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