Gander River

The Gander runs about 60 km from the outlet of Gander Lake at Appleton and Glenwood north to Gander Bay, through country with almost no road along it. It is a grilse river first: thousands of fish come up from Gander Bay in late June and July, and most are the one-sea-winter fish Newfoundland lets you keep under 63 cm. The river gave its name to the long, narrow Gander River boat, built to run its shallow, rocky steadies, and many anglers still fish from one.

Think of it as a boat river with wading at the pools. You run between pools and get out to wade the runs, or fish from an anchored boat. The water is tea-coloured and often shallow, and in a dry July it drops fast and warms. As a rough guide from the Big Chute gauge's summer record, the river fishes well between about 30 and 145 m³/s and is high over about 250. A dropping river after rain is the time to be there. Small wet flies on a floating line take most fish, and a riffling hitch is worth a pass over every run.

The main stem below Gander Lake is Class 6: two salmon a season under 63 cm, and 3 released a day. The Northwest Gander is Class 4, most other tributaries Class 2, and the water above Big Dead Wolf Falls and Great Gull Falls is catch and release only. From September 8 to October 7, subject to DFO's in-season review, the main stem stays open for catch and release, with no tributaries. The river closes at Salmon Brook's mouth and fishway, and warm, low water can bring the environmental protocol in July and August. A non-resident needs a licensed guide or a resident relative, so most visitors book an outfitter with boats. Gander, 20 minutes from Appleton, has the airport and services.