An intriguing scheme

by John Bailey

Just got back from a week in New Brunswick on Canada’s east coast, of course. And pretty impressive it was, too. The group I was with absolutely sparkled – stars for me were David Profumo, James Babb (Editor of Gray’s Sporting Journal), Keith Elliott and really the list goes on and on. A party of journos is often a group to be avoided but not in this case. Thanks guys for making it all so companionable.

The trip was set up jointly between the Canadian government and Salar Enterprise. I’d better explain. New Brunswick itself is somewhat in the doldrums at present. Seems that its major export – timber to the US – is no longer required. This means that the authorities are looking round for new forms of income and tourism looks a good bet. Get a party of writers over to sample the salmon fishing and, hopefully, some bums will be on airline seats across the Atlantic. No problem with that. Great place, great lodges, great rivers, get yourself there.

The involvement of Salar Enterprise takes the whole scenario a stage further. This is the brainchild of Englishman, Neil Freeman and German, Axel Lerche. I’ve known Neil twenty years and he’s a good guy. I’ve known Axel now eight days and I’m convinced that he is, too. They’re bright and they’re businessmen but that doesn’t mean to say they should be treated with anything like suspicion. They’ve got their finger on the pulse and their idea will go far.

So what is their idea? Well, as I see it (and I’m a bit of a dullard when it comes to business) in a short time Salar Enterprise will be in a position to effect sales of property to foreign anglers wishing to invest in a toehold along the Miramichi, the region’s great salmon river. Of course, the area is English speaking so most Europeans could hop on a plane and source a property themselves. Perhaps. But time for most of us is tight. Probably the property you want won’t be around. Or if it is, you might pay through the nose. Salar, in short, will be there to pass on its expertise and its contacts. Good news.

The best thing, though, is that if you buy into the Salar concept you also join the Club. For an annual fee, Salar will make sure your property is looked after, big, big advantage if my experience with my Spanish property is anything to go by. Whenever I do manage a visit to that fair land, I spend nearly all my time repairing the damn place. This won’t be the situation you will find yourself in if you’re in the Salar Club.

And there are other huge advantages. When you get out there, if you’re in the Club, you can borrow all the expensive equipment that would otherwise cost you a fortune – from snow mobiles downwards. You’re garden will be looked after. There will be food waiting. And a fire. And as a member of the Club you will be able to use the restaurant and bar situated reasonably close by. And Salar will have private salmon pools for Club members alone – another big, big advantage.

In fact, I can’t think of many disadvantages. Join Salar and there’s no doubt about it that your Canadian experience will be made much easier and much more enjoyable. And that’s got to be good. And, because you own your own property out there, the virtual certainty is that if you get bored of the place after five or ten years you will sell at a thumping great profit. In short, there aren’t very many places where I can think of that you can catch first class Atlantic salmon from your own property and know that your investment is appreciating a few cents every cast you make.

There’s shortly going to be a huge new website which certainly impressed me when I saw it in rough format. But I guess it wouldn’t be a bad idea to email Axel at this early stage if you’re at all serious – which you should be providing you’ve got the cash. Of course, I’m only a humble writer so that’s what I’ve never got enough of. If I had, I know a chunk would be going New Brunswick way.