www.southerngazette.ca/index.cfm?sid=175939&sc=385 -
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Last Visited: 12/4/2008
This past summer I was fortunate to be among a group of fly fishers who visited the lodge of St. John's realtor Jim Burton at Flower's River, Labrador.
It is the Northern-most Labrador river to maintain an annual migration of Atlantic salmon, and the lodge is located only 20 kilometers from the ocean.
It was originally built as a 'getaway' for executives of the Bowater mill in Corner Brook.
Jim bought the operation in the late 1990s from his dad, Vince Burton, a long-time Labrador outfitter who has also operated lodges on Igloo Lake and the Eagle River.
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In a departure from the normal operating strategy, Jim decided in 2002 to make his lodge a total hook-and-release operation for Atlantic salmon.
It was a decision not made lightly because many of his guests wanted to return home with a large, multi-sea winter salmon.
Any retention was limited to Arctic char and brook trout.
Jim told me "As the only outfitter on the river, I felt an obligation to become the steward of the resources that kept me in business.
Too many large salmon were being taken by my guests each season."
It took a few years for the policy to bear fruit, but Jim noticed a larger number of multi-sea winter fish returning to Flower's River and being hooked by his clients.
It was common to see fish in the 20-30 pound range being released, and some which his guides swore were 40 pounds or more were seen.
The hook and release policy was bringing results.