This N.B. fisherman has 63 years of proof to back up his fish stories
Minto fisherman and fly tyer has record of every fish he has caught since 1961
Ralph Goodwin flips through his 40-year-old diary looking for a record of the biggest salmon he ever caught. He traces his finger across the page, reciting the length, weight and location where he hooked the fish.
"It was on Sept. 26, 1982 … the lodge pool … released, 42-and-a-half-inch female salmon, approximately 30 pounds," said Goodwin.
He can remember when he spotted the salmon jumping out of Salmon River. His cast couldn't reach the fish at first, but once he hooked it, he fought it down the river for over an hour.
"I would take that rod and jerk it to get her to move and she wouldn't move. So I go along and hold the rod up and get down to grab a little rock and throw it out right where I thought she might be to make her move," said Goodwin.
He worked the fish down river until he was saved by a nearby fisherman in a row boat who netted the 30-pound — nearly 14 kilogram — fish.
While many New Brunswickers have fish stories, few have the proof that Goodwin has.
The 88-year-old has written records of every fish he's caught since 1961, whether it was a trout, pickerel, perch or salmon. In the case of his monster salmon, caught just north of Chipman, he even has photos.
Goodwin lives in Minto and was born on the bank of Newcastle Stream. That's where he started fishing with a maple-wood pole and string because he was unable to afford a rod and reel.
He fished alone most days and thought that he should be recording his catch of the day. That's when the fish diaries began.
The records got more detailed the older Goodwin got. In the early days, he catalogued species, quantity and location. Then he started recording the length and weight of the fish as well as some field notes. Goodwin would approximate where he was on the river and measure the water temperature.
"In 1968, I had the opportunity to learn to fly fish and that's when I really got into these books … I wanted to record the fish I caught, the fly I caught it on and the weight of the fish."
Goodwin recorded details on little pieces of paper after each catch as his diaries were kept safely at home.
The diaries became more important as Goodwin began tying fishing flies and even more so when he started selling them. His store, Goodwin's Fly Shop, is located in his basement.
"Being a fly tyer, I thought it would be nice to keep track of what I catch the fish on," said Goodwin.
His preferred method of fishing is on the fly. A fly is an artificially tied lure that mimics the look of a small insect. With different colours, shapes and sizes, there are thousands of different flies.
"That was one reason why I started this. I thought, well, if I can continue this, when I get older, I'll be able to look back and wonder why we're not fishing these flies if we caught fish on them back then," said Goodwin.
After almost 60 years of tying flies, Goodwin still gets orders over the phone and regular visits from customers. He often receives photos of fish that customers have caught with his flies.
Goodwin also makes an effort to pass on the skill of tying. His wife, Emily, said he will sit for an hour or two with anyone who wants to learn.
After many big fish and good memories on the water, Goodwin feels bad for the next generation of fishermen due to the state of salmon populations and river conditions.
He said Newcastle Stream, where he was born and learned to fish, has low, warm water this year. Goodwin added that temperature is critical for fishing and that climate change is an issue for fishermen.
Tommi Linnansaari is a professor of biology and forestry and environmental management at the University of New Brunswick. He said Goodwin's records are "invaluable."
For the St. John River system, Linnansaari said he's not aware of a record that extensive.
He said low water means less habitat, and a lower volume of water warms more quickly, causing fish to look for colder water.
"The less water, the faster it heats and this is the challenge because salmon and brook trout, they both are really cold-water fish species. ... they need that cold water to live," said Linnansaari.
'They'll not know fishing the way I did'
Goodwin has gotten some of his younger customers into fly fishing, but knows that because of environmental factors they won't know fishing like he did.
"It makes me feel sad, terribly sad for the upcoming generation for sure. They'll not know fishing the way I did."
Goodwin said in his youth he'd have no problem catching his limit of salmon at his father's camp on the Dungarvon River, which is connected to the Miramichi River.
Now, it's illegal to keep a salmon in New Brunswick and illegal to target or hook a salmon in the St. John River system.
Goodwin's diaries document a different time for fishing in the province. Compared to the first fish he caught, Goodwin said fishing is "terrible now." He added that "the future doesn't look good."
Linnansaari said the situation for salmon "is as dire as populations get."
As for what happens to Goodwin's records, Linnansaari would like to see the records digitized to look at possible trends.
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