Making Memories Fishing The Miramichi

Having a laugh at the Ledges Inn with the Campbell group 

Many memories are made salmon fishing on the Miramichi river, and fall salmon fishing is a time when many are made. So many of those memories are not from catching several fish, as it is to that particular fish that may have caused a heart stopping moment that you'll never forget for the rest of your life. For many, just to be there on such a beautiful river, watching the foliage change, perhaps seeing a deer or a moose come down to the rivers edge for a drink, having a beaver swim only a few feet from you, before slapping his tail to say this is my turf. All this and more is part of Atlantic salmon fishing on the Miramichi river.
 

Ledges Real Time Monitoring 

Keith Wilson of Wilson's Sporting Camps said they saw a few older fish and catching a few too, but know sign of any fall run. Keith said they usually see the fall run any-time from mid to late September and with all the high water hoping a bit sooner.

Martin Depuis and myself on the Cains Wednesday

The past week at The Ledges Inn was very slow with lots of rain and high water. We had a couple days that we were blown out and decided not to even fish. We started seeing a few fish on Monday, but was Tuesday before Veteran Guide Lloyd Lyons broke the ice when his client landed a grilse on a Yellow Ally Shrimp at the Car Pool. Guide Andrew Anthony ran the Cain's with a couple guest but had no hook-ups but saw several fish. Andrew said there we're many anglers fishing the Cains around Sabbies River and Salmon Brook. Notice the picture above from the Real Time Monitoring System. Normal conditions this is high in dry on land. Please check this site out at Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee if you haven't already.

Fishing Moores Pool Wednesday on the Cains

Country Haven Lodge on the lower stretch of the Miramichi said fishing was slow with the raise in water. They started hooking a few fish on Monday and a few more on Tuesday. Cains was treating them very good with a few fishermen.

Linda Warren of Princeton, MA

Dan Bullock of Bullock's Lodge in Boistown said angling was very challenging the past week. Dan said they had some success before the raise in water hooking a few fish and rolling many on Glitter Bears. Dan also said a monster male hook-bill 38 inches in length was landed by Linda Warren of Princeton, MA. Linda may have won her battle with this monster salmon, but her Sage Z-Axis was not so lucky, and may need to have some warranty work done on it. Fly of choice for Linda was created and dressed by her husband Bob Warren called the Cuttysark. That's a great memory Linda WTG! Dan also said he hopes we received our quota of rain for the season and expects good fishing in the coming days.

Fishing around the Mouth of Cain's River area is very slow with very high conditions. Anglers are picking up a few and seeing a few fish but conditions was very slow overall. River levels are at least 3 feet above normal conditions for this area of the river.

Remember back in July when we asked for more water to work with, when our river was low and warm. Well we got that wish since late July and that is a memory that will be with us for awhile to come.

http://www.mreac.org

Miramichi river levels were very high over the weekend again and looked more like spring fishing than fall fishing conditions. Conditions have improved and looks very promising heading into the weekend. There are a few fish around and may be even a few that have been hanging around in some pools way to long. Temperatures are awesome hoovering in the 50's (F).



So what excuses do we have this time salmon fishing, we can't say if the water was lower we could work with it. We could have more fish in the system for sure, but there are fish around to hook. Time is running out for 2013 salmon season and with know more time for excuses, it's time to get your lines tight.

Rodney Colford

Just like clock work a few salmon have arrived on the Miramichi

  Just like clock work a few salmon have arrived on the Miramichi. And still many fisherman are on the look out for more shiny chrome salmon to arrive and get their reels screeching for the Summer Bright's which we call it here on the Miramichi, of the 2012 season.

There have been a few reports over the last week of fish being landed in some tributaries of the Miramichi River. Most salmon seem to be on the North West Miramichi area of the river, which is not uncommon for earlier runs this time of the year to appear. There have been also reports of a few salmon hooked on the Little South West Miramichi River aswell. The Main South West Miramichi River has also had some salmon reports from Quarryville, Mouth of Renous River, Upper Blackville, Doaktown and all the way to Boistown area.

Sea Run Trout seemed to have gone through the lower stretches of the Miramichi as reports have trout up on the Upper Stretches of the Cains River and on the Upper Stretches of the North West Miramichi River. Last weekend for a couple days there were trout on the move as fishermen were getting them on the lower stretch of the SW Miramichi. I have heard that trout from 2 to 5 lb range have been hooked and released on the lower to the middle section of the Cains River the past week. Lets hope there is still some hanging around or more yet to come in.

I talked to a guy from Grand Manan that caught a 10lb salmon on Friday on the upper stretch of the North West Miramichi. There was also a report of a local angler landing a salmon at the Bridge Pool in Upper Blackville on a green butt moose hair pattern.

I fished with my brother Ryan and son Zachary on Sunday morning for awhile on the NW Miramichi but never saw anything. I fished Sunday evening on the Main SW Miramichi and rolled a salmon 5 times before he touched the fly and that was the end of the fun. I also landed a stripe bass about 4 lbs at the mouth of Cains River the same evening and must off saw 10 more bass splash the water around the same time. If it had been later in the evening I would of just thought they were Shad splashing. Speaking of Shad there are starting to be a few Shad in the river now and should be more and more over the next week. Local Guide Vaughan Arbeau of Upper Blackville once told me the Shad are most plentiful buy June 10th most years and he is usually right on the money each year as I always remember. I also remember he ties a pretty good Shad Fly too.

Chris Edmonds of CE Salmon Flies & Guiding had some luck rolling a few fish on the North West and Sevogle but nothing landed for salmon or grilse yet. He has been hooking a few trout in the 10 to 14 inch range. Flies of choice for Chris is Echo Beach and WT Green Machines.

In Doaktown at the Ledges Inn Head Guide Derek Munn said fishing was still slow for the most part. He rolled one and then struck him 3 cast later which he thought by the look of the take was a salmon. He also saw some Shad in the Doaktown area this week. Great news for the Shad fishermen in the area.

River temperatures have cooled down to 54 to 55 degrees ( F) on Tuesday evening and with lots of rain in the forecast for the Miramichi River System we should have great conditions in the coming week. The high tide for this week with a full moon on the 4th is High tide -1.71m at 6:17 am and on the 5th High tide-1.74m at 7:10 am. Lets hope some fish will make there way in with these tides this week.

 As of Tuesday the lower section of the Main Miramichi was still high and could use a bit of a drop in water to improve conditions. The upper stretches in the Doaktown to Boistown area was in very good condition as is. The North West Miramichi was low and could use a bit of a raise to improve the fishing. Cain's River was in good condition and salmon and trout could possible be in the river early again this June like last season on the lower stretch of the river. Sevolge River was very low and could use a raise to improve the fishing. Renous River was in pretty good condition as is.

Also don't forget to check with your local fly shops and guides in the area if your planning on fishing and want some fish gossip, as they know what's going on in their area of the river and can point you in the right direction to fishing and of course some new gear in the shop which we all like. Places to check out are WW Doaks in Doaktown, Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters in Blackville, Herb's Fly Shop in Blackville, Georges Fly Shop in Renous, Miramichi City Surplus in Miramichi on route 108 Derby Junction, Trout Brook Fly Shop in Trout Brook on the North West Miramichi. And on your way from Fredericton stop in at Fredericton Outfitters and Anglers. If I forgot your shop just give me a shout and I will gladly add it for you with my reports each week.

Until next week keep your lines tight and reels screeching on the Miramichi River.

Fish still seem to have lock jaw

Salmon fishing on the Miramichi the past week is still a little slow. Fish still seem to have lock jaw most days but there are the few that take the fly. The weather is staying very good and river levels are starting to get down to better fishing conditions. The water temperatures are staying in the low 60’s (F) and even down in the 50’s (F). You would think with the conditions we have that we would be landing lots of fish, but I have saw this before and if you know salmon fishing they will only take when the salmon decides to take the fly.

At the Ledges Inn this week we had many fish in most of our pools but yet again the fish were very selective to what they wanted. We had one evening where my client hooked a fish on a LT Special and across the river another client with Derek Munn hooked one on a purple marabou and another on a tippet shrimp. Andrew Anthony and clients were using very opposite patterns and more summer like flies, like the undertaker and a Conrad pattern I tied with jungle-cock eyes. Andrew had one salmon almost 20 pounds this week. We are also hooking and rolling some on bombers.

Mountain Channel in the Blackville area is seeing a few fresh fish but water is still very high for the most part. They have been fishing the Cains River and the far side of the river.

Country Haven Lodge is also hooking a few fish both on the Miramichi and the Cains River. Country Haven was landing fish almost every day in the Shinnick Burn area at Moore’s Pool. Alley Shrimps seems to be working best Kenny Vickers said. Gary Colford fished a couple days also this week and clients landed a salmon and grilse. Gary said he saw a lot of hook bills jumping all over the river the last couple days and said the fall season is here.

For more up to date reports check out the Fly Shops at Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters in Blackville and W.W.Doaks and Sons in Doaktown or on my blog at www.miramichifishingreports.blogspot.com. 

Heavy rains hit the river

Fishing on the Miramichi River over the past week has gotten to be a challenge on many parts of the river. Heavy rains are becoming to be a well mentioned topic on my river reports as once again we were hit by lots of rain to raise the water to like spring levels. And with a 2 to 3 foot rise in water on top of which was high water to begin with really put the pressure on guides and fisherman to hook up with the king of sport fish “The Atlantic Salmon”.

Many fishermen were turning to larger flies and sinking tips, many have to use boats as most pools are just too high to wade at this height with so much water. Fishermen are also starting to use a mixture of patterns and the fall patterns are being mentioned more and more.

Up around Doaktown at the Ledges Inn we are starting to hook a few fish again. Tuesday was a bad day as we did not hook a fish. Yesterday Wednesday we fished again from boats and landed a few. I was guiding Steven and Tami Gross from Atlanta and they hooked their 3^rd grilse using a night hawk. Head guide Derek Munn hooked his 2 salmon on a GP. Before the raise in water we were having very good fishing landing in double digits on some days.

Canoe Missing: This time a 18 foot cranberry red chestnut poling canoe. If anyone has saw the canoe please contact the Ledges Inn at 506 365 0168.

Fishing is starting to pick up again in the Blackville area as a few fish were hooked near the mouth of Cains River and Pool 66.

Cains River is starting to fish again with a few fresh fish moving through. We have landed a few at Moores Pool up near Shinnick Burn on the Cains. There were also a few landed at the Brophy Pool on the lower end of the Cains.

The next week is looking good for fishing with a little less rain in the forecast. Be safe fishing in the high water this fall.

Tight Lines,

Salmon Rolling Like In A Dream

Colfords Miramichi Fishing Reports for the middle of June. Fish are in the rivers! Oh yes, Fresh Atlantic Salmon!

I started out fishing the week on the SW Miramichi with a good friend of mine Damir Sehic of Fredericton. We fished a while and saw a salmon jump near the mouth of Cains River. That was the only one we saw there as we decided to motor upstream to Blissfield area and fish our way back in public & private water pools.

On our way we stopped and talked to guide Kenny Vickers. They saw 3 fish at the Brophy Pool and also a few fish this morning and things were looking better.

As we headed upstream we saw a few geese around and some ducks and ducklings, and pair of Eagles soaring over head in search of dinner. We then talked to a couple anglers from Salor Haven Salmon club and they saw a couple fish but had none hooked at that point. Also meeting up with Bob Burgen and his son, and they had not saw a fish all morning.

As the day went on we fished several pools and nothing was showing. I saw several shad scouting from under the boat as we passed down stream and hoping they were salmon!

After fishing several pools on our way back we tried pool 66 and saw 3 salmon jump again. Daryl Wylie and his buddy was also fishing there. We all fished for a couple hours and things happened like you would only dream off! The pool was on fire with fish! The run was here! beautiful salmon jumping and rolling everywhere.

And then Daryl from Harcourt hooked into a beautiful salmon on a dry fly, his first on a dry fly. We joked telling him that it was a shad and not a salmon! ha ha! we knew and he knew because when it jumped and took line of the reel that it was no shad! It was as chrome as a bumper on a 57 Chevy! Must of been 20lbs we figured, man a nice salmon as he released it on his way.

Also over the past week we have saw lots of rain hit us! The Main SW Miramichi River was dirty and very high to fish on the lower stretch. But the upper stretches were taking advantage of the higher levels and Guide Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn netted a nice salmon for his client and saw a few other fish.

Down river near the Mouth of Renous at the Quarryville Pool anglers were saying there was some fish around and 5 or 6 were caught.

Up the Renous anglers were seeing some fish and the odd one being hooked. Rod Hallihan hooked a salmon and had it on for a few minutes before he came loose or quick release we say! Ranger Kenny Louis saw some fish at the mouth of Renous. He also saw several Stripe Bass being hooked in the 4 to 6 pound range.

Daryl Wylie and his salmon in this photo.

Zlacko and Bruno of Toronto fishing the high water on the SW Miramichi last week. They enjoyed some lobster and steak after the long day fishing in the high water.

Ian Fortune was fishing the Bartholomew River and was still catching trout in the 1/2 pound to 4 pound range using bombers in the fast water as he striped the fly through the current.

On the North West Miramichi last week we had great water conditions before the rain hit and Yes! we saw a few fish and also with a fish being caught here and there. Some fisherman were catching a few trout in the 10 to 12 inch range and said that the big run of sea trout had gone through. Dale Steeves had a salmon on for a few seconds and he was gone. Dale also hooked another salmon and again lost it on Saturday! Dale said he saw a few fish rolling and some moving through the pool. He said there were lots of fisherman about and one other guy had landed a salmon. Dale Gildert landed a few trout in the 12 to 14 inch range.

Chris Edmond's tried the Quarryville Pool the other night and saw one pushing 25lbs he said. He said he missed 2 fish at the Wayerton Bridge Pool on the North West with a Colburn Special on Monday and he also saw one at the Allison Pool on Tuesday, and he then said the wind picked up so bad he could not fish anymore. he said there are a few fish around but nothing major, he figured another week or two.

Jim Steeves fished the Sevogle and said the water was low. He had rolled a few in front of his camp on the Main SW but no hook up. He was using Black Ghost, Undertaker, and Green Machine.

Norma & Brock of Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters of the SW Miramichi said there seem to be a lot of fish around but not taking very good. Lanny Burke of the Rapids landed a grilse with a Sugarman Shrimp and saw a lot of grilse jumping. Lester Vickers of Cains River landed a grilse at the mouth of Cains on a Green Machine. Also saying the water is a very good height and very good for canoeing. Norma said there does not seem to be much rain in the forecast.

Flies of choice were bombers, white tail green machines, undertakers and Sugarman Shrimp.

This report is now in the Times & Transcript news paper every Thursday.

So with a pretty good week all in all and fish in the system this is Guide Rodney Colford with your fishing reports for the Miramichi River & Tributaries.