The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, today announced winners of the provincial salmon fly competition commemorating International Year of the Salmon in 2019. The announcement was held at the Salmonid Interpretation Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor to help launch the 35th annual Exploits Valley Salmon Festival.
The fly competition consisted of two streams: Angler’s Choice, to name the province’s favourite existing fly design; and Designer’s Choice, to select the province’s best original salmon fly design.
Angler’s Choice, as chosen by survey on Engage NL, is the Blue Charm with 42 per cent of the vote, followed by White Thunder and Lightning with 14 per cent. Colby House of Massey Drive has claimed Designer’s Choice honours and a $500-voucher from Loop Tackle for his original fly design, the ‘Portland Creek’, which represents the salmon as a symbol of courage and persistence. Mike Garland of St. Phillip’s has claimed second place and a $250-voucher from Loop Tackle for ‘A Salmon’s Life’, a fly illustrating the life of a salmon, as well as his favourite times to fish – sunrise and sunset. For more information on the winning designs, please see the attached backgrounder.
Fly-tying enthusiasts Bruce Andrews of Grand Falls-Windsor, Colin Burridge of Corner Brook, Judith Guy of Mount Pearl, and Darryl Reardon of Happy Valley-Goose Bay oversaw the competition, sponsored by Loop Tackle, to select the definitive Newfoundland and Labrador salmon fly.
International Year of the Salmon highlights the importance of salmon and how people can help ensure the conservation and restoration of salmon and salmon habitats, especially in light of increasing environmental change. These ideas are reflected in the theme, “Salmon and people in a changing world,” with international events planned for 2019 and continuing into 2022.
Along with the salmon fly competition, other activities planned for Newfoundland and Labrador in 2019 include youth angling and salmon conservation education events, a salmon ecology exhibit at Salmonier Nature Park, and a mobile salmon conservation vehicle that will travel and attend public events. Winners of a provincial poster and essay contest announced in June are available here: www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2019/ffa/0627n05.aspx.
Quotes
“I am pleased to name the Blue Charm as the Angler’s Choice for Newfoundland and Labrador’s favourite salmon fly, and to convey bragging rights to Colby House and Mike Garland for their beautiful and innovative fly designs, which encapsulate the spirit of our salmon resource and heritage. Thanks to everyone who voted and submitted original designs, to our dedicated judges, and to our sponsor, Loop Tackle, who made this contest possible.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
“For 40 years Loop Tackle has been committed to growing and connecting the worldwide fly-fishing community, the practice of effective sustainable management of sport fishing resources, and developing fly-fishing technologies through our passion for the sport. It has been a pleasure for us to collaborate with the Provincial Government during International Year of the Salmon to help raise awareness of salmon conservation, both at home and globally. Congratulations to all participants for their enthusiastic support of the fly-fishing community.”
Tyrone Buckle
Director of Operations, Loop Tackle
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Learn more
International Year of the Salmon
Salmonid Interpretation Centre
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Media contacts
Linda Skinner
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2284, 632-8167
lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca
Tyrone Buckle
Loop Tackle
709-693-2385
tyrone@looptackle.se
BACKGROUNDER
Angler’s Choice
Blue Charm has been voted Newfoundland and Labrador’s favourite salmon fly, receiving 42 per cent of the vote in the International Year of the Salmon Fly Competition, Angler’s Choice stream. In second place was White Thunder and Lightning, with 14 per cent of the vote.
Designer’s Choice
The ‘Portland Creek’, named for Colby House’s favourite salmon river, is a symbol of courage and persistence, incorporating silver on the wing to emulate salmon scales and represent gracefulness. The use of mallard feathers represents freedom; the yellow tail represents joy, happiness and energy; and the red butt represents passion and strength. Gold at the throat signifies tranquility, with a bluish tone to represent water. The salmon-pink ring around the head is a sign of hope. According to Colby, the salmon is wild at heart with the spirit of a warrior – a free spirit wishing to create a powerful legacy.
Mike Garland’s fly design, ‘A Salmon’s Life’, incorporates materials and colours illustrating the life of a salmon, and his favourite fishing times – sunrise and sunset. The body is made of dyed seal fur and represents a salmon’s life stages: pale pink for the egg, blues and purples for the fish emerging from the water, silver tinsel representing the ocean, and black for the river. The long body hackle symbolizes flowing river water, and the wing colours – blue, yellow, pink and red – symbolize water, sunrise and sunset. Mottled brown feathers represent riverbanks and forest, with yellow feathers for the tail and topping to symbolize a sunny day. The body was tied using seal, polar bear and Arctic fox fur to illustrate the salmon’s connection to Canada’s ecosystem.