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Lower Humber Photo
Album
Upper Humber River
Photo Album
Harry's River Photo
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Serpentine River
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South West River Photo Album
Main River Photo Album
Lomond River Photo Album
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The Lower Humber is the premium Atlantic salmon river in Newfoundland supporting the highest density of trophy sized fish and the greatest run size. |  |
The accommodations usually used for this area/river is nestled in the scenic village of Steady Brook and less than 200 yards from one of the world's best trophy salmon shoals. It is a 4 star resort by federal government rating. |
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The usual accommodation for our guests fishing the Humber area also provides access to the many famous trophy salmon shoals on the Lower Humber. |  |
From this location we can fish 15 km of some of the BEST salmon fishing the Province can offer - starting right from the lodge dock. A short drive provides a dozen more rivers! |
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We sometimes use Gander Bay River boats but anglers can also wade in most areas without decreased catch rates. |  |
Most of our 3SW salmon are 36 to 43 inches. |
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The Humber produces some fine fish like this 38 incher. |  |
We like to dry fly our big salmon. Note the Big Bomber in this fish's mouth. |
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Often, they take our dry flies after sun set and its dark by the time we land them, but this one touched the tailing glove for the first time in under 17 minutes (note fish was 42.5 inches long and 30 pounds). | _600.jpg) |
It is important to play them hard and fast. We had this one in our hands in 17 minutes despite a 250+ yard run and two 150 yard runs. |
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The Lower Humber is considered the best trophy salmon river in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is also the only river to have a significant run of 3SW maiden fish. |  |
A "Lucky" anglers fish. The 3SW virgin fish of the Humber are generally about 18 to 22 pounds. However, the fish we dream about (and see virtually daily) are the 3SW alternate spawners that only spawn every second year and grow at phenomenal rates. |
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A seasoned salmon angler with the day's catch. |  |
One of many fish that rose to his bomber during his first hour on the
river being landed. The guide's best quotes of the week were..."Help!,
I just rose that Big Fish! Help!" and "She's got $3.95 in her
@$$& jaw!"
The laughs were fast and furious with famous Newfoundland guide Natti Rubia around. |
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Right on the retention limit...a 6.5 pound grilse from Steady Brook shoals on the Lower Humber. |  |
A nice thick 3SW fish screams for more backing on the Lower Humber R. |
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200 yards of backing is required gear for the Lower Humber. |  |
Tailing gloves and two hands are required for tailing 3SW maiden fish. Once tailed, the angler can try and hold on with one hand for a photo. |
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A very small percentage of lower Humber salmon are very thick "mutant" looking salmon. This one is only about 33 inches but weighs about 15 or 16 pounds! Stag Island, Lower Humber. |  |
"Come to me you little silver beauty...we'll let you go...."
The Lower Humber looks like a very large and deep river but it is actually dotted with many large shoals and islands. This picture is from the center of the river at Boom Siding Shoals. |
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A still misty morning at the Grassy Point, Lower Humber. These two
very travelled anglers Pat and Sally Dempsy of the USA welled up with tears
at the end of their trip...."best trip of our lives".
The 15 salmon (many 12 to 15 pounds) and over 30 hard rises and 4 salmon in a single evening, couple with great weather and many laughs equalled success.......Their other two fishing buddies from their party each hooked nice fish of 18 and 25 pounds that mid August. |
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"I'm not ready yet" as this one powers away from the angler.
Boom Siding Shoals with the Crooked Birch in the background on the far shore. Lower Humber. The river is fairly fast but has an extreme frequency of those "special" mirrored salmon and trout holding areas. The calm before... |
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"....and away it goes - end over end...." A feisty chrome bar from "the birch" at Steady Brook Shoals. Note how thick this fish is. |  |
A silver leaper (15 lbs) during August on Steady Brook Shoals, Lower Humber. The average weight of salmon on this strip of river during this month is about 15 pounds. |
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A nice pan sized colored brook trout for the evening frying pan! |  |
A nice pan sized sea-run brook trout for the BBQ. |
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A typical 2SW 1,2, salmon (repeat spawning) held by friend Todd Neil. | 
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The water is rising and the fish are moving.....so, we move to one
of the main rapids on the lower Humber.
Spey casting on the "Back Run" on Big Rapids on the Lower Humber River. |
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Why fish in locations where the salmon used to be? |  |
A large salmon held by guest and Norwegian angler Tom Nilssen and guide. |
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Another fine 2SW repeat spawning teen weight fish (2SW1,2) which fell to our dry flies about to be released. We fish with dry flies more than wet flies, but beware the learning curve on this technique. Once mastered however, the dry fly will significantly reduce losses and increase hook-ups as the fish generally does not get "lipped" by the hook and it can be presented correctly from virtually any angle on the compass you can reach. |  |
One should be careful to hand tail barely tired fish in water deep enough to prevent scale losses as they try and free the hook before and after tailing. Lost scales dramatically reduced post spawning survival as bacteria and fungus attack the scale loss areas. |
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Spey rods significantly reduce fatigue on an angler's forearm and wrist while fighting our large salmon. Spey rods also reduce casting fatigue using long casts; once good accuracy is achieved. Those using single handed rods will have to join us to learn the "tune fishing", "reverse tailing grip", and the "over the should rod bend" technique we pull out of the "bag of tricks" for our big salmon. |  |
Many anglers are shocked at the strain you can put on a fresh large salmon once it is hooked solidly on 10 pound Maxima leader. But, please remember the minute per pound rule (the guide will gently remind you if you are suffering from "salmon shock"). Large salmon recover more slowly from a build up of lactic acid after a battle and are more succeptable to mortality from it. So, when its time - BEND THAT ROD! Even on your "fish of a lifetime". |
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"lucky" angler's fish. |  |
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Fishing can be tough for these large salmon under terrible conditions, but you never know when you'll get the adrenaline. Three blank days turned into a morning of heart thumping when we have some power chases and attacks by two "lower Humber" fish and then hook both 10 minutes apart. |  |
Well known BC fly angler and executive member of B.C.s oldest fly
fishing club, Charlie Brumwell of the Totem fly fishers with a fiesty 22 pounder.
"...some glad I bought that big Danielsson reel and all that backing!" |
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At 25 feet, this boat can easily keep two anglers separated so casting isn't a competition. |  |
A Gander Bay River boat is a traditional Newfoundland salmon river boat. It draws about 3 inches of water, has a stern that prevents the motor blades from striking the bottom, and is highly manueverable while on a very small anchor. It can be moved while on anchor as much as 30 degrees from a straight anchor rope just by repositioning yourself in the boat or the position of the anchor rope. If one is on 100 to 200 feet of anchor rope this increases the water available to your fly by as much as 300% while scanning over an area or instantly after letting out more rope to reach a far away fish- without pulling up anchor! |
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A sun set |  |
A nice sea run brook trout for the BBQ |
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Another shot of this awesome salmon run. Shellbird Island Rapids on the Lower Humber River, NL, Canada. Notice the uncrowded river banks? |  |
Fish like this frequent the waters of the upper Humber. |
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Some guys actually like to fish in spots that the biting flies are enough to suck the last drop of blood from you. Extra layers of fly repellent and a head to toe bug suit can sure dampen the spirit of most anglers. |  |
"lucky" angler's fish. Read more here |
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Number 3 over 20 pounds?! Repeat guests are great. |  |
This guides Mantra, "To tease a big salmon and/or lose it 50% of the time; use a wet fly. To hook one and land it; use a dry fly." |
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Hmmm....lost a big fish on a dry fly did ya? The fish shook it's head and out slipped the big fuzzy dry fly because of all the drag it induced in the water...hmmm...ever heard of a TUBE DRY FLY? The fly is tied on a hard plastic tube (instead of a hook shank) with a short piece of soft rubber tube stretched over the end of the hard tube this soft tubing is then stretch over the hook eye to hold the hook in place. The tube fly body then slides free of the hook early in the fight and floats/slides up the leader like a bobber leaving just the bare hook in the fishes jaw. Voila, no drag on the hook during head shaking and less lost fish. For more on this innovative technique and to order these unique flies see Pers Fischer and Jesper Fohrmann's website at www.fishmadman.com! |  |
We figure this guest is convinced it works....(fish is 40 inches long)."Tube dry fly." |
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There he is. |  |
Head and Tail! |
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Submerging with the bomber...he's your's! |  |
See live video of a false surface rise and calmly leaving the fly on the water, striking too soon and a complete miss, then stiking with the correct timing and landing a "lower humber" fish. |
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Now Phil, if you cost me this fish I'm not taking you to any more of my secret spots! |  |
Finally got one ashore. Thanks Phil, now we're even for 2003!...lol |
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Duncan racks up more big ones. |  |
Phils number 4 over 20 pounds, but how many did he rise! |
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When its time to start to really fight a large fish you have a greater chance of landing and releasing it unharmed by putting some wood to it and keeping the fight to roughly a minute a pound (if possible). |  |
Voila! |
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Wow, what a rush! It might have taken 2 previous trips and gut wrenching close calls - but that topped it! |  |
One word. Amazing! |
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Another beautiful day on the Lower Humber. Note how close the rings from the 20+ pounder are? |  |
Harrison shoals on the Lower Humber. |
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Loads of fish moving this evening Bill, I can see the V's on the surface as they run past me! |  |
She might not be 20+ pounds but I'm glad I had a spey rod. Nearly pitch-black before I could get her in. I'll be sure to keep my legs closed together when tailing green fish in 2+ feet of water (note no scales lost!). |
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Come, sit in our open air office, relax and forget about everything but the moment. We can enjoy the day together, chat about life, fishing, and beautiful rivers like the Humber.....and maybe even try and catch a special fish? |  |
Fly Angler on his way down the Lower Humber River in late July. |
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The top pool of the Back Run is a premium pool on the Lower Humber River. Note the chair. |  |
Fishing the Lower End of the Back Run on the Lower Humber River in late June. Its hard not to hook a fish when the early season grilse run numbers 15,000 to 25,000 in 3 weeks! |
All Photos Copyright 1999-2007 by
Eureka Outdoors Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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PO Box 1141 Corner Brook, NL, Canada,A2H-6T2 +1- 709 - 638-8098 Email eureka@nf.sympatico.ca Please include a phone number |
