Salmon Fishing on the Humber River via Boat

TRIP DATES 

June - September

TRIP DURATIONs

3 hour sessions (Morning or evening bookings)

6 hour sessions (Two mornings/evenings or full day)

NUMBER OF PEOPLE

Maximum of two Rods per Guide per Boat

Time

Evening or Morning Session via Boat (3 hrs)
Split Sessions or Consecutive via Boat (6 hrs)

Description

This is not your everyday angling excursion. We will be targeting nothing under 15 pounds and upward to 40 pounders. This is your chance to put on your biggest leader, break out the two handed rod, and fish for the salmon of a lifetime. Access from the Dock to the fishing shoals is extraordinarily easy yet massive Lower Humber Fish are landed in view of Marble Inn every year.

It is a late season river, meaning the prime time doesn’t start until mid July. Marble Inn & Suites is positioned in perfect proximity to several pools on the river. We travel by boat from the on site dock and travel to the various pools and runs that show promise based on water level, daily tides, the moon and more often then not just a feeling.

What to bring:

Out of province license

Optional Gear to Bring:

(Fly rod and life jacket can be supplied by guides)

Fly rod

Fishing vest/life jacket

Drink/snacks

Waders for use on the river

Arrival

All events/tours start at Marble Inn & Suites in Steady Brook. Explore NL is affiliated with Marble Inn & Suites. However, our participants are free to make pre-tour/post-tour accommodation and travel arrangement as they choose. If you need assistance with ground transportation or accommodations, we would be pleased to assist

Trip Highlights

  • Trophy Fishing the Mighty Humber River

  • Comfortable and convenient Fishing from a large aluminum Boat

  • On the Door Step of Marble Inn Resort

  • Easy Access and close proximity to the Resort


THE RIVER
The lower reaches of the Humber Valley are a broad, fertile flood plain that has been one of Newfoundland’s major centre for agricultural production for many years. More recently, as the attractions of the area have become better known, there has been development along the river but not to the extent that the experience of a day on the river has been spoiled. Shortly before the mouth the river passes through a dramatic gorge with high steep cliffs, rapids and the Trans-Canada Highway partly suspended on bridges over the edges of the river.

The Lower Humber is a large, powerful river carrying a big volume of cool, good quality water – ideal conditions for the Atlantic salmon. The water temperature is also relatively stable because its source, Deer Lake, is a large deep lake which provides a big reservoir of stable water. Deer Lake is in turn fed by water from Grand Lake, Newfoundland’s largest lake.
The river is a mature river with a flat profile with areas of shallows and shoals interspersed with faster flowing sections and pools. The river banks are a mixture of sandy beach areas, open meadow land and wooded banks.

FISH FACTS
The Lower Humber receives an annual run of some 20 000 – 30 000 salmon that have spent upwards of 2 years at sea and are thus fully mature and of good size when they return to the river. The season begins in June and runs until the 1st of October. The best fishing on the Lower Humber doesn’t typically start until mid-July making this river section one of the latest to peak in the system. The early run grilse pass through the lower section quickly. As a result early season fishing is limited to the upper portions of this system where holding water exists. When the water levels recede in mid-July, larger salmon start to hold throughout the Lower Humber. The Lower Humber is known for its large salmon and its big water. Fish 30 to 60 inches are common in the Lower Humber from July 15th to late September. These Atlantic salmon giants combined with big water can test an angler and his equipment. The Lower Humber has produced more trophy fish than any other river in the region.

THE FISHING
The Lower Humber is designated as a Class 1 salmon river. It is normally fished using single handed 9’ or 9’6” 9 weight rods and large arbour reels with at least 200 metres of backing but the Lower Humber lends itself perfectly to the Spey Rod. Fly selection includes both dry fly fishing with bombers and wet fly fishing with Thunder and Lightning, Blue Charm and Pearl Cosaboom being popular patterns.
We normally fish from boat, departing from docks at our home base. This gives us direct access to all parts of the river. Opportunities for wading is available and recommended for Spey Rod enthusiasts. We recommend a split day for fishing with a four hour morning and a four hour evening.

THE TRIP
We generally use our boats to provide access direct from our base to whichever part of the river we have decided to fish. A fishing trip on the Lower Humber is a 3 hour experience. The morning departing from our dock at 7 am returns at 10 am. The evening session departs at 5:30 pm returning to the dock at 8:30 pm. Afternoons are not generally sufficiently productive to warrant being on the water.