More and more people are taking up saltwater fly fishing. Making the change from freshwater to saltwater can be a bit daunting. Salty environments can destroy expensive gear and hooking into a large fish will surely test the integrity of your equipment. This year Vision Fly Fishing introduced a new line of saltwater rods that have proven to be among the top rods available. The Venus SW is priced in the mid-range coming in at $349 and is offered in line weights ranging from 6-12. The Venus is available with a full wells grip or an SWS model that utilizes an ergonomic D shape handle. All of the Venus rods come standard with triple anodized aluminum reel seats and high quality salt resistant Pacific Bay hardware. The rod action is rated at medium/fast and offers a nice balance of wind-cutting power and feel. In addition to the function of the rod, the Venus rods are ascetically stunning. They feature full metallic wraps, gold/pewter two-toned hardware and a nicely balanced natural and rubberized cork grip.
Fishing in saltwater requires a rod that can both throw a lot of line and is able to handle wind. A good saltwater rod should also be light so as not to wear out the caster after hundreds of casts. I cast the Venus with five different lines ranging from a 9wt. sinking pike line to a S.A. 9wt. Red fish line and with very little effort I was able to throw the entire fly line on four of the five lines (the sinking pike line was 105' long and I could almost shoot to the backing). The Venus is not a rod for close range. The rod loads near the tip and really comes to life with about 60' feet of line out. Throwing shorter casts in the range of 20-30' was difficult because the rod just would not load for me. Perhaps over-lining the rod with a 10wt or even an 11wt. line would help the short game. Casting into the wind with this rod is as easy as it gets! The strong fast action is able to form tight loops and can punch out 80-90' casts in a head wind as good if not better than any rod I have fished.
Here are a few highlights of the Venus 9wt.
The guides are all anodized and corrosion proof made by Pacbay. The guides are generously sized to make shooting line easier and the color of the guides go great with the blank!
The reel seat features a rear lock nut for added security. The seat also features a captive hood that does not rotate. I have never seen this type of seat on a rod before, but after attaching a reel a few times I wish all my rods has a reel seat like this. The opening that receives the rear foot of the reel stays aligned with the front opening so there is no more need to hold the reel to the rod while rotating the band in search of the opening. Great idea!
The grip is a full wells and features natural and rubberized cork. I like that the grip is long enough to accommodate big hands. I don't know if its me, but it seems like a number of companies have shortened the grip on larger rods. The fighting butt is just right for added that extra amount of support for working large fish.
The guide wraps are metallic and bring a nice modern ascetic to the rod. The finish work was very good (something that can no longer be assumed!).
In sum: The Vision Venus 9wt. is a great rod if you need to throw long casts into wind. The blank is extremely quick and in the right hands can punch out long casts with very little effort. As previously mentioned, I could not get the Venus to load with less than 40 or so feet of line out so for fishing up close to easily spooked fish a more moderate action rod might be more appropriate. The Venus is a technical rod and although not an "all around" stick the Venus will get the job done if distance in wind is required. One thing I am beginning to appreciate about European fly fishing equipment is that they do not advertise nor design their equipment to function in every situation (as though any rod can live up to that). Instead, rods and lines are designed to function in a specific range of applications. The quality of gear, then, increases as the form is matched to function. Vision has done a great job with the Venus and without hesitation I recommend this rod.
Lately there seems to be a glut of cheap reels on the market. Just the other day I watched a promotional video for a new reel where they hooked a car up to the line to test the drag (how the pull of a car is in any way relevant to fighting fish is beyond me). In addition to emails requesting a review I receive at least one email a month from the factory in China where these reels are being made. Basically, this is how it works: The are a couple of standard reels that the Chinese factory produces and for a price you can customize the porting on the reel, change out the handle and get your name printed on the side. After spending some time with these reels the lower line weight ones seem okay for the money. I've heard from a number of owners that the bearings on the heavier reels have a tendency to jam up and the sealed drag systems are not fully sealed and can ice up in cold conditions. Anyway, my point is this: If you are looking for a machined reel with a sealed drag that is capable of turning a 20+lbs fish and will last more than a couple of seasons, then the best bet is going with a company that designs their equipment from the ground up and does not rely solely on Chinese engineers who have never held a fly or spey rod.
For the last few months I have been looking at a number of 9wt. reels for spey, Pike, and Atlantic Salmon. I was looking for something that had a bombproof sealed drag, was machined, convertible, had a large backing capacity, a solid frame, was light weight and cost in the range of $200-$250. After looking at a number reels by a dozen manufactures I finally settled on the new Guideline V2 Haze. Coming in at $240 for the larger models and less for the smaller ones the V2 Haze is bar none the highest quality reel for the price I found. The closest competitor that has a similar list of features would be the Hatch 9 plus, that comes in around $750 and is much heavier.
Guideline: V2 Haze 79
The first thing I noticed about the V2 Haze was how light the reel felt in hand. Although not the lightest reel on the market the full frame of the V2 makes it incredibly strong while keeping the weight down. The frame is solid and the spool fit perfectly with absolutely no grinding. The porting on the back side of the frame looks great and is substantial enough to ensure you don't loose a finger while adjusting the drag on the fly. The full frame also keeps running line from jamming up between the spool and frame by channeling the lines movement.
The drag system on the V2 Haze is what really sold me on this reel. It is double sealed. One seal for the outer face to protect the release screw and a second seal that protects the bearing should any water or debris get past the outer housing (Honestly, after taking the drag apart to change the retrieve direction there is absolutely no way anything could gum up the innards of this drag system).
Outer seal and release screw
Inner seal
The drag is adjustable all the way to high tension utilizing a stacked disc design utilizing Teflon, cork, and stainless steel. The reel offers plenty of tension for large fish and I counted 45 settings. I really like the subtle drag adjustments the V2 Haze offers and there was little to no start up inertia. Even with the full frame you can still palm the spool for those times when you might want to dial back the drag for added control. The drag adjustment knob can also be adjusted with gloves on. The knurled, positive grip knob makes subtle changes to the drag easy when a fish is on the line.
The outer casing of the drag system utilizes a simple positive-fit spool connection that makes cleaning it as simple as submerging it under water and washing the dirt, mud, or salt off it. There is no need to brush out any parts! The outer drag cylinder is burgundy and gives the reel a nice modern look while not being too flashy.
Guideline's website recommends 130 m of 30 lbs. backing for a 9wt. line (on the 7-9wt. Haze). I was able to fit 150 yards of 30 lbs with room left over while using a 9wt. Pike Series Sink 3 line. When switching to the spey rod I could fit a S.A. running line and 560 grain Scandi head with 150 yards of 30 lbs. backing but things were a bit tight. The spool is heavily ported to keep the weight down and is surprisingly wide. I just kept adding backing until I filled it to just above the lower set of ports and it just kept taking more and more. Personally I have never needed more than 150 yards of backing, but if backing capacity is a concern you could always pack on 250 yards of gel spun or bump up to the 8/10 reel.
The spool features a captive release knob and easily seats in the frame without having to line anything up. Changing out spools is quick and efficient. No worrying about the spool cap flying off!
In Sum: I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the V2 Haze given its modest price. If I had to price the reel based on my experience with other reels I would put it in the range of $400+. It has all the features one comes to expect from a high end reel: sealed drag, machined frame and spool, full frame, porting, and plenty of stopping power. The reel is light enough to use on single hand rods yet is not so light that it won't balance a spey rod. I have cast the Haze 79 on a 9wt. Pike rod turned around and threw on a Scandi head and the reel did a nice job balancing out my 8wt. spey rod. The V2 Haze generates a soft click when giving line and is silent on the retrieve. If you are looking for a reel that will last and functions with reels twice its price, then the Guideline V2 Haze is a great buy. Guideline has built their reputation on equipment made for hooking and landing large hard-fighting fish. The V2 Haze is the first Guideline reel I have used and it has absolutely won me over.
Kype - the bone needles forming the structure of the kype and bulbous nose of the males is made from calcium reabsorbed from the scales by the Atlantic salmon - photo Tom Montgomery
In the Miramichi the Atlantic salmon have begun spawning, making this a great time to look back on the runs of 2011 and to celebrate the many rivers that have done remarkably well, especially with the all-important large salmon.
Have we turned a corner with this year’s high returns in so many rivers? Or will we be faced with yet other hurdles to achieving the higher Atlantic salmon numbers that we all strive for.
What was different this year? In the rivers, somewhat higher water levels overall, and periods when water levels were high enough to discourage angling could make a positive difference in Atlantic salmon spawning numbers. The cooler river temperatures were also a major factor.
The combination of the Greenland Conservation Agreement, suspending Greenland’s commercial salmon fishery, combined with increased survival at sea and, possibly, other factors has undoubtedly insured that there are more Atlantic salmon spawning this year.
A point about the video: As many viewers will know, precocious male parr that have never gone to sea actually fertilize many of the eggs laid by female salmon. They zip in to fertilize those females when the large adults aren’t looking. If you look closely at Manu Esteve’s video above, you can spot a few parr darting around the redd.
While the angling season is over in most areas, there are a few notes. The first are about the rivers in Nova Scotia where angling is still in progress.
Nova Scotia
Margaree River, October - photo Gordon McGee
Margaree – Lewis Hinks, ASF’s Director of Nova Scotia Programs, was on the Margaree this past weekend. He reports the river was dropping to a nice level for fishing – and the angling was fantastic. He notes one party that had thirteen salmon on line in one morning.
As to the situation in the river overall, this will need to wait for the results of the various surveys that are conducted, but from anecdotal information it appears to be a good year.
Lewis Hinks also notes that great fishing has been reported in all these rivers, including River Philip. Last week the water was rising with the rain, and some bright fish were on line. With the water now falling, it should make for excellent conditions.
Elsewhere in Nova Scotia the numbers remain relatively disappointing.
Sackville – The Sackville River Counting Fence had 10 large salmon and 38 grilse, compared to 24 large salmon and 50 grilse in 2010.
LaHave – The LaHave had a more promising 74 large salmon this year compared to 52 last year, and 281 grilse, exactly the same number as last year.
New Brunswick
Northern New Brunswick Rivers – With the Upsalquitch at 649 large salmon this year compared to 410 last year, and against a five-year average from 2003 to 2007 of 311, there is good hope for the future. The Jacquet River’s 231 large salmon was somewhat lower than last year’s 293, but certainly bears up well when compared with the five-year average of 93.
For grilse, the 646 this year in the Upsalquitch may not have beat the 638 last year, but is definitely higher than the 2003 to 2007 average of 487. Meanwhile the Jacquet River’s 348 compares favourably both with the 2010 number of 194 and the 137 for the five-year average.
Miramichi – The final week of the angling season was noteworthy for having a large number of fish, but most were not interested in taking flies. Water levels rose again, which was certainly to the salmon’s liking.
How to assess the overall season? That is not exactly clear. Returns of large salmon were generally in line with 2010′s numbers, but, on the other hand, as has been noted,, water conditions and the health of the Atlantic salmon certainly favoured the fish this year, leading to an expectation that it could be a year of high spawning success. Keep fingers crossed.
Saint John – The number of large salmon returning to the Saint John certainly was a highlight, with 624 at Mactaquac and 230 at the Nashwaak Counting Fence, compared to 362 and 126 respectively.
The point here is that the Saint John does have a future. It has major issues with dams and the problems affecting both upstream and downstream passage need to be addressed – no small matter. Continued improvement in survival at sea and a continuance of the Greenland Agreement would certainly be an important basis for restoring the river’s health.
Maine
Penobscot – The statistics page has been taken down by the Maine Government, but as of Oct. 12, 3120 Atlantic salmon had returned through Veazie. Certainly this is a remarkable return for recent years, making it the highest return since 1986. With Great Works Dam slated for decommissioning in 2012, we can see this is a return the Penobscot can build on.
Veazie - Penobscot Salmon - Oct. 7
Downeast Rivers – Returns, while low, still show promise. The Narraguagus had the best returns since the late 1980s, for example. Unfortunately more aquaculture escapees were entering the Dennys in October from some unreported escape.
New Hampshire
Merrimack – This great river has had a remarkable return of more than 400 Atlantic salmon this year, the highest number since the 1980s.
Quebec
Overall, good river conditions and angling results throughout the season are pointing to a healthy increase in runs across Quebec that surpasses the last five year average. We anxiously await the publication of final run numbers in late December.
Matapedia
Matapedia River, October - photo Charles Cusson
To September 30, for the season, a total of 2,089 fish were reported landed, including 326 releases. River conditions were very good during the last week of September, but the high water, resulting from storms earlier in the month, scattered the fish and made angling challenging. Angling results continue to outpace last season, 623 more fish were landed compared to the same date in 2010.
Matane
The Matane witnessed its best run since 1988. 3,155 fish had migrated (1,409 salmon and 1,746 grilse) through the fish ladder for the season ending September 30th. This represents an increase of 1,006 fish (77 salmon and 929 grilse) compared to all of last season. 1,117 salmon and 715 grilse were reported landed. The cumulative number of releases was not available at the time this report was prepared.
Bonaventure
Numbers should have been higher, but Mother Nature is the great equalizer. In total for the season, to September 30, 1,184 salmon were landed and released, compared to 1,119 in 2010. Grilse captures are also higher, up from 433 in 2010 to 698 in 2011. The Bonaventure was hit with “Moisie” like bumps in water such as the peak flow of 470 cubic meters/second during the second week of September. This combined with river levels that receded at a slow pace impacted angling until the end. Overall, an excellent year for the Bonaventure.
Sainte-Anne
For the season at September 30, 436 salmon were reported released compared to 360 in 2010. The number of grilse landed increased to 222 from 166 in 2010. The Sainte-Anne was not spared from the torrents of water that fell on the Gaspé. It is evident that the high waters during the month curtailed angling success, but just think of the higher number of fish in the river to spawn over the next weeks.
Dartmouth, St-Jean and York Rivers
Gros Saumon Pool, York River - photo Charles Cusson
Anglers were treated to June like levels of water on the jewels of the Gaspé during the last two weeks of September. Angling was challenging due to holding fences being washed away on all three rivers during the high water events early in the month.
This also made conditions for a final in-river count impossible. Based on the number of fish landed, there are healthy increases on the York and Dartmouth and the St-Jean is within the last five year average. Overall it was a great season for everyone, more salmon in the rivers translated into more rod days being sold, more money for the local economy, increased 2012 business for local outfitters, more fish being released, happy anglers and hopes that this could be a sign of healthier runs of wild Atlantic salmon.
Sainte-Marguerite
For the season, as of September 15, 257 fish (192 salmon released & 65 grilse retained) were reported landed. These numbers reflect a healthy increase of released salmon (124 more than 2010) and a slightly higher number of grilse. Great water levels overall during the season gave hope to the many volunteers who are working tirelessly to bring this river back to its former glory.
Godbout
Godbout River - photo Charles Cusson
To September 15th, 413 fish were reported landed (183 salmon 54 grilse released) and 176 grilse were harvested. This past season’s numbers reflect the type of increases reported across Quebec. In 2010 a total of 172 were landed. Migrating fish have increased also with 1,173 fish (694 salmon and 479 grilse) at the counting facility. At the same time last year, 857 fish (550 salmon and 307 grilse) had gone though the counting facility. 2011 will most likely be remembered as a vintage production year in 4 to 5 years from now.
Escoumins
This small North Shore river also had a healthy increase in the number of fish migrating through. At September 16, 376 fish (256 salmon and 120 grilse) were counted in contrast to 2010’s 228 fish (98 salmon and 130 grilse). By mid-September, 110 fish (79 salmon & 2 grilse released, 29 grilse retained) had been reported landed. In 2010, only 47 fish were landed which included 21 salmon & 7 grilse released and 19 grilse harvested. This season’s good levels , compared to the drought conditions of the last few years greatly improved angling success.
Trinité
This biological index river reported very good numbers this season, 1,180 fish (305 salmon and 875 grilse) migrated though the counting facility. 282 fish (64 salmon & 15 grilse released and 203 retained) were reported landed.
In 2010, a total of 803 fish were counted (255 salmon and 548 grilse) migrating through. The number of fish landed was reported to total 122 (15 salmon released & 2 grilse released and 105 grilse retained).
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland could be divided into three districts in 2011.
Everywhere but the South Coast and parts of the West Coast: Most of Newfoundland had a good year – almost as good as the banner 2010 year. The Exploits River was typical, with more than 41,000 salmon returning – only 10% below the incredible 45,000 of 2010. Many other rivers better the numbers for 2010. With two good years in a row, it bodes well for an overall uptick in the numbers.
West Coast – Rivers like the Torrent and Western Arm Brook experienced a decline of 20% or more for unknown reasons.
South Coast – The comparative lack of rebound in numbers on Newfoundland’s south coast is alarming. This same region is home to the province’s salmon aquaculture industry and whether or not there is connection, something is definitely wrong with the populations in rivers such as the Conne. This year 1,189 were counted; in 201p there were 1,747 and the five-year average between 2006 and 2010 was 2,084.
Labrador
In Labrador there is a sense of relief – that river numbers have come up in an area that was declining recently. We can only hope those numbers continue to improve.
The Sand Hill River needs to be singled out for special mention. It went from 1,975 salmon in 2010 to 9,535 in 2011. There is no explanation for the massive increase, but at this time all indications are that the data is correct. This is
Gathering the Facts
From June to October we have seen a great number of rivers experience high returns of large salmon – those salmon that go to far ocean feeding grounds. Grilse numbers have generally not seen the same improvement. The scientific evidence points towards improved survival in Greenland waters, and improved ocean productivity.
