Fishing on the Miramichi is still a bit slow and many of us are waiting for the sea run trout to appear any day now. Also the late May or early June salmon run should be in the river now and I would expect they are, just that the water is still high and they would be sailing right through pools and if you’re not patient enough to stay and fish for them you’re not going to get them very easy.
The North West Miramichi was very high on the weekend but with the high water it was very clear and very cold. There are rumours of a couple bright salmon being caught on the NW on the weekend. One was said to be 12 pounds and another 15 pounds.
I fished up around the Allison Pool on Sunday where last year the same date I landed my first salmon of the summer season, but not this year as the water was about 1 ½ higher than normal. I also noticed there were no fishermen fishing or camped at the pool. I did see a few anglers downstream at the McLaughlin pool fishing but no one at the Wayerton bridge pool.
Kevin Gillespie was fishing the NW this week and landed a few nice sea trout from 12 to 19 inches. He also said there was still a lot of spring salmon in the river and they had hooked a few. This could be the start of the sea runs coming in.
On the Main South West Miramichi there are a few sea trout being hooked but nothing in big numbers or size to speak of. A lot of anglers are picking up some brookies in the 8 to 12 inch range.
Down on the Lower stretch at Country Haven Lodge anglers were hooking the odd small trout and only seeing a few salmon. They said the fresh trout should be in anytime and so should the fresh salmon.
In the Doaktown area at the Ledges Inn head guide Derek Munn said things are slow on the river and the weather is wet and cold and is very good for the fish in this in between time of the season. Derek had not heard of any fresh salmon being caught on the river yet, but expects the next few days we will hear of one being hooked. Give Derek a call to catch a salmon or trout sometime.
A little further up at Wilson’s Sporting Camps Keith Wilson said sunshine at last and the water is up and staying cold. He was hoping the sunshine would warm the water up a bit and wake up the trout. He said there were still no sign of any sea trout up his way and it looks like early June should be the time to be on the water.
All in all not a bad report from some top notch fisherman on the river. It looks like this weekend could be a very good time to be on the water with some nice days yesterday today and Friday the rain should not be a bad factor in catching some trout or if your real lucky a silver salmon.
Don’t forget to give the fly shops a call or drop in for a fish report of their area of the river as their always on top of the river conditions and have the flies and gear for the river to suit your needs. Quarryville drop into George’s Fly Shop or in Blackville at Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters and in Miramichi drop into Miramichi City Surplus or in Doaktown at W.W.Doaks across from Tim’s and the Atlantic Salmon Museum. If you’re driving from Fredericton stop at Fredericton Outfitters and Anglers for your report on salmon, trout and bass in their area.
Until next week keep your lines tight and your reels screeching on the Miramichi.
* Rodney Colford is a third-generation salmon guide on the Miramichi River. He has been guiding fisherman for the past 28 years. His column appears every Thursday.
