Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Tight lines on the Miramichi

Spring Salmon season blasted off on the Miramichi this week on Monday as many fishermen were on the water for opening day. There were tight lines from many boats as anglers rods were bent and scoop nets were out to net their fish.

Tuesday also gave us a much appreciated rain which raised the water up a few feet. And with the rise in water comes left over ice from ice out. Anglers should be careful because there is lots of ice along the shores and still to come down from the head of the river the next couple days.

Many fishermen were using the traditional method of just casting with sinking lines and most just sinking tips. Others were trolling and managed to hook into a few.

The fishermen I fished with this week all got fish. Most fish were salmon and very few grilse. We were hooking most on a cast on Renous Spacial and Green Slimes.

Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn said fishing was good, but couldn't get very far in the low water conditions. River was raising on Wednesday but very dirty and only landed a couple. Fishing should get better when the river clears up over the next couple days.

Keith Wilson of Wilsons Sporting Camps said river conditions were much the same up there with low water on opening day and only able to fish certain pools. The rise in water should make it very good over the next few days.

Fishermen in the Upper Blackville area on opening day were hooking up as many boats landed 5 and 6 fish per rod. River conditions were low but high enough to get around and find a few fish.

Near the Mouth of Cains River many fishermen were on the water. Anglers were hooking many fish and some boats had there limit of 10 salmon. Cains River was very low but still produced a few fish for anglers who ventured to try a cast.

In the Blackville area of the river at Country Haven Lodge fishermen were having great luck. Anglers were hooking most fish trolling with a few on the cast. River conditions were low but our guides managed too put all their sports on fish owner Byron Coughlan said.

Chris Edmonds of C.E. Salmon Flies & Guiding said the river was low on the North West at least 2 or 3 feet lower than it should be this time of year. He hooked a few fish and saw a few other anglers hooking some.

Flies of choice are your traditional patterns like the Golden Eagle, Renous Special, Christmas Tree, Black Ghost and many Marabou patterns.

So if your out on the river over the next few days be careful of the high water and Ice that will be flowing down stream, there is a bunch of it.

Until next week tight lines.