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Fishing on the dam at Northwest Pond1951
Indian Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
Credits:"The Water Nipper from Newport" by Arch Collins
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In the past there were a lot of salmon in Indian Bay. The salmon would swim around the mouth of the river in schools until they were adjusted to the water temperature, then they would swim up the river. When people were swimming in the river, the salmon jumped over their heads. Some people angled ten salmon in an hour.3
Reel from J.W. Young and Sons in England with Braided Silk Line1950-1960
Indian Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
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Some of the men who worked with the Bowaters Logging Company in Indian Bay said while they were loading the wood into the drum barker some salmon would go up the jack ladder. These men had to quickly pick the salmon off the ladder before they went into the drum barker. Also, when the workers were placing the logs into booms the salmon were pushed on top of the wood. There may have been forty or fifty salmon on top of the logs in each boom. The salmon also gathered under the logs while they were floating in the pond. The workers of Bowaters could place their nets between the wood and pull them up full of salmon.5
Reel from J.W. Young and Sons in England with Braided Silk Line1950-1960
Indian Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
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People in Indian Bay could put their hook anywhere to catch a trout. People who worked in Indian Bay often came home from work, went to the wharf at the mouth of the river and caught a meal of trout for their supper. Also, while people were swimming in the river, the trout jumped over their heads. Some people say the trout in Northwest Pond were as plentiful as capelin in the ocean.7
Skeeter Skatter Fly Dope1950-1960
Indian Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
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At that time, six trout could easily feed a family of ten or twelve. However, the size of fish in Indian Bay has decreased.9
Salmon Flies2000-2006
Indian Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
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Recreational fishing equipment has also changed during the last fifty years. Advanced equipment and technology have allowed people to catch fish more easily. Before fibreglass rods were available, people in Indian Bay fished with an alder branch and a piece of green twine with a crooked nail at the end. They then advanced to a three-piece split bamboo rod.11
Sure Strike Fishing Line1950-1960
Indian Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
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They also used a fringed line with knots in it to catch their trout. Ice fishing rods consisted of a piece of wood with a string tied to the top, which some people still use today. However, today's ice fishing rods have reels. Also, when people went ice fishing they had to use an axe to chop a hole instead of an ice auger. Advanced equipment such as fibreglass rods with reels and hooks and flies, made it easier to fish. Also, many people have fish finders to locate the fish in the pond.13
Spool from Spin Cast Reel1950-1960
Indian Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
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The bait used for fishing has not changed a lot during the last fifty years. The only large change is, the bait is easier to obtain. In the past people dug their own worms to go fishing, but now they can buy them in a store. Ice fishing bait was different in the past because people could not dig worms in the winter. Most people used salt pork to go ice fishing, and today some people still use it. However, today people can buy worms during the winter to go ice fishing. But some people also use squid and shrimp as bait for ice fishing. |
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