Spate · Mixed · Newfoundland (Central-East), CA

Gander

Aerial view of the Gander River winding through boreal forest near Glenwood, Newfoundland
Today · Closed season
Pheasant Tail Nymph (18-20)
Forecast · Today
Closed season
Out of season. File this water for the right month.
40% projected
Today's fly
Pheasant Tail Nymph (18-20)
Pheasant Tail Nymph (18-20)
Conditions on the water · Today
Live gauge
Level
Rising
1.68 m
Lifting fast
Water temp11.9°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather12°C
WindN 17 km/h
Pressure1007 hPa
Rain · recent49.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.5 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal
12°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Likely species
Mayflies
Caddisflies
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12pm

12pm(now) — Eastern Blue-Winged Olive

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 29%
Also:Reed Smut26%
Peak emergence window4 food groups active

Peak activity at 12pm — Eastern Blue-Winged Olive (Eastern Blue-Winged Olive, Peak emergence window)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

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Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence

Based on species-occurrence records, not local invertebrate surveys.

Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Early Black StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Eastern Golden StoneHatch
2
2
Slate Drake / IsonychiaHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Beats · 6

The Gander is public, scheduled salmon water you fish on a provincial licence with tags — not a beat-let or syndicate river. What changes as you move through the system is the DFO river class, which controls what you may keep: the lower main stem below Gander Lake is class 6 (retention with tags), the Northwest Gander class 4, the other watershed tributaries class 2 (a single tag), and the colonised upper waters class 0, catch-and-release only. Salmon Brook and its confluence are closed. Boat and canoe access matters on the Gander as much as the class does. Always confirm the current class, tags and closures for your stretch in the DFO Newfoundland & Labrador Anglers' Guide before fishing.

Lower Gander main stem (Class 6)Public
The main stem below Gander Lake is the system's class-6 retention water — public salmon fishing on a provincial licence, with reliable summer runs and a strong grilse component.
Northwest Gander River & tributaries (Class 4)Public
The Northwest Gander River and its tributary streams are scheduled class-4 water — public salmon fishing on the same licence, with retention still allowed but under the tighter class-4 tag rules.
Other Gander watershed tributaries (Class 2)Public
All other tributaries of the Gander watershed — apart from the specified colonised upper waters — are scheduled class-2 water.
Gander colonised upper waters (Class 0, C&R only)Public
The colonised upper waters above Big Dead Wolf Falls and Great Gull Falls, as specified by DFO, are scheduled class-0 water — newly accessible salmon habitat managed for conservation.
Salmon Brook closure (do not fish)Members-only
Salmon Brook, a Gander tributary, and its local confluence are closed to angling under special management measures — listed here only so you don't target them.
Gander lodges & canoe access (context)Guide / lodge
The Gander has a real lodge and canoe-access culture: Bear Cliff Lodge sits on the river with access to a string of named salmon pools, and Gander River Outfitters and similar operators run remote, boat- and canoe-accessed trips.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Newfoundland scheduled-salmon-river rules apply
  • Provincial salmon licence is required and local pool rules should be checked before fishing.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 1
Terra Nova River
42 km
50
Salmon · Brook trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Aerial view of the Gander River winding through boreal forest near Glenwood, Newfoundland
    The Gander River near Glenwood, Newfoundland
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 June → 7 September
  • Trout 15 January → 15 September
  • Brook trout varies by zone (earliest 1 February) → 7–15 September (zone-specific)

    Newfoundland (Island) brook trout (speckled trout) — zone-specific dates. Earliest Zone opener is Feb 1; Zone 2 opens Mar 1; Zone 1 has a split season (Feb 1–Apr 15 and May 15–Sep 7). Close dates range Sep 7–Sep 15 by zone. Check NL Anglers' Guide 2026-27 for the specific zone covering this water. Coastal waters allow year-round trout angling. This is primarily an Atlantic salmon river — brook trout present throughout, especially in headwaters and smaller tributaries.

Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
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