High Water on the Miramichi

What a change from last week on the Miramichi River as we went from low and very warm water levels to high spring like levels. River temperatures have reduced and is now in the lower 60 degree levels which is much better for the fishing. River had stayed very clear with the raise in water and fishing conditions improved a little for the better.

Mack Giffin just ten minutes ago (Wednesday) at Kelly's pool with guide Rodney Colford of the Ledges Inn. The grilse was covered in sea lice and landed on a grey marabou pattern.

There have been a few anglers hooking up on different stretches of the river from Quarryville to Boistown. Scott Cormier landed a nice salmon on the lower stretch of the River on a green machine pattern and also a 24 inch grilse. Peter Squires landed a couple nice salmon and his buddy a grilse.

The Ledges Inn said they are finally getting the much needed rain we all have been praying for. Salmon fishing picked up some as they landed a few at Mountain Channel Pool and a couple salmon and a grilse at the Ledges Pools.

A nice grilse landed Tuesday evening by Sam ingram at mill brook with guide Rodney Colford.

Wilson Sporting Camps said fly fishing conditions on the Miramichi near McNamee can breath a sigh of relief now that the water is up a fair amount. They had a grilse landed after the raise but fishing was still very slow.

This is a photo from the Wayerton Bridge taken by Chris Edmonds.

Country Haven in the Blackville area had some luck this week after the rise in water as guide Gary Colford landed a salmon with his clients and raised a few more. Byron Couglhan  also said they were landed lots of Stripped Bass and some as far up as Upper Blackville.

There were also a few fish landed in the Mouth of Cains River area and two salmon reported at Black Brook Pool being landed with sea lice.

Lets see after all this rain if our salmon runs will improve, lets hope this rain and higher river levels brings them in. The levels will be very high after all the rain the head waters got so be very careful this weekend on the river. There have been over 90 ml of rain on Tuesday alone in the head of the river so the Main River and a few of the tributaries should rise into today.

Tight Lines.
Rodney Colford

Warm June Taking Its Toll On Miramichi Salmon Fishing

Rod, Ernie & Andrew of the Ledges Inn
photo taken by Rick Whorwood.

Salmon fishing on the Miramichi is just not in the way we would like to see it for the month of June. I would love to say fishermen's reels are screeching out into the backing. And thirty pound Chrome Bumpers of Salmon that are so silver they are Leaping through the air. But warm weather is taking its toll on the river as river temperatures hit over 21 degrees Celsius (70.F) this week.

Looking up river from the Bridge Pool in Ludlow.
Some fishermen that hooked up this week:

 A few salmon and grilse that are in the river are already starting to lay at the mouth's of cold brooks to get out of the warmer river conditions from midday to late evenings. Some fish that were laying in certain pools during the day moved upstream by the next morning. So it seems they are travelling more at night to beat this heat and to get over the shallow gravel bars.



Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn said his guest Galen Knowles landed a grilse and lost one, Nate Holyoke hooked and lost one at Mountain Channel Pool.
Miramichi Salmon Club hooked a few salmon in the Blissfield area this week.

Looking down river at the Bridge Pool.

Damir Sehic landed a 15lb salmon using a black bomber. Chris Edmonds reported hooking a 10 to 12lb salmon with one of his clients. John Colford hooked a salmon at the mouth of Cains River on Tuesday.


Miramichi and surrounding tributaries are in need of rain and cooler temperatures to improve the fishing. Many anglers are already complaining about the late run of salmon to the river and now with this heat anglers are getting very discouraged. One thing to look at is maybe the salmon knew something we didn't, and being late to arrive this summer may be a good thing with the warm water conditions we are having. Lets hope they are waiting in the estuary for a change in the system and big schools of fish ready to run into our rivers.

At the trout lakes having dinner.

There have been a few small runs of fish make there way in so far this season and a few lucky anglers hooked up. But it has been a slow start to the season and with the warm dry conditions we are having, anglers will have to be patient and wait for the rain to come to cool the rivers down.


The weekend is starting to look better for the fish and the fishermen as some rain is in the forecast and cooler weather for next week. Thunder showers for Friday and Saturday and rain Monday and Tuesday are expected and will be nice to see for the Atlantic Salmon Fishing.

Fishing at the trout lakes at the Ledges Inn.

Reports are low and warm on all the tributaries and anglers should practice safe fishing for the fish. When river conditions are warm try fishing early mornings. In these conditions in warm weather get out on the river early and beat the heat and you may be rewarded. Also remember to drink lots of water and have sunscreen lotion on, or get raccoon eyes like mine and a few other guides I know.

Lets hope we get some rain and the weather stays cooler next week for fishing salmon not only on the Miramichi but all of New Brunswick rivers.

Boats at the lake.

Tight Lines from the banks of the Miramichi.
Rodney Colford

Salmon fishing picking up

Salmon fishing is picking up on the Main South West Miramichi River as many fishermen have been hooking up. There are good reports from Quarryville area of the river to Boistown area. There have also been reports of salmon up in the juniper area of the river.

Most fish that are being hooked seem to be in the 15lb range and the odd few in there twenties. There is also the odd grilse being landed too. There is still the odd trout being caught on the river from 10 to 14 inch range.

River conditions are getting very low both on the North West and South West Miramichi. The lower stretch from the mouth of Cains River to Quarryville is almost at a perfect level right now. But from the mouth of Cains River on up the Miramichi is starting to get very low and could use some rain to get the level up.
Temperatures this week were in the mid 60's (F) which is very good for the Miramichi.

On Monday Andrew Anthony of the Ledges Inn hooked a salmon and lost it in the morning and then landed another in the evening. Derek Munn landed a nice salmon about 16lbs the same evening. Both fish were landed at the Harris Ledge Pool. Tuesday evening I landed a 15lb salmon at The Mountain Channel Pool on a Samething Murray, and also lost another salmon and grilse. I saw several fish both Monday and Tuesday which was a good sign. There seems to be a good run on of fish but not the greatest yet.

Some other fishermen that hooked up this week were Steven Moody who lost a grilse on a bomber pattern.

Bruce Waugh of W.W.Doaks in Doaktown said there were a few local anglers picking up the odd salmon and the lucky grilse.

Chris Munn of Fredericton Outfitters had a great turn out with the Fly Casting Course as Rick Whorwood's Fly Casting School held courses Friday evening at Fredericton Outfitters and again Saturday and Sunday at the Ledges Inn.

Fishermen looking to get out for the weekend to throw a line should try early mornings and late evenings if the weather stays warm. With a chance of a shower today and a little over cast should help the fishing for this evening.

Until next week tight lines.

This is one I landed last Thursday of 3 salmon.

Windy conditions and cold weather on the Miramichi

Windy conditions and cold weather was a big factor this week in the slow fishing on the Miramichi River. While there are reports of salmon being landed or leaping about on both the NW and SW Miramichi River. You will have to fish very hard to get your hooks into one. It seems like just another normal June and before we know it the salmon and grilse will arrive, lets hope before long.

I fished several times this week and only saw a couple fish in the area I fished. Landed a few small trout 10 to 12 inches in length. Another fisherman in my area lost a nice salmon after a couple jumps and it was chrome coloured when it jumped he said. I also heard of another salmon landed at the Bridge Pool in Upper Blackville by a local angler from there. This week the river conditions stayed very good with temperatures in the low 50's (F).

Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn in Doaktown reported a couple salmon landed in the area. One by Shawn Betts weighing 12lbs and another by Colin Gilks also weighing about 12lbs. Derek fished the North West on Tuesday and didn't see any fish. He said the river was the lowest he can remember seeing it for this early in June, could use a good rise to help improve conditions. He also stopped and fished Mountain Channel and with same results no fish but water levels were almost perfect but could still use a bit of a drop.

Keith Wilson of Wilson Sporting Camps near McNamee said water levels remain normal for this time of year and the cool weather is looking like we are setting up to have an early June run. He said they are hearing reports of an earlier than normal run of sea trout and salmon so its looks good.


Places to check out are WW Doaks in Doaktown, Salmon Museum 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. Bryant Freeman of Eskape Anglers in the Riverview always knows the fishing news. If I forgot your fishing shop just give me a shout and I will gladly add it for you with my reports each week.

See you next week and hopefully a better report on salmon fishing.

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

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.