Conditions on the Miramichi River is slowing down

Conditions on the Miramichi River is slowing down as the spring salmon are rapidly moving out of the river. There are still a few around but getting very hard to hook. Anglers are using smaller flies and even starting to use full floating lines to hook up with an Atlantic Salmon. 

As conditions the last week was great for boating, canoeing and kayayers with wonderful weather and highs of 27 degrees Celcuis. The avid fishermen will like the coming week much more with rain and cloud cover expected for the next 5 days. 

We have had some smelts in the river up far as Quarryville area. There are some black trout around some in the 1 to 4 pound range if your lucky to find them. The bright trout should start running over the next couple of weeks, but you never know when until there here. 

Stripe Bass is the big talk on the river as there are many of them in the tide waters of both the NW and SW Miramichi. Anglers are hooking and landing the limit of one very easy and releasing as many as 50 or 60 per day. Some are 15lbs plus and are putting up a great fight on a fly or spinning gear. Lure of choice seems to be a small fish the size of a smelt or salmon smolt. 

I took my kids fishing on Tuesday for Strippers and we had a triple on twice and several doubles. We kept following the areas where seagulls were flying over. We landed over 30 fish in two hours. Was great fun but, they must have a huge impact on our salmon smolt and trout in the river. 

MSA News: Nola Chiasson reported the Striped Bass were reported up as far as Sillikers on the Little South West. There biologist fished on Tuesday and caught 10 in a half hour but had trouble getting 3 the limit size of 55 to 65 cm. For more on the Miramichi Salmon Association go to there web site at www.miramichisalmon.ca and get there full report.

Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn and guide Andrew Anthony landed several stripe bass and lost count to how many they landed this week in the tide waters. Greg Amos of Doaktown landed a 22 inch brookie in the tide water using a fly while fishing with the Ledges Inn crew. In the Doaktown area there are still a few salmon around. We are seeing a few jumping and rolling. 

Keith Wilson of Wilsons Sporting Camps said conditions were perfect in the MacNamee Area of the river and fishermen were hooking a couple salmon each day along with a few black trout. They are still using sink tips but smaller flies.

Country Haven Lodge in the White Rapids are still hooking a few salmon and the odd trout. Conditions are very good and levels are normal for this time of year. They are having a few anglers for day adventures in and starting to do some canoeing. 

Flies of choice are Marabou Patterns, Rabbit Strips, Black Ghost, Magot Smelts and Renous. Fly Shops in the area are W.W Doak in Doaktown, Trout Brook Fly Shop in Trout Brook on the North West, Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters, Georges Fly Shop Renous. If your looking for lures for Bass in the area you can check out Miramichi Electronics in Miramichi, Miramichi Surplus in Lower Derby, Pro Nature in Chatham by the airport. 

The Miramichi Fly Fishing Expo 2013 is in Miramichi City on the river. Dates are Friday May 24th and Saturday 25th at the Miramichi Curling Club. Don't miss out on a great event being put on for our youth anglers.

I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks fishing and hooking into some fresh trout and an early Silver Salmon that can follow in late May. Good luck on the water and please practice river editcacy to your fellow angler while out on the water.

Tight Lines

Rodney Colford