The Veazie Salmon Club was founded by in May of 1978. The Club was constructed to encourage and facilitate camaraderie among all members and all Atlantic Salmon fishermen. At its peak the first Atlantic Salmon caught each season was delivered straight to the White House for presentation to the President of the United States. The clubhouse and grounds are a grassroots conduit for people from all places to congregate and celebrate Maine’s fishing heritage.
Fishing for Atlantic Salmon ended when they were listed as an endangered species in 2000, but the club has survived tirelessly promoting Maine’s fishing heritage. The Penobscot River fishery is now rich with other species including Shad, Striped Bass, and Smallmouth Bass which all offer fishermen a great fight!
Our private member rustic clubhouse and riverside setting is a social and cultural landmark. Over the years, the Veazie Salmon Club has become known not only for our rich traditions and legendary salmon catches, but also for our commitment to the river communities and outdoor education. The club plays a pivotal role in advocating for sustainable fishing practices and supporting efforts to restore Atlantic Salmon populations.
1980 Founding Fathers
Normand W. Bacon
Roger Bennett
Richard Greene
Jean Guerin
Gayland Hackey
Paul W. Higgins, Sr.
Bertrand Lane
Raymond Strout
The Veazie Salmon Club in the 1980s
The 1980s were a defining chapter in the long and storied legacy of the Veazie Salmon Club. Established in 1978, the club had long served as a hub for salmon anglers, conservationists, and community members—but the 1980s brought a renewed sense of purpose and urgency.
A Time of Tradition and Transition
At the dawn of the 1980s, the club remained a cherished gathering place for seasoned anglers—many of whom fished with hand-tied flies and handmade rods passed down through generations. Morning coffee and games of cribbage in the clubhouse, the scent of cigar smoke, and tales of the “one that got away” filled the air. The club’s annual “Opening Day Breakfast” celebration remained a hallmark event each spring, drawing community members and passionate fly fishers alike. Catching the season’s first Atlantic salmon on the Penobscot meant more than bragging rights—it symbolized the start of the fishing season and the chance to deliver a “Presidential Salmon” to the President of the United States.
As salmon returns continued, the club’s community spirit thrived. Potlucks, fly-tying nights, and seasonal clean-up days helped maintain both the grounds and the bonds between members and the local community. It wasn’t uncommon to see multiple generations sharing stories and gear, with older members teaching younger the subtle art of reading river currents or how to properly present a fly.
The 1980s also saw the club begin to document more of its legacy. Photographs, journals, and memorabilia were gathered and preserved, often displayed on the clubhouse walls to remind visitors of the rich history stretching back to the 19th century.
But beneath the nostalgia was a growing awareness that the river and its iconic Atlantic salmon were under increasing threat. By the close of the decade, the Veazie Salmon Club stood at a crossroads—still rooted in proud tradition but fully aware of the challenges facing the future of Atlantic salmon.
The Veazie Salmon Club in the 1990s
During the 1990s, the Veazie Salmon Club stood at a crossroads as Atlantic salmon returns to the Penobscot River began to decline sharply. Once a thriving fishery where anglers would celebrate the annual arrival of the “king of fish,” we witnessed a troubling drop in salmon numbers, reflecting larger environmental challenges across the region.
Chief among these was the impact of dams along the Penobscot and its tributaries, which obstructed the natural migratory routes that Atlantic salmon rely on to reach their spawning grounds. While fish ladders and hatchery programs were introduced in attempts to offset these disruptions, they proved insufficient against the cumulative effects of habitat fragmentation, water quality degradation, and reduced access to upstream habitats.
The Veazie Dam, located just below the club, became a symbol of these barriers.
As salmon returns dwindled throughout the decad
e, the Veazie Salmon Club shifted its focus from sport fishing to advocacy and conservation, working alongside other organizations to raise awareness and push for restoration efforts. This period laid the groundwork for major environmental initiatives in the early 2000s, including the eventual removal of key dams like the Veazie Dam itself in 2013—a step that offered hope for the future of Atlantic salmon in Maine.
Demolition began on July 22, 2013, as part of the Penobscot River Restoration Project—a major initiative to restore access to nearly 1,000 miles of historic habitat for Atlantic salmon and other migratory fish.
The removal of the Veazie Dam was a historic moment for the region, marking a turning point in efforts to revive Maine’s native sea-run fish populations while maintaining hydropower generation elsewhere on the river.
The Veazie Salmon Club in the 2000s
In the early 2000s, a quiet sadness settled over the Veazie Salmon Club. For over a century, the club had been a place where stories were shared, hands were calloused from casting, and generations bonded over the annual return of the Atlantic salmon. But when the salmon were officially listed as endangered in 2000, fishing on the Penobscot came to a standstill. The cherished tradition of standing on the riverbank at dawn, fly rod in hand, was suddenly no longer an option.
For the older members—many of whom had fished those waters since childhood—the pause felt like more than just a regulation; it felt like the closing of a chapter. These were men and women who remembered the river full of life, who could still recall the thrum of a salmon on the line and the joy of a good fight. As they aged, their numbers dwindled, and so did the laughter and clinking of coffee mugs in the clubhouse on early summer mornings.
And yet, even in its quiet years, the Veazie Salmon Club remained a symbol of hope and memory—a place that held the echoes of cast lines and the belief that someday, the salmon would return, and with them, perhaps, a new generation ready to listen, learn, and wade in.
With record setting returns on river herring and shad there is a rebirth of fishing along the Penobscot River. Excitedly the Veazie Salmon Club has survived and continues to live and promote the fishing heritage along with supporting all outdoor activities that enjoy the wonderful Penobscot Waterway.
Today the Veazie Salmon Club still remains 100% privately funded by dues & donations. As a 501C3 status we continue operating and focusing on charitable, educational, and conservation purposes. Working with the Town of Veazie the Club remains a community landmark standing strong and looking towards the future that we pray someday could see the return of casting a fly to entice a mighty Atlantic Salmon. Meantime we will promote education regarding riverway restoration and gather regularly to appreciate our wonderful river and Clubhouse.
Become a member of the Veazie Salmon Club and join a living legacy rooted in Maine’s rich Atlantic salmon heritage. Here, you’ll connect with fellow conservationists, anglers, and storytellers who share a deep respect for the river and its history. As a member, you help preserve a cherished tradition and support efforts to restore the salmon for future generations.
Affiliates, Friends & Salmon Information Sites
Eddington Salmon Club
Penobscot Salmon Club
Penobscot Indian Nation Atlantic Salmon Recovery
Penobscot River Restoration Trust
Downeast Salmon Federation
The Penobscot Paddling Trail
Email us at veaziesalmonclub1978@gmail.com
