Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Reels Are Turning on the Miramichi

Fly fishing on the Miramichi River has fishermen's reels turning very fast as fishing has picked up since last weekend on the River. Levels are very good and visibility is perfect. Most fishermen are landing 4 or 5 fish per day and some being lucky to get their limit of 10 per day. Most fish are salmon and a low percent is grilse which is not unusual with the numbers that went up last season.

Reports from the North West Miramichi appear to be very good with anglers hooking pretty much the same as the Main SW at 4 or 5 per day. Chris Edmonds of C.E. Salmon Flies and Guiding said levels were good on the NW and  he was landing a few but a lot were hitting short and not staying on. He also fished in Quarryville area and said levels are very good now but was very high last weekend after the rise. He also said smelts were up in the Quarryville area and the salmon are not taking very well.

Up stream on the Main SW Miramichi River in the Grey Rapids area Byron Coughlan of Country Haven Lodge said anglers were hooking 4 or 5 fish per day and a few even limit out. Flies of choice were Green Slimes, Maggot Smelt, Purple Grape and Christmas Tree patterns.

Local fisherman around the Mouth of Cains River area have been hooking fish and river conditions there are also very good. Anglers I have been talking to all have been hooking fish since Sunday and said water was very clear.

Cains River had very good fishing on the lower stretch from opening day until the weekend and started to improve on late afternoon Monday. Flies of choice were Renous Specials and Golden Eagles.

Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn in Doaktown said conditions have improved very good since the raise in water and visibility was clear. Many anglers were landing 5 to 7 fish per day and some fishermen hooking up to a dozen. Fly lines with sinking tips and all our fish were hooked on the cast. Flies of choice were Rabbit Strip, Dark Marabous and the Renous Specials.

Further up river Keith Wilson of Wilsons Sporting Camps said river conditions were great in the McNamee area. Fishing was tough on the weekend but with the warm weather and some rain it has melted the snow and put the rivers up to normal conditions for spring fishing. He also said conditions should stay good now with all the snow left in the woods. Flies of choice were Dark Marabou patterns.

In the Boistown area Miramichi River Tubing and Camping had some anglers in. They hooked lots of fish and even got a few trout one of which was about 4lbs. Golden Eagles and Black Ghost were the best patterns.

W.W.Doaks fly shop said many anglers were hooking up and averaging 5 and 6 fish per day. River levels were very good and clear in the Doaktown area. Flies of choice were the Renous Special and Marabou patterns.

Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters of the Blackville area said conditions were good and many fishermen in the store were hooking fish. Anglers were using Marabous, Renous Specials and Magot Smelts.

Also Proudly presented by Miramichi Schools. Is the 2013 Miramichi Fly Fishing and Sportsman Show scheduled May 24th and 25th. Hosted by the Miramichi Curling Club. Come and check out the Workshops, Fly Casting and fly tying, Outfitters, tackle shops, Fisheries and Oceans, Miramichi Salmon Assoc., Fishing boats, Four wheelers, Archery Isles, Casting pond, Silent Auction and our Youth Fly Fishing Club. All profits support the Youth Fly Fishing Programs. For more information on this event contact Ashley Hallihan at (506)-843-6554.

With the weather looking good over the next few days we should have some very good fishing up and down the river. So take some time and get the dust off your gear, get out on the water and catch some fish. The Miramichi is waiting for you. So get your reels screeching on the Miramichi.
Rodney Colford