Eagle River

The Eagle is one of the big rivers of southeastern Labrador. It runs north and east out of the interior plateau and the Mealy Mountains country to Sandwich Bay, near Cartwright. Its salmon run later than the island's, and most anglers reach it by float plane from Goose Bay to a lodge on the river, fishing big Atlantic salmon and grilse in the pools and brook trout in the lakes and tributaries.

It is a large, cold river. In June it carries the spring melt, and it drops through July and August. As a rough guide from the gauge above the falls near the mouth, it fishes well between about 160 and 600 m³/s and is high over about 1,300. That gauge sits near tide and reads the whole river, so a lodge's guides know their own pools better than any number. Wet flies on a floating or sink-tip line, the riffling hitch and big dries all have their days.

It is unclassified Labrador water in Salmon Fishing Area 2. The season runs June 15 to September 15. You may keep two salmon a season under 63 cm on tags 1 and 2, and release 3 a day. Release the large fish in the water. North of 52°N a non-resident must fish through a licensed outfitter or with a resident relative, so almost every visitor comes through a lodge. Weather sets the schedule: plan a spare day for fog and wind on the flights.