Something completely different

I'm in Nova Scotia right now; staying at our place in the Margaree River valley on Cape Breton Island. Today I'll get my 7 day Atlantic Salmon fishing license and see what I can do on the river. It's a fly fishing only river -unweighted flies- and I can keep 8 fish a year, tagged like we tag deer. If I catch and keep one (the maximum length is about 27") then I'm done fishing for the day. You can keep what are called grilse, a fish that has come back to the river for the first time after spending a year or two at sea. But I do have a chance to catch up to about a 30lb-er.....she would go back in to continue farther up the river to spawn. I'll be using a 9wt single-handed rod with a WF-9wt line, and, according to what I heard last night, flies in the size 6-8 range. The flies are mostly hair wings and tied simpler- maybe 6 or 8 ingredients as opposed to 2 or 3 dozen, like the classic flies we usually associate with salmon fishing. They work just as well. They're mainly selected for visibility in the water rather than imitating food. Been seeing more spey rods on the river lately...makes me wish mine was done. There's been some rain that brought the river up a little and the tides are high, which is the best condition for bringing fish into the river. This definitely ain't bass fishing but we'll give it a go anyway. Maybe we'll have salmon for supper
 tonight.....

Pete F