Great Fishing on the Miramichi

Opening week for Miramichi was very good and anglers were hooking their share of Atlantic salmon. And with the cold temperatures we are having fisherman were still on the water.

First photo is Ronnie Steeves and John Cost with 1 of many salmon.

Many fishermen including myself was steady taking the ice off the guides on the rod as the line would freeze up on the first two days of the season.

Second photo is Gary Colford and Bill Moore landing a salmon of many for the week.

And even though the weather was not the best the fish were taking flies of many patterns just the same. Flies like the Renous Special, Mickey Finn, Orange Blossom, Golden Eagle, Blue Smelt and the Christmas Tree were some of the favorites during the first week. Fisherman were hooking fish every way from wading from shore, long lining from the boat, trolling on many sections of the lower river.

The Upper stretches of the River around Boistown had very good fishing. Fisherman were hooking there share and many reaching their limit. Michael McKinnon was in the Boistown area and said it was very good fishing but very cold to say the least.

Down closer to Doaktown Wilsons Sporting Camps said the river was ideal height and color and was perfect for fishing. There were a large number of salmon in the mix. Keith expects the fishing to be very good again next week.

This is John Keenan with a nice grilse.

Down river near Upper Blackville fisherman were having great success too with many anglers catching their limit the first week each day. Salar Haven club on the Howard road were catching all there fish casting from boats.

This photo is one of our cook outs on the Cains River.

From left to right is Gary Colford, Currie Curtis, Pat Colford, Clark Hallman, Ron Steeves, John Cost, John Wason, Ron Falusy and Bill Moore.

The lower stretches of the river near the mouth of Cains river we were catching ours mostly trolling and a few on the cast. Most fish we had landed seem to be salmon in the 32 to 36 inch range.

Jamie Keenan with a super meal!

All the fish looked very good and very silver in color, looked like they had a good winter in the Miramichi. Fly of choice was the Christmas Tree and Renous.

This is Kirk Keenan holding one of many salmon that were all bigger than his brother Jamie's.

Down river in the Blackville area fisherman from Country Haven Lodge were hooking double digits and limiting out most days.

Byron Coughlan camp owner said one guide yelled to him on the porch that we can’t keep them of our hooks. He said that was music to a camp owners ears when he heard that, with many clients in from around the world made it good news.

This is Jessie Fisher with a nice grilse.

Miramichi Renous Club was catching lots of fish on the lower section. Many anglers were catching fish in Quarryville area. Local guide Gerald Hallihan said fishing on the Renous was very good too.

The fishing was also very good on the North West Miramichi as many fisherman were hooking up. Many of the same flies were being used like the Renous Special, Christmas Tree and Golden Eagle to name a few.

Ron Falusy with one of many salmon of the week and most hooked on a Christmas Tree and Mickey Finn.

Guide Kevin Gillespie said they boated 228 fish with 7 guys fishing at the lodge. The biggest fish was 39 inches and many big salmon being hooked. There were no signs of any smelts in the river as of Wednesday.

Local Shops like Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters, Georges Fly Shop, Herb Barry’s, Miramichi Surplus, Fredericton Outfitters, Trout Brook Fly Shop and Doaks were reporting having many fishermen in with good fishing all week.

The start of a April snow storm on the Miramichi and Ron not liking it..

With the first week in the books on the Miramichi I think the worry of the fish being out of the river early is over. They are here and in big numbers of them for you to get out on the river to catch.

Coming in to get dried off at my Fly Shop after a great day fishing on the Miramichi.

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

Rodney Colford