Salmon active as season winds down

With days winding down for salmon fishing on the beautiful Miramichi River, it seems like it was only yesterday that we were watching the ice breaking up and getting ready for the opening day. The rush of anglers scrambling to get their last casts of the season in before Oct. 15 is on its way.

<-----Troy Adams with a 20 plus hook-bill!

<-----Troy's wife Marilyn Mallet with a salmon! Who say's women can't fish!!

Reports from up and down the river has fishermen catching and seeing lots of fish. Tyler Story of the MSA said the counters on the Northwest Miramichi were getting about 30 fish per day while the Southwest was getting 10 to 15 per day. Tyler also said he did not see many anglers fishing on the North West, but thought the conditions would be very good for fishing and said he may give it a try on the weekend. I may also give it a try.

Larry Porter of the Hershey Club in the Blackville area on the Southwest Miramichi netted a couple grilse for his sport and saw many other fish jumping in the pool. Across the way at Hogan's Pool we hooked three grilse and a salmon and saw many fish moving through as they jumped up over the bar. A couple of the grilse had massive kipes (hooks) and very sharp teeth with beautiful colors as we released them on their way.

<----This is Troy Adams and his son! landing a big one!

Emery Brophy of Black Brook Salmon Club this week said they were averaging good numbers of fish and Monday alone released 16 salmon. Solar Salmon Club near Upper Blackville also was catching good numbers of fish. Larry Vanperson of Bangor was averaging a couple salmon a day while other members were doing the same.

Byzie at Country Haven said fishing was very good and anglers were hooking up in most pools from Doaktown to Quarryville. Steven Heinz and David Kirstein of Maine had good fishing with guide Randall Connors, netting a 20-pound hen and a 15-pound hook-bill on an Alley Shrimp. Steven said he was out fished but had a great trip just the same.

<----Steven Heinz and David Kirstein of Maine

Many other anglers landed fish this week. Damir Sahic of Fredericton landed a few salmon and Jacques Heroux landed a salmon on Sunday at Pool 66.

<----Jacques Heroux with a salmon.

Steven Heinz and David Kirstein of Maine

James Vickers fished the mouth of Cains river this week and landed a few salmon and grilse with Axel of Ontario and Jim Corrigan of British Columbia. Peter Doiron landed a salmon and a grilse on a copper killer and a General Practianer. Up river in the upper stretches of the Southwest, Jason McCallum fished at Half Moon and never saw a fish but water was dirty at the time and had heard there was a grilse landed up river further.

<---This Damir Sehic of Fredericton area.

Wilson's Sporting Camps in the middle section of the Southwest Miramichi were seeing lots of fish and said conditions were very good. They were also hooking fish on small No. 10 flies of any pattern and later hooked some on bigger flies.

Cains River has good water levels and there are fish in most pools. I have not heard of any fish being landed with sea lice on them yet but would think the time is here and anglers will be hooking into some fresh fish this week.

I fished at Moores Pool this week with my father, Gary Colford, John Conley, Jim McClearin, Terry Paige and Doc Maiorino. They all hooked fish and said there were good numbers of fish in both the Cains and the Miramichi. River conditions were very good and temperatures are in the 50sF (10sC) with more rain in the forecast.

<---Steven Heinz and David Kirstein of Maine.

If you're heading out and looking for a public stretch on the Southwest, drop in to the Atlantic Salmon Museum in Doaktown, W.W.Doaks, Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters and get your Miramichi River Maps which shows all the public water.

The Dieppe Fly Fishing Forum will hold its seventh edition on March 27-28, 2011 at the Dieppe NBCC. For more information on this great fly fishing show, visit their web site at www.flyfishingforum.ca or call Ron Godin at 506-859-7289. I hope to see you there.

<----School teacher Rob Strange of Fredericton landing a salmon at pool 66 on the weekend.

<----Rob senior with a salmon as well.

The choice of flies this week seem to be of no particular pattern or size. We took fish on hooks as small as number 12's to 1/0. Flies like your shrimp patterns, black ghost, shady ladies, copper killers, LT's and almost your fly box if you could tie it on. Yes, they were taking different patterns up and down the river, so try em all. I would like to thank all the fishermen for their reports on their fishing and very sorry if I missed your catch this week.

Let me know of that fish of your dreams caught on the beautiful Miramichi. So keep your rods high and your reels screeching until next week have tight lines.

* Rodney Colford is a third generation salmon-fishing guide on the Miramichi River and has been guiding fishermen ranging from greenhorns to some of the finest fly-fishermen in the world for 27 years. His fishing reports appear every Thursday in the Times & Transcript

Salmon fishing shows vast improvement

Salmon fishing and river conditions on the Miramichi have improved greatly over the past week.

Colder nights have put the water temperatures in the 50F (10C) range and the height of the river is very good for the lower stretches, but could use a bit of rain to raise the up river levels.

Everyone is asking if the fall run is here?

Well there are some big hook-bills landed and even some fish landed with sea lice. Last week at Black Brook Salmon Club they reported landing 114 Atlantic salmon and many were sea lice covered fish. There was a report of a 40-pound salmon being landed at Vickers Pools this week.

Troy Adams from Dieppe landed a 25 & 28-pound-plus hook-bills on Tuesday. Richard Lac from New Hampshire fished with me this week. The first day we saw lots of fish from many sizes, but could not hook up. Then on Tuesday Richard landed two grilse weighing about five pounds each on a Ally Shrimp No. 8 single hook at the Half Bar pool.

On Sunday, Jim Corrigan landed a grilse while his buddy Axel raised several fish on Ally Shrimps at the Swett Pool. Damir Sehic landed two grilse on Saturday at Pool 66.

Ken MacLeod landed a grilse at the Nash Bar pool on Sunday and lost another on Monday. His friend Jeff Mosher also landed his first Atlantic salmon on one of my yellow body bombers at Pool 66 in Howard. Then on Monday he lost a 25-plus salmon as he took his fly in the very first run. Bill Moore and Ron Falusey each landed a grilse and Clark Hallman landed two grilse at the Swett Pool all on Alley Shrimps.

A great story of a young man's life being ruined by fishing Atlantic salmon this season as Jason MacCallum from Moncton was introduced to salmon fishing by Andrew Clark (also of Moncton) and has the fever very badly as he landed a fish each of his three times out fishing.

Andrew said it's nice to ruin someone's life with instilling the passion for salmon fishing on him. Way to go guys and thank you for the update.

Other rivers like the Cains River is still fishing slow as fisherman are not seeing many fish from above the Sabbies River. Reports from the Northwest Miramichi had fishing improving over the last week and water levels were still pretty good with river temperatures in the 50sF.

The race is on for Canada's Ultimate Fishing town on the WFN on. So visit the site and vote for Miramichi as your fishing town (http://www.wfn.tv/ultimate-fishing-town/miramichi). Lets go New Brunswickers and get back in this race for the best fishing town in Canada. We only have 6,642 votes so get going and vote.

Also register soon for your booth at the Dieppe Fly Fishing Forum 2011 at http://www.flyfishingforum.ca/info_exhibitors.htm and contact Ron Godin.

Let me know of that fish of your dreams caught on the beautiful Miramichi. So keep your rods high and your reels screeching until next week have tight lines.

* Rodney Colford is a third generation salmon-fishing guide on the Miramichi River and has been guiding fishermen ranging from greenhorns to some of the finest fly-fishermen in the world for 27 years. His fishing reports appear every Thursday in the Times & Transcript.

Vote for Miramichi

Here are a couple of interesting stories. Miramichi is in the race for Canada’s Ultimate fishing town – please visit the site and vote. As well the MSA had a very successful fund raising dinner in Fredericton on Sept 15^th. DFO Minister Gail Shea was the guest speaker – see story below.

timestranscript.com - Miramichi steps up Ultimate Fishing campaign ...

Organizations such as the Miramichi Salmon Association and the Miramichi Watershed Management Committee are the sentries of sustainability on the Miramichi, ...
timestranscript.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1224170

dailygleaner.com - Decline in salmon numbers gets federal ...
From left, Miramichi Salmon Association president Mark Hambrook, ... Mark Hambrook, president of the Miramichi Salmon Association and president of the New ...
dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1222669

Midday Fishing Report

Miramichi fishing report for Monday September 20th. Fishing the last few days has been great! just the catching has been tough! The river levels are perfect on the South West Miramichi and there are a few fish starting to come in with sea lice! I would expect the big fish should be starting very soon to come in from the estuary. The water temperatures are also very good and going from 50 F in the mornings and to 60 F by the evening. There are anglers hooking up and most seem to be in the morning fish. Flies of choice are Allies, GP's, Copper Killer's and still a few dry flies.

Back in a day or two with a full update and catches of fish!! If you have a catch that you would like posted please send it a long and I will gladly mention it for you. And your photos too! miramichifishingreports@hotmail.com

Tight Lines,

Rodney

Salmon Now Getting in the Taking Mood

This is last weeks report sorry for the late post!

With less than a month remaining in our season mother nature is trying hard to bring us better fishing conditions for the Miramichi. Cooler temperatures and rain is getting the fish in the taking mood up and down the river. River temperatures are in the high 50's to low 60's (F) for the most part of the day.

Fishing reports from local fisherman the past week has picked up considerably since heavy rains hit us. And with the showers the past few days we are expecting fresh fish to begin coming in from the estuary very soon. There are lots of fish in the river both salmon and grilse but they are mostly old fish. There was a lady at Black Brook pool that landed a 32 pounder this week, that should be the start to many fall fish.

Another fisher-lady that is no longer fish-less is Shirley Smith of Moncton. She landed a 31 inch salmon on a white tail green machine at Pool 66 on Monday evening. Her husband Steve also hooked into a few fish.

Roland Krause of Fredericton hooked and landed his first grilse while being coached by his son Michael. Brother in-law James Wood hooked a grilse and raised a few more. I landed a salmon about 15 lb's on a blue bomber. The bridge pool in Upper Blackville was producing while many local fisherman were hooking up and seeing lots of fish in the pool. There was several fish near the Stop Sign pool as Ron Falusy, Clark Hallman and Bill Moore each landed a grilse on Tuesday using copper killer's and alley shrimps. My father Gary Colford was guiding for Country Haven Lodge this week and hooked a few fish in the Doaktown area.Damir Sehic of Fredericton landed 6 fish and 1 weighing 25 lb. Jim and Matt Martin both landed salmon at pool 66.

I fished Saturday with Jacques Heroux on the Cains and saw nothing for the couple hours we fished. Jacques then went fishing at Pool 66 and had great fishing saturday night...released 1 grisle and 1 salmon both on same thing Murray.

I fished Monday also on the Cains at Shinickburn and saw no fish all day. Other fisherman said they saw fish at Salmon Brook and Buttermilk Brook pools. Peter Beresford landed a grilse at the Sabbies Pool on a copper killer. Another angler said he fished the Dungarvan and saw fish by the Furlong bridge pool.

Solar Haven Club in Upper Blackville had good reports of fish being hooked. Al Bridges of Bangor said he hooked a few salmon. Larry Vanperson and Johny Vickery also from Bangor landed 23 salmon in 4 1/2 days on the river. Flies of choice were Rod's bombers.

Wilson's Sporting Camps on the main SW said conditions were very good and water levels are perfect height and with a good temperature. Many fish holding in there pools and no sign of any fresh fish yet. Green machine with a white calf tail is the fly of choice this week.

Fisherman on the North West Miramichi said fishing had improved. There were a few fisherman hooking fish at the Wayerton Bridge pool. Water temperatures was very good in the low 60's F and with the past rain things did improve for the better. All was needed was the fall run to start.

Also don't forget the Dieppe Fly Fishing Forum March 26th and 27th, 2011. This trade show is beginning to be the number one show for Atlantic salmon fishing in Eastern Canada. Contact the Fly Fishing Forum for more information on this event or Jacques Héroux.

Let me know of that fish of your dreams caught on the beautiful Miramichi. So keep your rods high and your reels screeching until next week have tight lines.

* Rodney Colford is a third generation salmon-fishing guide on the Miramichi River and has been guiding fishermen ranging from greenhorns to some of the finest fly-fishermen in the world for 27 years. His fishing reports appear every Thursday in the Times & Transcript.

Fishing Improving on the Miramichi

Well fisherman and fisher-ladies get your waders and rods ready for some good fishing conditions on the famous Miramichi, as the heavy rains will get the fish moving. The water temperature is in the low 60's F and DFO said there are lots of fish in the estuary that should start running soon.

Fishing conditions have improved on the Miramichi and tributaries and holding pools are catching fish. No sign of fresh fish yet running but conditions are well on the way for a good fall. With heavy rains expected for the week there should be good levels for the upper parts of the river. The forecast is predicting 60 to 80 ml of rain from Tuesday to Friday this week, and with the rain from hurricane Earl we just received it should bring the levels up considerably and get the fresh fish moving up stream.

Monday and Tuesday I fished with Ken MacLeod and his buddy Jeff from NS on the lower section of the river. We started about noon on Monday and the pool was thrashing with fish like you wouldn't believe! The three of us landed 12 fish and lost another 6 fish using any fly you put on pretty much. Ken said its like putting the two hottest pools on the Humber river in NFL all in one pool. Tuesday we landed 8 more fish and Jeff landed a 25 lb plus salmon. Flies we were using was brown, black, white and green bombers, green muddler, black cosseboom, blue charms and green machines.

Other anglers the past week that landed fish were Mike Bonner and his brother landed a grilse each in the Grey Rapids using a green machine on Tuesday. James Vickers landed a grilse on a green machine on Sunday and I landed 3 using bombers also on Sunday. Steve Crandlemere of Sussex landed a 40 incher and his son Zane landed a grilse each. Merle Colford landed a grilse and lost another. John and Alex Colford landed a grilse each this week.

Black Brook Salmon Club had a wonderful week with many anglers limiting out each day. Doc 92 and his wife Sue Sheerer were having a great week after spending 3 long weeks on the river. Kim Smith and his wife Benny were also having a tremendous week with Benny limiting out on Tuesday and Kim landing three.

Trout Brook Fly Shop on the North West Miramichi said fishing has improved with the rain from Earl and anglers were picking up a fish here and there. There was good reports on the crown reserve stretches at the Elbow, Crawford and the Depot as fisherman landed seven fish in 1 1/2 days.

Wilson's Sporting Camps said they had a six inch rise in water and conditions were good. They had fish in there holding pools and with rain in the forecast things should improve for the fall run.

Let me know of that fish of your dreams caught on the beautiful Miramichi. So keep your rods high and your reels screeching until next week have tight lines.

Rodney

After affects from Earl on the Miramichi River

Colford's Atlantic salmon river report from the Main South West Miramichi. With heavy rains hitting us from Earl we have yet to see that much of a raise in the river. The lower stretch of the SW Miramichi only got about a 6 to 8 inch raise so far. I talked to Syd at Trout Brook Fly Shop and he said the NW Miramichi only raised about 4 inches. Syd said there is not many anglers fishing but the few that are have saw fish around. The same goes for here on the Main SW river there are fish moving around the pools now from where they were before holding in cold water spots through out the pools.

This is a photo looking up towards the mouth of Cains river.

Today is very windy for casting and a lot of slim floating and making it hard to fish wet flies both casting and your drift/swing of the fly. The temperatures were very good this morning in the mid 60's F. I landed a grilse on a brown bomber, while James Vickers from Moncton landed a grilse on a green machine. Merle Colford lost a grilse and landed one on brown bomber also. There were a few other fisherman that hooked a few fish too around 10:00 am on dries.

I hope this fills you in a bit for the river conditions, I will post more later today or tomorrow if there are any changes.

Update from tonight: The river raised another 6 inches from this morning and looks like it is still raising this evening. The fishing was great as I landed 2 grilse from 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm. I witnessed a 40 incher being landed after telling the guy what he should use for a fly. I told him my flies work for this pool so put that one on! then he hooked his fish. Lucky call by me lol! All in all the river is up at-least a foot or better. I will update you again tomorrow.

Tight lines,

Rodney Colford

These are 'tying' times for fishing

On the Miramichi River system this week, there hasn't been much fishing to talk about except the weather. Heat was the topic and early morning dashes to the river seem to be the most excitement for most fisherman during the high humidity.

Most anglers took the time to tell stories on the banks of the river or practise their casting. Others said tying flies at times like this made for better days and gives the fish a break.

We all know the weather is very important topic when it comes to fishing and the heat is not the best topic for Atlantic salmon or us anglers when fishing. But after weeks of dry weather with only a few showers to be heard of, 40 to 50 millimetres of rain (about two inches) are forecast for this weekend.

Well that's enough to get excited about. It gives us hope that conditions will be much improved next week.

If the heavy rains come, what can we expect from our rivers?

With the rivers being so low and the water temperatures so high, it has to be better for the fish whatever precipitation comes from Hurricane Earl.

I would think the first day or two from a raise in water it will be very dirty from all the algae we have on the bottom of the rivers at this time. Let's hope when the rain comes it rises the water and puts lots more fish in from the bay to tighten our lines.

There were a few fish landed last weekend after a couple cool nights on the lower stretches. Saturday and Sunday morning seemed to be the first mornings that the fish wanted to take in a few days. Local anglers at Pool 66 hooked fish with one weighing in at 20 pounds. There were a few more around the 15-pound range and a couple of grilse. Flies of choice were brown bombers and small black patterns for the wet flies.

Black Brook Salmon Club also hooked a few fish Saturday and Sunday morning with the brown bomber with white ends being the fly. They said there were plenty of fish holding at the brook and early morning was the better time to fish as fish moved throughout the pool.

Monday at Pool 66 Steve Smith landed and released a grilse on a blue bomber and was netted by Dennis Grant. Joel Kitchen had a couple friends from Ontario fishing with him and landed a 35-pound salmon at Pool 66. They also lost a grilse. The fly of choice was a woolly bugger. I told him he must of been trying everything he had to get to the woolly bugger. It worked and that is all that counts under these conditions so I think I will dig mine out - if I can find them.

Wilson's Sporting Camps said there are plenty of salmon holding in their pools and are taking very well in the mornings. They urged people to take caution in the heat and to break fish off after the hook-up. Bombers were working best in the pools.

Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters had a good event over the weekend as Dennis Grant hosted a fly-casting school. They had a very good turnout on each day including myself for Saturday afternoon. It was a fun time for beginners to the more experienced casters. They said fishing was very slow but a lot of fisherman were in the shop getting flies. There were a few anglers that hooked fish on bombers and bear hairs but most were waiting for the weather to change.

The Cains River is very low and fish are holding in the cold water brooks. The Renous River is also extremely low and warm with fish holding wherever there is cold water flowing in. The Northwest Miramichi has fish holding in the cold brooks and there are rumours of fish in the tide waiting for a raise in water to get them moving upstream.

I hope this is the last of our hot humid weather and conditions will soon improve for your fall salmon fishing. The forecast for the next couple weeks is below seasonal temperatures so things are starting to look up with the rains we are expected to get. September is always a big fish month, so I look forward to hearing from you for that big fish being landed.

A tip for the anglers who have boats anchored or seats/benches out on a gravel bars - keep an eye out as the water may rise quickly and these items could be gone the next morning.

Let me know of that fish of your dreams caught on the beautiful Miramichi. So keep your rods high and your reels screeching until next week have tight lines.

* Rodney Colford is a third generation salmon-fishing guide on the Miramichi River and has been guiding fishermen ranging from greenhorns to some of the finest fly-fishermen in the world for 27 years. His fishing reports appear every Thursday in the Times & Transcript.