The Nashwaak Watershed

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A conversation with fly fisherman Gary Spencer

August 24, 2015

New Brunswick has some amazing rivers and some of the best fishing. Both have been important in shaping the identity of New Brunswickers. Being by, and in the water, is part of a traditional way of life that has been passed on from generation to generation. The salmon fishing industry in particular has always played a very important role in the lives of the residents of New Brunswick, and especially for those of us living in the Nashwaak watershed.

The recreational salmon fishery provides vital employment for the fishing lodges and regional ecotourism. However, the Nashwaak River, once so plentiful in salmon, has seen a decreasing trend in the number of fish returning to the ocean for over 20 years (see our previous article about the decline)

Gary Spencer, a Nashwaak resident; fly fisherman of the Nashwaak river; and a dedicated volunteer of the Nashwaak Watershed Association and other organizations like the NB Salmon Council, shares his thoughts and experiences about salmon fishing and how the decline of salmon returns has impacted the fishers and the residents of the area.

 

gary fishing

 

Aliza: When was the first time you went fishing? gary child

Gary: I was 6 or 7 years old and my brother and I fished for trout in Sands Brook. I caught a 7″ trout. My mom made a big deal about it and we ate it (and others) for supper. 

 

 

 

 

 

gary salmonAliza: What do you love about salmon fishing?

Gary: The challenge of it. It can actually be very difficult at times. I also like the time to reflect on during those long stretches of inaction. I take that time to learn bird songs, notice rocks that have moved since I visited that spot last summer, and reunite with friends. The best part is the sudden “pull,” when a salmon takes the fly and you experience the completely unpredictable behaviour of a salmon on the line.

 

 

Aliza: What was the largest salmon you have caught in the Nashwaak?

Gary: It was 18 pounds, caught at a little known (and secret!) pool near Stanley.

 

Aliza: What was your most memorable moment while fishing?

Gary: That would be the memory of my son catching his first salmon. Having me as a dad he said, “I guess I should let this salmon go” and I told him there are 2 reasons I accept for killing a salmon, if it is 24.5″-long male (and therefore not going to spawn) right at the end of a long fishing day, or if it is your first one and you want to take it home to show mom, Gary grins.

 

*note: this year the Department of Fisheries and Oceans instituted a catch-and release only policy for New Brunswick rivers.

 

Aliza: What concerns you most about the decline of the salmon population in NB and in the Nashwaak?

Gary: What concerns me most is the potential loss of our heritage and friendships that are closely tied to salmon fishing. I miss going to the pools on the Nashwaak or other rivers and meeting friends or making friends amongst the fisher people I would meet there.   I am also concerned about the lost money to our local economy and the jobs associated with guiding and getting visitors out on the water. Also, they are a high quality and delicious food source!

 

Aliza: Do you feel that there is hope for the revival of the Nashwaak salmon population? Do you have thoughts on how we can improve this situation?

Gary: Absolutely there is hope. We saw a substantial recovery of the salmon in the Nashwaak in 2008-2011. In my humble opinion better regulation of the salmon aquaculture industry would bring an immediate and substantial recovery to the Nashwaak stocks. We are working hard on that file. There are other issues we have worked on in the past, but now that such things like our input to the Sisson mine project in the headwaters of the Nashwaak is complete and downstream fish passage at NB Power dams is started we will turn our attention to aquaculture. Salmon populations are very resilient and recover quickly when given a chance. 

 

Aliza: What do groups like the Nashwaak Watershed Association do to help the salmon population on the Nashwaak?

Gary: A great deal!  They provided excellent input to the Sisson mine Environmental Impact Assessment and have improved the design of the project by doing so. They also contributed to an independent 3rd party review of the mine’s bonding requirements, water treatment costs and plans, and the tailings dam design. This is good stuff!  They also have created hatchery operations when the salmon population was at risk, helped get downstream passage in place on the St. John River (those dams do kill Nashwaak salmon even though they are not placed between the Nashwaak and the Bay of Fundy) and much more. 

Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With: aquaculture, atlantic salmon, returns

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NWAI on Twitter

@ASDWLimelight @ASDWLimelight @MusicAsdw Check it out

- 165 days ago

Mr. Woodcock's talented gr 12 FHS music class joined us at Marysville Flats this week! We talked climate change and floodplain restoration. We're excited to hear what they create from their Nashwaak River trip. Kudos to the NB Dept of Ed for supporting this awesome experience! https://t.co/6nGyCy7XBP

- 166 days ago

Thanks for supporting this outdoor learning opportunity. Come visit anytime. It was a pleasure to spend time talking about water, climate change and floodplain restoration. @ASD_West @ASDWLimelight @FHSkats @CityFredGov @CityFredRec #eaunbwater #mynashwaak https://t.co/ALhfzSS123

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Thanks @mla_mike for leading crown land conservation! https://t.co/ObSdrLvBcq

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@Andrew__Holland @mla_mike @Gov_NB @NCC_CNC Excellent work!

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

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12 hours ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
#DYK Pollinator species such as bees 🐝, hummingbirds, and butterflies🦋help plants reproduce by spreading pollen? This is important because it supports the biodiversity of native plants as well as crops around the world.If you would like to help our pollinator friends, here are some tips for growing a pollinator garden:🌻Succession planting - plan to have a variety of plants that bloom from spring to fall.🌷Cultivate variety - different pollinators love different shapes and colours of blossoms. Ensure there is a variety for them to choose from.🪺 Add bird baths and bee houses - this will encourage pollinators to take up residence and come back year after year.See the link below to discover native plant species that will make pollinators sure to visit your garden! 👇davidsuzuki.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/DSF-NB-plant-list.pdf#ecofriendlyfriday #pollinator #MyNashwaak #nativeplantgarden ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

2 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Wondering what we’ve been up to lately? If you’re new here, you may not know that we plant lots of trees each year to help re-establish healthy floodplain forests along the Nashwaak River. These floodplain forests are composed of a mixture of silver maple, bur oak, red-tipped willow, red-osier dogwood, and many other species to ensure that there is lots of habitat for local biodiversity. 🌱Over the past two weeks, we’ve spent lots of time flagging! Each spring, we flag our recently planted trees so that we can conduct our seasonal maintenance. While these trees are superstars in terms of their ability to help stabilize riverbanks and provide habitat for local wildlife, they still need some help to ensure that they can survive. Mowing these areas helps to reduce competition from grass and ensure that they are receiving adequate sunlight. If you ever feel like lending a hand, please reach out to us via email at staff@nashwaakwatershed.ca! #MyNashwaak #riverbankrestoration #treeplanting #volunteer ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

3 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Sunday was a beautiful day for birding and what a wonderful gang we had at @nashwaakmeadows . A big thank you to Dan Serpiello and @atlanticducks for making it such a fun morning! The highlight was definitely the American bitterns ❤️ #birdwatching #community #MyNashwaak ... See MoreSee Less

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Contact Us

Mail:
Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
P.O. Box 314, Station “A”
Fredericton, NB
E3B 4Y2

Office:
181 Westmorland Street
Fredericton, NB
E3B 3L6
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Phone: 506 447-9699
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