmon holding as close as 2 feet from shore between the Falls and the Pulpit and visit the caribou that bed during the day nearby the foot trails. A keen eye will find the rare orchids that populate this valley: showy lady's slipper, calypso, rams-head lady slipper, etc.
 
 
 

Looking up river from Campbell's Pool on the Lomond River.

The sea run brook trout pool in Olfords Run on the Lomond River.

Click your mouse on map position/river you  want to enlarge below.  It will open a new  window with a 1:250,000 scale map or  a 1:50,000 scale map of some of the pools. There are over 200 salmon rivers in the Province of Newfoundland  and Labrador. These are only a few (but some of the better ones).  Note that not all salmon and trout rivers in this area are marked.

Click the link below for a description and photos of the river. Salmon Rivers We Fish 1) Sop's Arm River 2) Upper Humber 3) Lower Humber 4) Lomond River 5) Goose Arm River  7) Serpentine River 8) Pinchgut River 9) Harry's River 10) Fox Island River 11) South West River 12) Bottom Brook 13) Little Barachois River 14) Flat Bay River 15) Fishell's Brook Others on occassion Brook Trout  Areas We Fish 2 & 3)Humber (lower and upper) 4) Lomond River 5) Goose Arm River 6) Hughes Brook 7) Serpentine River Deer Lake (and 4 tributaries) Aides Lake Goose Arm Lake Sandy Lake Cloudy Pond Secret Spots Others 30 Day Water Flow Rates, Temperatures (updated daily or hourly) Humber River (at various locations) Main River (at Paradise Pool), and Harry's River (at the bridge).