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Atlantic Salmon...a fish that I have been dreaming about for years! Probably the most noble of all fish is the Atlantic Salmon is native to the basin of the North Atlantic Ocean, from the Arctic Circle to Portugal in the eastern Atlantic, from Iceland and southern Greenland, and from the Ungava region of northern Quebec south to the Conneticut River.
I hope to have an opportunity to fish for them in Finland as well as New Brunswick. I have read so many books and watched so many videos of Lee Wulff fishing for Atlantic Salmon on short light tackle. Imagine catching one on a 7'-6 wt bamboo rod!
I will be fishing them with an 11' -7 wt. rod but I will make every attempt to catch one on a dry fly. The thought of skimming a fly to entice a strike is so intriguing to me that I am willing to make it my life long goal.
A grilse (one year at sea) although smaller in size is said to be the most acrobatic and fun to catch.
Baby salmon swim in schools. Salmon from many rivers swim together in the same areas through much of their ocean going life. Salmon have a great sense of smell, hearing, and taste which helps them find food and sense danger. Salmon are also able to sense danger by feeling the waves on their body.
Atlantic salmon also use their senses to find and return to their home river. Through imprinting, young fry memorize details about their home streams, and they use this knowledge as adult spawners to find their way back. Scientists are not exactly sure how salmon complete this incredible feat, but many suggestions have been made. Some say the salmon use the sun and stars as navigational guides, while others claim these fish have stored the taste of their home water in their brain. Most feel that salmon are guided home by the characteristic odor of the parent stream which is imprinted during the smolts' migration .
I strongly recommend the " Lee Wulff Master Collection" Dvd consisting of Classic Films from America's Pioneer Angler.
I had the pleasure of spending a week with Joan Wulff and visiting her in her home in Lew Beach New York where I was treated to a glimpse in the history and life of this amazing couple.
The poster pictured above hangs in my office as a constant reminder of the possibilities that exist and calls me to these fish.
Thank-you Joan for inspiring me and sharing so much of your knowledge and spirit.
I am and will be forever grateful!
