Spate · Mixed · Nova Scotia (Cape Breton), CA

Margaree

The Margaree River bending past a steep, layered rock cliff and autumn-coloured trees, with a gravel bar in the foreground.
Today · A good day — worth the effort
Pheasant Tail Nymph
Forecast · Today
A good day — worth the effort
A reliable day. Match the fly size to the water height and cover the lies.
50% projected
Today's fly
Pheasant Tail Nymph
Pheasant Tail Nymph
Conditions on the water · Today
Live gauge
Level
Falling
0.49 m
Dropping after lift
Water temp12.2°C
ClarityClearing
Weather13°C
WindN 15 km/h
Pressure1013 hPa
Rain · recent18.1 mm
Rain · ahead0.4 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.
Why this works
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Likely species
Mayflies
Caddisflies
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 11am

12pm(now) — Reed Smut

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 52%
Also:Eastern Blue-Winged Olive43%
Peak emergence window6 food groups active

Peak activity at 11am — Reed Smut (Reed Smut, Peak emergence window)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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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 · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
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
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Nova Scotia salmon rules apply, with fly-only traditions and late-season management making current local regulations worth checking closely before fishing.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 3
Middle River
24 km
Salmon · Brook trout
Baddeck River
26 km
Salmon · Brook trout
Mabou River
38 km
Salmon · Brook trout
Gallery · 2
  1. The Margaree River bending past a steep, layered rock cliff and autumn-coloured trees, with a gravel bar in the foreground.
    A salmon pool on the Margaree River
  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 → 31 October
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
  • Brook trout 1 April → 30 September

    The Margaree is renowned for Atlantic salmon but also holds genuine brook trout fishing, especially in tributary streams like the North East Margaree. General NS season April 1 – September 30. Margaree Salmon Association manages access on private water — check current rules. NS Angling Licence required.

Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts