Justen Charron Lands His first Atlantic Salmon On Miramichi

Miramichi Fishing Reports

Atlantic Salmon Fishing on the South West Miramichi River. With heavy rains the last couple days the water was starting to raise last evening. The temperature was very good at 63F and still fairly clear to fish. There was starting to be some grass and branches floating down stream as we were fishing though and I expect it will be very difficult to wade in most places on the lower stretches of the river in the morning.

There was lots of fish showing today as well on the lower stretches of the main south west Miramichi river. Justin and Charles Charron of St. George NB fished with me yesterday. They raised a few the night before at Hogan's Bar but did not hook up. The next morning we hit the river around 7:30 and canoed 4 miles up stream to our first pool of the morning. The water was good for this first pool but we did not see a fish move. As we were heading down stream to another pool we saw Stan Tropze of Salar Haven fishing club landing a salmon. I shut down my engine on the canoe as we drifted slowly by trying not too disturb Stan's fish that Mark Madore was netting for him, I asked him what he hooked it on and he said a green machine. Another mile down stream there was a fisherman fishing at a public pool and he said he had hooked one and rolled a couple more. We decided to stop behind my house at pool 66 and give it a try, there was know one around fishing except for a few guys at the mouth of Cains River. There were lots of fish rolling and jumping all through out the pool and as far as the eye could see down stream. We saw Jason & Jennifer Curtis fishing out in front of the Wades and Jennifer landed two salmon on a dry fly and Jason one grilse.

After seeing them land there fish I saw Justen roll one on a green machine! Charles and I was above Justen working on another salmon rolling about 30 feet from us. It was not long before we heard the reel scream and Justen yell out! I got one! I ran for the net and this fish was jumping like crazy! Justen all most had the fish in, about 20 feet from the net or so and he said it's just there? I could not see the fish in the dark water and did not want to take any chances on him loosing this salmon, And I knew this was only the second salmon he had on and lost his first one a previous year fishing. I said to Justen that this salmon could take you out into the backing yet, even though it was close to the net! lol! And I was right on the money and before we knew it he was way out in the backing and we were chasing him down stream. Justen said he did not even know he had a third color of backing on his reel that is how far he took off. Justen got it under control and I netted his first ever Atlantic Salmon weighing 15 pounds on a green butt green machine that he tied himself.

Rick Colford landed a grilse and rolled a few more on a number 4 green machine. Joel Kitchen rolled a few he said but did not get one to hook up. Judy Berrasi of Maine landed a grilse on our Vickers bar Pool. Lenard Connors of Upper Blackville had rolled a few but no hook ups.

The weather is looking like rain again for Sunday evening and into Monday with more amounts of 20ml to raise the river even more. Then they are saying sunny with showers the rest of the week. We will not be complaining about no water no time soon one would think.

Back in a few days to let you know how the levels and conditions of the river will be for the weekend.

Tight Lines,
Rodney Colford

Salmon Fishing Still Good On The Miramichi River

Miramichi Fishing Reports for the lower stretches of the South West Miramichi River. Fishing has been going very well for anglers and with the rain it has helped cool the water temperature to fair conditions. Fisherman have been hooking fish from small grilse to salmon weighing 35 pounds.

Kirk Riley of NS landed a 24 pounder and a few more from 15 to 20 pounds. Dave Riley also was hooking fish but his son had him on the biggest fish this trip. Peter Beresford lost a grilse at pool 66 which is right behind my house. Several fish at the mouth of Cain's River were being landed in the fast water. Anglers in Blackville were also hooking fish. I landed a salmon and two grilse the last couple days and rolled several more on bombers and green machines. Jason Curtis landed a few fish this week and so did his buddies fishing with him at Wades Fishing Lodge. Brian Affleck of Moncton was up to Blackville Wednesday and Thursday last week and while a couple of his buddies rolled a couple of fish they didn't land any. Brian was up again yesterday (july 23rd) to grey rapids and landed a nice 23" male, his first of this year. He was using a fly he called an "almost always". I am not sure if this is the same fly as the Almost pattern we use on the lower stretches of the river for several years now, I will post a photo of it for you to see.

This is 14 year old Emil Sehic from Douglas,Fredericton with his first Atlantic Salmon today at pool 66 near the mouth of Cains River. Emil took this fish on one of my white tail green machines, a #4 single hook on a turned down eye. His father Damir was not so lucky after his grilse came loose to the mighty Miramichi River also on a green machine with white tail, number 4 double down eye. Way to go guys!


This week I had some rookies to Atlantic Salmon Fishing with me. After the first morning of some tips on casting they were on there way of being Atlantic Salmon anglers. And also very addicted to the sport! This is Cristy Mott of Alabama, USA with one of her two salmon she landed her second day of her trip. Her Husband John also landed two grilse and it being his first time fishing Atlantic Salmon too.


John Mott playing a salmon on the South West Miramichi River using a sage rod.







Gloria Devos of Long Beach, Ontario Canada started the week of slow and catching a few small fish but she improved very quickly as the next photo will show!







Gloria and her husband Dan Devos holding up her 15 plus pound salmon hooked on the Miramichi with her 8 WT Sage Rod. Dan and Gloria are also rookies to fly fishing and as the photo's show they are more victims to fly fishing for Atlantic Salmon! Dan was laughing and enjoyed every fish he saw roll or jump. They were over whelmed with so many fish jumping and said they will return to the Miramichi again.

This is Dan Devos and good friend Joel Kitchen again with a beauty hooked on a green machine white tail. All anglers were using Sage Rods.






Weather
The weather for the next few days looks like more rain in the forecast and with the barometric pressure dropping it is on its way one would think. Great for the fish but very hard for anglers without a boat to get to certain pools on the river in high water. And with the this last raise in water of 2 feet and heavy rains expected again of up to 20 to 40 ml over the weekend, it will be tuff for catching on the lower stretches of the SW Miramichi. These rains should bring some good runs of fish into the system and with fish holding in pools already it should be a very good end too July and a great beginning for the month of August which is usually too hot to fish for anglers from away. If your from away and looking for some Atlantic Salmon Fishing in New Brunswick Canada keep checking my reports for conditions of the Miramichi River.

Flies of choice the last week has been 1. green machine/white tail, 2. Almost 3. bombers 4. undertakers 5. green butt bear hairs. You can purchase any of these flies at the following fly shops.
W.W. Doak
Curtis River Outfitters
Trout Brook Fly Shop
Fredericton Outfitters & Anglers
You can find the links to these shops and phone numbers at my link section of my web site at www.colfordsguiding.com

Tight lines,
Rodney Colford

Silver Salmon Arriving In Big Numbers on the Miramichi

Miramichi Fishing Reports for Colfords Atlantic Salmon Fishing by guide Rod Colford. Over the past week there has been some great changes on the rivers of the Miramichi System. Anglers have been catching and seeing hundreds of salmon and grilse pushing through the pools and most covered with sea lice fresh from the bay.


The 2009 salmon classic started off very good this year with several anglers hooking fish. Paul Daigle landed 3 grilse and a huge salmon around 25 pound. This is a photo of Gary Tanner with a nice salmon on Wednesday morning fishing in the 2009 salmon classic on the North West Miramichi. There were several others that hooked up during the event. Anglers from all over North America attended the classic for the fourth year in a row.



After the classic on Wednesday the fish really seemed to be all over the place on the Main South West Miramichi. As I traveled up and down stream to and from the pools I saw several schools of fish moving up river. It was not long before arriving to the first pool that Zlacko hooked into a nice salmon around 12 to 14 pounds, using a brown bomber while skating it across the fast current.

We raised many more fish Wednesday evening but did not hook into anymore until the next day. We also saw fisherman and fisher women landing fish up and down the river on all different fly patterns.


After a long day on the water we headed back to camp for an amazing dinner at the lodge. Rick Archibald and Jim Dunn decided to put together a dinner that one would never forget! As you can see in the photo it was a very good meal! and so was the wine!







Thursday was a very good day with loads of fish moving through and covered again with sea lice fresh from the sea. My clients Zlacko and Carlos landed 4 out of 5 grilse. We had a grilse within sight that we were working and it kept coming for different flies! and sometimes it only moved in the water a foot or so, until I tied on a Almost pattern number 10 single and we could see the fish zoom after it, and he was hooked up. We decided to keep this for dinner that evening.




This is Zlacko releasing a grilse on the lower stretches of the miramichi river. We were using an preacher number 6.


Friday started out slow hooking fish but again the fish were all over the place! There were fisherman getting fish by the mouth of Cains River even though we were not. My grandfather landed a grilse and was his first of the year. Don Roy and several members of the club he belongs to was hooking fish. Warrens bar had anglers fishing and were hooked up as well.


After lunch Carlos decided to get more serious and hooked into his first salmon around 10 pounds. He thought his trip was over when this fish was landed. Not knowing what tomorrow would bring! He hooked the fish on an Almost number 8 double. A Almost is a black bodied fly with a black wing and a bit of golden pheasant on the tail. It works better in low water conditions or smaller hooks in very clear water.

Saturday was great fishing for Colfords Atlantic Salmon Fishing at the home pool. Carlos was on the lower section of Hogans Pool when he hooked a another salmon around 15 pounds on a Almost again. My son Zachery age 11 hooked a 15 pounder or better on a brown bomber, and was his first of the season. He also lost another one that was said to be close to 20 pounds, but that old saying is the big one got away! Caleb Dunn up in his 80's landed a 15 pound salmon using a green butt bear hair. His great grandson hooked his first ever salmon age 7 also on a bear hair.




Joel Kitchen landed a 10 pound salmon at the lower end of the Hogan pool on a Almost. I landed a grilse on a brown bomber on the lower section as well.








And then Carlos goes out to the section of the pool where he found a rock to cast that extra 5 feet to hook a fish of his dreams! This fish had to be 30 plus pounds! And smashed the brown bomber I tied that Joel gave him to try. Carlos is around 6-5 tall and makes the fish look smaller than the actually size. This fish was twice out into the backing and after several jumps I snuck the net in front of this whopper of a fish and he almost took me for a ride! I told Carlos that there is guys that fished here for years and are still awaiting a trophy like this Silver.

There was so many fish hooked this week up and down the river. I am sorry if I do not mention your names. To name a few guys and girls that hooked fish on the lower section of the river were Danny Stewart, Ed Colford, Larry Vanperson, Al Bridges, Stan Tropze, Rick Colford, Damir Sehic, Malcolm McCormack, Pat DeWolfe, John Colford, Peter Dioron, Ron Steeves, Jim Steeves, and Jackie Girouard to name a few.

There was also fish being hooked at the Bridge Pool in Upper Blackville, the foot bridge pool in Upper Blackville and Keenans Siding. Cains River was fishing on the lower stretches near salmon brook, butter milk brook, brophy pool and the admiral camp pool all reported of seeing fish moving through.



This is a photo of us putting a new 28 foot Sharp Canoe in the water and Barry Sharp himself delivering it. We then put it to work and got some scales on the ribs of the canoe. This is one of the many cadilacs of canoes that Barry Sharp produces at his shop.





The end of the day today Saturday the 18th we were still seeing several big fish jumping. The ones we landed were covered in sea lice. There was the odd time we saw some grilse that seemed to be moving through.

We also picked up a beautiful fish today that was on his last breath? We tried to revive him but he was in bad shape and looked to be released from up stream. It also had marks on him like he was netted. He also was swimming right to shore and this is something they do when when you see them having trouble. He had a tag on his back so we managed to take a picture of him for you to see and a scale for the DFO to tell us where he was tagged at. I will keep you posted on the results in the future reports.



All for tonight and I hope tomorrow will be half as good as what we had in the past week on the Mighty Miramichi in New Brunswick Canada. This is Rodney Colford saying tight lines and may your reel scream tomorrow.

Fish Hitting On The Miramichi

Miramichi Fishing Reports for Colfords Atlantic Salmon Fishing by guide Rod Colford. The conditions on the SW Miramichi River is improving very well over the past week. Anglers are reporting several huge salmon being hooked and now starting to hook more and more grilse. High numbers of fish are reported in the head waters going through the barriers and most are huge salmon says the Miramichi Salmon Association. There are good numbers also going through the counters where they usually get about 5% of fish heading up stream. Today alone they estimated about a thousand salmon & grilse heading up stream, that should keep fisherman very happy for a few days.

The past few days I have saw mostly grilse on the lower stretches of the Miramichi River, unfortunately I only rolled a few and hooked none! not a nice word to say for any fisherman or guide. But other anglers have been telling me they are hooking some nice salmon from the 15 to 25 pound range. We had a 22 pound salmon landed this morning on a shady lady at the lodge. Kenny Walls in Blackville landed a salmon. Don Roy of Fredericton had a buddy with him that landed two fish up in the Cains River on the lower stretches of the river, so much for the Cains being a fall river eh! If the water is up the fish will be up the Cains all season.

Ron Steeves landed a grilse on the NW Miramichi. Shelly Gildert landed her first of the season. Her father Dale Gildert also hooked into a few. And Dale Steeves hooked a few on the NW Miramichi.


Hopefully we will not get to much of a raise from the rain we had this morning and the fishing be tight lines for all. The fish on the lower stretches are starting to hit the dry flies more and more so dig some out of your box and hook into one of those 25 plus pounders. And with only a few showers tomorrow and no rain until the weekend it should be an awesome week of fishing. So if your looking for prime times to fish and you are only a few hours away this would be the week to get out on the water.



And for keeping fisherman happy, Mark Hambrook of the Miramichi Salmon Association kicked off the 2009 Salmon Classic today at the Rodd in Miramichi. Along with Casting Instructor Joan Wulff attending and another 160 fisherman from all over the world. There were lies being told even before the start tomorrow morning! And who says fisherman don't lie. After hearing several lies we all settled down to another amazing dinner. There were lots of new and old fisherman from the last 3 years classic's to this years classic.There were several guides that donate there time to this special event to help MSA raise some funding. And for beginners that have attended this event it has turned some into salmon fisherman that not only hooked there first fish but hooked there self into a sport of a life time to keep coming back for that great take of the Atlantic Salmon.

Good luck & tight lines!

Rodney Colford
www.ColfordsGuiding.com

Miramichi Fishing Reports

Miramichi Fishing Reports for Colfords Atlantic Salmon Fishing by guide Rod Colford. River conditions are still high from all the rain over the past few weeks. But all in all if you want to fish I think we will just have to consider that the river is going to stay high for a while. The temperature of the water was 61F yesterday and the color was tinted or a stain color which was very good for the fisherman.


Over the last few days there has not been a lot of fish showing and leaving most anglers shocked that they have not saw any fish moving in the river. But do not be discouraged if you are not seeing them and that they are still moving through the pools you are fishing. Anglers up and down the river are wondering just where they are?

With these high water conditions it is not the best time to be seeing fish and most times you may not see them until you raise or hook him. So keep patient and get out there and when you think about trying that other spot you may be quitting to soon.


Fishing conditions the past couple days have been almost excellent! The last two evenings we were into fish landing one each night and hooking five others.


Doc Baker and Son Charlie with guide Gary Colford started out slow Sunday evening and Monday morning not seeing a single fish on the river. Not knowing if there was fish running or not, and trying many spots on the river. Monday evening was another evening to remember for the Bakers. After raising a few fish and knowing they were onto some fish they hooked a grilse. Doc had a jumper on for sure and four or five jumps later he had his grilse in the net. Charlie had also had several takes but it was just not his night for a hook up. They hooked the fish and had several takes on my Green Machine that they borrowed from my rod on the rack! They figured if I was using it, it had to be a fly to try in such hard conditions. I was glad he borrowed my fly and hooked up. The next morning they had not saw a single fish in the same spot.


So after Doc Baker left the lodge Joel and myself decided to take the trip to the same section on the river where Doc was. We fished down through the pool with the same flies and had not saw a fish. We were taking a break and having a beer Tuesday evening when I heard the splash below us! There they were a run of fish had appeared and up on our feet we were. It was like two kids running for ice cream for sure! I worked my way down the pool too almost the end of the beat, when I hooked a fish! and I thought for sure this was it! when it was just a trout. This trout had to be starving for sure, it had a salmon par in its mouth and still took my double 4 green machine. I decided to keep the trout and save a few salmon par from it. After throwing him back I continued down a little further and hooked a salmon in the same spot that the one jumped earlier. I lost him within seconds and the next cast within ten feet behind me! I saw a grilse roll. I then turned with my 15 foot spey rod and only ten feet away, casted in and bang if he did not take the fly. My first landed fish for myself of the season.


Earlier in the day before Doc Baker left to go home and saying his good byes he said to Joel that the lord works in mysteries ways and you may land four fish tonight in the same place he was fishing! Well he was almost right? after I landed the grilse Joel grabbed my rod and started casting where I hooked the fish. And within a cast or two he hooked up and lost his first fish of the evening. The next cast he hooked another fish, the third cast he hooked another fish and the fourth cast again! he hooked a fish. If I had not been there I would of not beleaved it. He lost four fish on four cast! not landed but still fun for sure. He then hooked two more and one of them casting in towards shore the way I hooked the grilse.


I was into the fly shop at W.W.Doak's and they said anglers were not getting any fish and were not seeing any. Also on the river Jamie Keenan was out fishing tonight and rolled one, John Keenan and Donald Keenan both got fish today near Blackville, they hooked 2 and landed one grilse. Philis Drier got a grilse today as well in Blackville. Joel Kitchen was out until dark and saw several fish but did not raise a fish, but said he will be out again tomorrow.


I also heard some reports from the Sevogle that Jim Steeves had hooked some on Monday. He thought the North West Miramichi was still a bit high as well.

I hope the next few days off nice weather will put the water down to better levels for wading on the lower stretches of the river. I will be back in a day or so with more reports on the Main South west Miramichi River for you and until then tight lines from the Miramichi.

Rod Colford
Colfords Atlantic Salmon Fishing, Guiding and Miramichi Fishing Reports.
www.miramichifishingreports.com

Fish on the run for the Miramichi River

Miramichi Fishing Reports for the Main South West Miramichi and Tributaries.

Happy Independence Day too all my readers that follow my reports for Atlantic Salmon Fishing from the US.

The Miramichi lost a great fisherman and good friend yesterday of Black Brook Salmon Club DR. Adrien Bomb. Adrien fished at Black Brook for over 20 plus years and was a avid dry fisherman! The bomber caught him many huge fish. Adrien was originally from Holland, He moved to the US many years ago. He was from Worcester Massachusetts. Adrien will be missed by many fisherman and friends here on the Miramichi River. Tight Lines Adrien! He always said that to me when he was heading back to camp after his morning or evening fish.

For the lower stretches of the river the last couple days from Doaktown too Quarryville. The water temperature is 61F this morning again and just about perfect for Atlantic Salmon fishing. The water is high but very clear in color for fishing wets or dry flies. The high tides for today, tonight and tomorrow are 5.49 PM ADT / 0.60 m , 5:13 AM ADT / 1.48 m on Sunday morning , 6:45 PM ADT / 0.61 m for the evening on Sunday.

We are finally starting to see some fish, and more numbers of fish as they are running up stream. Yesterday around 10:00am there was a lot of grilse (small salmon) jumping in the lower section of the river by Upper Blackville and Howard. It was like something just turned on and the fish were around. One fisherman had a salmon on and lost another just before we passed through the pool. And a little further down Stan Trozp of Salar Haven Club said he saw a few fish and lost a salmon. There was 4 fish hooked by the mouth of Cains River. Speaking of the Cains River anglers saw fish jumping up in the Cains, so there is a few heading up the Cains it appears. The lower section of the Cains may be the place to try.

Today there was also some fish showing on the Miramichi. Rick Colford hooked a salmon and lost it. Damir Sahic lost a grilse and raised it twice before he took a number 4 white tail green machine. He said it came for the fly the first cast and the third time it hooked on. Ashley Hallihan saw a few fish this morning at Wades Fishing Club. I saw a half dozen fish jumping which were a mix of salmon and grilse.

The North West Miramichi is also reporting fish around. One anglers today from the USA said he hooked 7 fish yesterday and landed a couple. I also had reports of other fish being hooked. Wes Ward of Fredericton fished the Sevogle this week and only saw one fish checking out his buddies fly. A big difference from last season he reported.


The water is still very high but was dropping a bit by noon today on the Main South West Miramichi. With reports of fish being seen in the lower stretches like Quarryville, Blackville, Upper Blackville, Howards and the Rapids things are starting to improve on the river. Lets hope all the rain is over and the weather stays cool and we will start hooking some fish. It would be also nice to have some pictures of some salmon to show you.

Back in a couple days with better reports of fish being caught! well I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed for them results! Tight lines.

Rodney Colford
www.colfordsguiding.com

High Water Levels Again Hits The Miramichi Rivers

July 1st 2009
Miramichi Fishing Reports from the Main South West Miramichi River. Fishing the past few days have been very slow on the lower stretches of the river. High water and lots of rain has been the high light most of the season so far. And its not over with more rain expected from Friday to Wednesday and rain fall amounts very high with the forecast saying 10 to 50 ml! The water temp was 61F this evening.

Even though the fishing is slow there is a few fish around but seem to be very scarce showing. Some reports have anglers hooking the odd one in Quarryville. Anglers in Blackville are seeing the odd fish but not hooking up. Angler's in Howard's are seeing fish also and some being hooked below the mouth of Cains River. I hooked a grilse this evening around 7:30 near the mouth of Cains River on the first cast using a number 4 green machine white tail. It was the only fish I saw and after one jump he was gone. A fishing club close to the mouth of Cains river had hooked a couple fish this morning and said they had not saw a fish this evening until I hooked the one. Damir Sehic from Fredericton saw 8 or 9 fish while fishing this morning in Howard's also. The bridge pool in Upper Blackville had been hooking a few fish, and below the bridge before the rise in water Kenneth Sullivan had hooked 3 salmon and landed 1 using a white tail shady lady.

I also heard there was fish in the North West Miramichi River. Anglers were reporting seeing salmon and grilse jumping but thought that the grilse run still had not started. With a mixture of salmon and grilse being hooked on both rivers and the few that have been hooked so far the numbers are down considerably from last season. And high water and higher water seems to be the forecast in the next week. Most of the fish will be running through very fast and not even showing in the pools. With high water like this it would be a good time to try a sink tip or a intermediate sink tip.

Availability
We have rods & accommodations in the next couple of weeks available.
Fall weeks are now almost full, so contact us quickly if you are thinking of fishing September and October.
I have fishing and accommodations for August, and its looking that August may be the prime month for salmon fishing with the way things are going this season. I've saw some of the best fishing ever in August on the lower stretches of the river, so keep in touch with my reports and if your interested in getting out on the water with us, give a shout anytime and we will try our best to hook you to a fish of a life time on a dry fly! On The Famous Miramichi River.

Be careful fishing the high water and good luck.

Tight Lines & Happy Canada Day,
Rod Colford,
Colfords Guiding