Miramchi Salmon still around going into 3rd week

Spring salmon are leaping high on the river going into the 3rd week of the season. Many fish are being hooked with a small percent being grilse. Salmon starts moving more as the river is warming up into the mid to high 40 degrees (F) around 5 degrees Celsius. We are seeing some fish jump and even some rolling to the surface. The River levels are still very good but another rain wouldn't hurt to keep the levels up where they are now.

I was out fishing with Peter Beardsworth and Aaron Bourque of Riverview on Sunday. I would have to say Aarons salmon was the biggest weighing about 12lbs and Peters just under 12lbs. Both fish put up a great fight and were very silver for this time of year. Both salmon took a variation of the Green Slime which Peter tied, I must say.

Guide Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn said fishing is still very good with anglers hooking 6 to 12 fish per day. Water levels are still very good for the Doaktown area. Flies of choice were Marabous and Rabbit Strip's and all on the cast.

Keith Wilson of Wilson's Sporting Camps is also having very good fishing with lots of fish around. Many anglers that can cast good have an upper hand he said and are hooking some nice salmon. Sinking tips seem to be the line of the week as all fish were on the cast.

Country Haven Fishing Lodge is still having very good success on the lower stretch of the SW Miramichi River. Fishermen are hooking anywhere from 4 to 10 fish per day. Most fish are being hooked trolling with sinking lines. They are fishing from The Mouth of Cains River to the Renous area and seeing lots of fish.

In the Quarryville Area Chris Edmonds of C E Salmon Flies and Guiding said conditions have improved. River levels for the area are very good and have the salmon and the odd trout taking the fly.

The NW Miramichi River still has some fish around and many anglers are hooking up. River levels are still good but again could use a little rain to keep the levels where it is now. Some anglers are hooking some small trout from the 8 to 12 inch range.

Some very good news on the river as DFO finally opened a Bass season yesterday. Anglers can keep 1 bass per day or hook and release as many as they can catch. The size you can keep is 55 to 65 cm and it is measured from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. Single barb-less hooks and if using bait use circle hooks. The season will last two weeks from May 1st to May 15th with hook and release to follow.

Flies of choice for salmon on the river are Green Slimes, Black Rabbit Strips, Renous Specials, Mogot Smelts, Grey and Black Ghost along with many Marabou patterns. Size of hooks seem to vary from 1/0 to 5/0 single barb-less.

With the opening day of trout season yesterday, things are very active here on the river. I will keep you posted on the trout over the next few weeks also as we hook up.

With all this beautiful weather we are having, and great river conditions it is a very good time to be Canoeing, Kayaking or Fishing. So if your in need of any gear for these activities you can contact the local fly shops in the Miramichi River area. To name a few for you by starting in Miramichi City is Miramichi Electronics that has fishing gear in the city centre, Miramichi City Surplus in Derby, Georges Fly Shop Renous, Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters Blackville, W.W.Doak in Doaktown area, and if your on the North West Miramichi drop into Trout Brook Fly Shop. Most of these places will give you a river report daily if you drop in.

And if anyone has any reports on Salmon, Trout or Bass for the Miramichi area you would like to have posted please forward your information to me at miramichifishingreports@hotmail.com and I`ll try my best to include it. I do not need to know your hot spots just a description of the fish and which river if you like to include that you have fished. I am always looking for more reports for my readers.

Until next week have a great week on the water and tight lines. Rodney Colford

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

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.

2013 Fishing Season Starts on Monday

Its that time of the year in New Brunswick again as salmon season on the Miramichi River opens on Monday April 15th. Many anglers have been preparing for opening day for the past few weeks.

River conditions are very low on the Miramichi with still some ice jams left on the Main South West up in the Boistown area of the river. Anglers will have to keep an eye out for ice, as with a rise in water more ice will be flowing down stream.

In the McNamee area Keith Wilson of Wilsons Sporting Camps said the river is very low and in much need of some rain to improve the river for opening day.

In the Doaktown area of the river Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn said their should be good fishing on opening day but conditions of the river is low and will be challenging for boaters.

In my neck of the woods in the Blackville area conditions too are very low. So rain and warmer weather to help melt the remaining snow would be ideal for fishing. Cains river, Bartholomew and the Renous is open but also very low for this time of year.

Down River a little further in the Grey Rapids at Country Haven Lodge, said conditions need some rain to raise the river for better boating. But with any luck there should be good fishing come opening day.

Brock Curtis of Miramichi River Outfitters said conditions on the North West Miramichi River is still iced in. But he saw a change the last couple days as a few open areas have appeared, so maybe it will go over the next couple of days he said. Brock also said the shop will open on Friday the 12th and will have fishing licences there. They are also have openings for fly casting courses being put on this spring and summer.

CE Salmon Flies & Guiding on the Miramichi said the ice is jammed up in the Miramichi City area but also was frozen in on the North West.

Fredericton Outfitters is having a Fishing Season Opening Day Party on Saturday the 13th. There will be specials and give aways all day. Along with a free barbecue, chances to try out all brands of fly rods and there Pro Staff will be on hand to answer your questions. Norm Betts will be there from Miramichi Smoked Salmon and it is awesome.

Rods tip of the week for opening day is to use sink tips or intermediate lines. Streamers patterns like the Renous and Christmas Tree. And also if the water stays clear and low try using some darker flies like the Grey Ghost and dark Marabous.

 Fingers crossed and with the right weather conditions hopefully all the rivers will be clear of ice and debris by opening day.

Until next week tight lines.
Rodney Colford

Salmon Fishing Winding Down on the Miramichi

Fall salmon fishing is winding down for its last few days of fishing on the Miramichi River for 2012. Its been a season of many cast, and a season where every cast had to count. With one of the driest summers in years which kept many salmon from coming into our low and warm river.

Derek Munn of The Ledges Inn said water levels are perfect for the Doaktown area but the fish numbers just are not here for this time of year. We are hooking a few fish and most are salmon the ones we do hook. We have our wingshooters flushing very good numbers of both woodcock and grouse. So with the cast and blast the fishermen and hunters are doing not too bad.

Byron Coughlan of Country Haven said fishing was much slower than other years but anglers were picking up a few fish on the SW Miramichi, North West, Renous and the Cains. Overall the past week they did have 20 fish landed and all salmon with no grilse. Flies of choice were a mixture but best results were on the Red Francis and the Ally Shrimp.

Salmon fishing near Black Brook Salmon Club has slowed down considerably since last week. Many fish has seemed to move upstream or are holding to the bottom of the pools. Few anglers were hooking a few on the Green Slime.

Keith Wilson of Wilson's Sporting Camps said river conditions were good and has cleared up very good since the rise in water. There were a few leaves floating and anglers were hooking up on them. Anglers were hooking a few under the tough conditions. The ones that were showing themselves were real monsters.

Anglers in Quarryville were not seeing many fish and very few anglers were out over the past week at the mouth of Renous.

Numbers from the Miramichi Salmon Association were out on Tuesday which had a few fish through the counters. Nola Chiasson said numbers were up and down over the weekend at the Millerton and Cassilis traps. Millerton saw 31 salmon 22 grilse over the 4 day long weekend. And Cassilis saw 7 salmon and 3 grilse.

Not the numbers we were expecting to see to finish off the season. But there is still the weekend left and would be nice to hook up one more time. It was an honour again this year to send out my angling report to all my readers and for the help of many Lodges and anglers who gave their information on the section of the river they fish. At times it was very difficult finding something to report other than low water, too hot and no rain. But also the fishing was tough for you. I hope next year when I send out a report of the river that lines will be tight, and yes your lines on the river that is.

Until next season Tight Lines, Rodney Colford