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

Gander

Aerial view of the Gander River winding through boreal forest near Glenwood, Newfoundland
Poor · Atlantic Salmon
Silver Rat · sizes 4 8
Closed season
Out of season. Try elsewhere.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.
What moved it
  • Level1.93 mLast reading 6h ago
  • Water temp8.0°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Silver Rat
Silver Ratsizes 4 8
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
1.93 m
Last reading 6h ago
Water temp8.0°C
ClarityClear
Weather3°C
WindNE 29 km/h
Pressure1017 hPa
Rain · recent0.1 mm
Rain · ahead0.8 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
Cool — slow
8°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
Chironomids
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 10 Uhr

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 5 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Supporters see the full sub-surface read.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

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Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence

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

Through the year
0–3 scale · October 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
Fly box · Atlantic Salmon
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
Other water nearby · 1
Terra Nova River
42 km
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
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature5430% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time9515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
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
Booking & contacts