Our fall salmon run

The beautiful fall colors are coming into affect on the Miramichi River and so are our fall salmon run. The last few days we have saw several fish moving throughout the river system. River levels are about perfect for fishing and boating from pool to pool when required. And even with the few warm days the river temperatures stayed very good around 60 (F) and is almost perfect for Miramichi salmon fishing.

Some good size hook bills are being caught throughout the river. And many anglers are happy to see the fresh fish or at least have the fish moving again. The past couple weeks the fish seem to stop taking the fly and us fishermen call it lockjaw when this happens. Well this week they seemed to open there mouths or eyes and started taking some of the flies we threw at them. I was thinking it was my fly tying that was the problem for a moment; thank the fish Gods for getting them on the take again.

          In the Doaktown area we have saw many fish moving though out the river. The pools at The Ledges Inn are full of fish. You can look down or up the river as far as you can see in some places and see fish jumping, what a sight. Jay and Carol Fargher of Sarnia, Ontario had some great fishing. Carol landed a few grilse and a huge hook bill weighing 16lbs. Jay landed several fish too and one weighing close to 20lbs. Todd Youmans landed a nice 16 to 18lb hook bill. Dr Ed Baker landed a few grilse and a salmon this past week at the Ledges pools. I hooked 4 salmon in the Home Pool of the Ledges Inn and landed two of them for the first ever landed in the Home Pool, something great to remember. I fished with Dr Scott Bolie this week for an evening that had landed a salmon on Tuesday with head guide Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn. Total fish for Tuesday was 16 hooked and 12 landed at the lodge, pretty good after some hard fishing the past couple weeks. For photos of these fish check out our new Facebook page The Ledges Inn.

             In the Boistown area at Tuck-away Lodge Gary Tanner had a good week landing a 37 inch 20lb salmon, a 12lb and a 10lb using his new pattern the Celtic Beauty. 

             Cains River is still fishing well as my father Gary Colford is hooking and landing fish almost every day at Moore’s Pool near Shinnickburn. Richard Lac of Connecticut landed 2 grilse on Monday and Tuesday with a white tail green machine at Moore’s Pool. The River is getting very low on the Cains and we need a little rain to improve the fishing for the rest of the season and get some monster fish up there.

           Fishermen near the Quarryville Pool are still seeing lots of fish and hooking a few too. There are a few hookbills being seen one fisherman told me and still lots of grilse. Anglers are hooking a few on the Renous River the past few days. Country Haven Lodge had been hooking some almost everyday on the Renous, Cains and Dungarvan Rivers.

             Pool 66 is fishing very well as Zachery Colford landed 3 this week on dry flies. Damir Sehic landed a few also on wet and dry flies. The pool was getting to be a perfect level and some big fish were there.

            Weather the next week is looking good for fishing as some rain on the weekend should bring 15 to 20ml if we’re lucky enough to get it and bring the river up a little. The Cains River really needs a raise to get a few more fish up and have good water levels the remainder of the season.

             Well if you’re planning to get out on the water the last few weeks of the season now could be the time. Fish are in the river, levels are good, temperatures are good and the weather is great what else could you ask for. I could tell you what kind of flies we are catching the fish on which is a little help for you. Flies of choice is the Christmas tree wet fly the summer version, White Tail Green Machines, Shady Ladies, Tippet Shrimp, Copper Killer (old school fly), Purple Grape and dry flies were Black Bomber with white tails, Orange and black hackle, brown with brown and white ends and the Blue Bomber with white ends.

            Good luck out there fishing this weekend be safe and tight lines and don’t forget to send me your pictures for my blog at www.miramichifishingreports.blogspot.com and a little note about the catch.

Several fish in the system

Your Miramichi river report for the past week has had some ups and downs but there are several fish in the system to fish for if you decide to get out on the river.

Starting in the Quarryville area with Goerge Rutledge’s Fly Shop. George said fishing was slow except for a few guys hooking fish in early mornings. He also said this rain should pick things up again.

In the Blackville area at Curtis River Outfitters shop said fishing was average for this time of year and with the heavy rain yesterday it should start getting good again. Canoeing was very good last week and there are always extra canoes for rent.

Mountain Channel was still hooking fish in the mornings but only a few fish were running through.

Country Haven Fishing Lodge was hooking fish everyday in some of their pools. They were also doing well on the Cains River and Renous River.

Pool 66 near Black Brook Pool was fishing very well all week and yesterday in the rain it was fishing extremely well as many huge salmon were taking the fly. Danny Munn of Doaktown landed 2 salmon and a grilse by 10:00 am yesterday on a few of my bombers. My son Zach lost 3 on brown bombers and saw many more fish.

The Bridge Pool in Upper Blackville was fishing in the early mornings and the fly of choice was a green butt moose hair.

In the Doaktown area at the Ledges Inn fishing has been very good the past week in early mornings. Head Guide Derek Munn said the fish were getting more selective in the low water. Derek fished the past couple of weeks with Dr. Scott Boley and his wife Sanda (Sonny) Boley from the Bronx, NY. Dr. Boley said he fished here the past 53 years and can’t remember ever seeing so many fish. Scott told me he was to Russia several times and nothing compares to the Miramichi. Scott and his wife hooked over a hundred fish in 18 days fishing at the Ledges Inn with Derek.

The past week we had some very hot conditions at the Ledges Inn. We decided to take advantage of the cooler mornings and very late evenings. Most mornings we hooked or rolled fish, Andrew Anthony, Lloyd Lyons and I rotated the pools and many mornings we hooked up with our clients.

The River conditions were from 61 (F) in the cold water pools to 76 (F) in the late afternoon in the hot days. Now since the rain yesterday the water is starting to rise and fish are starting to take the flies. Last night the river temperatures were in the low 60’s (F). This rain is a great boost for the month of August. I have seen there be sensational fishing from the rains in August so get out on the river this August or call and we’ll see if we can take you out on the river.

Mathew Doak of Doaks Fly Shop said there were fish taking the regular flies like the green machines and shady ladies.

Cains River is still fishing very well for some anglers. Gary Colford hooked several fish this week at the Brophy Pool and Moores Pool. Tom LeBlanc of Moncton fished the Sabbies Yesterday on the Cains and had no luck. He then went to the Main Miramichi where he hooked a few salmon. Glen Keenan hooked a nice salmon on the Miramichi on one of my bombers.

Flies to take with you that worked the past week are Green Machines, Undertakers, Shady Ladies, and bombers. I also fished the Mighty Quinn, a fly I got from Ralph Goodwin of Minto, NB. Ralph has a Fly Shop there where he carries several fly fishing and spin casting gear. So if you’re in route for the Miramichi drop in and see Ralph at his shop. You can check out my photos of the past weeks fishing or send me your photos and I will add them to my Blog at www.miramichifishingreports.blogspot.com

For another week on the Miramichi keep your lines tight and your reels screeching until next time.

Great Opening Day On The Miramichi River

Miramichi Fishing Reports

Even though ice jams were in on the upper stretches of the river it did not stop some anglers on the lower stretches of the Miramichi River System. Anglers from the mouth of Cains River down to the white rapids were fishing and catching fish. It was a great opening day on the Miramichi River for some fisherman.


There was not any ice flowing for the best part of the day on the lower stretches until 7:00pm this evening. Then it all broke loose from up river with a huge jam that took the best part of 2 hours moving through. I expect there still is a great lot more to come down though!

All the boats I talked to today said it was a great day for the start of the season and even though they could not get very far on the Miramichi they were just happy to be out there and catching fish.

Boats at the mouth of Cains river were hooking fish on several different fly patterns. Daryl Wylie walked down and fished along the shore line and made only a few cast before catching his first springer of the season. The photo below of Allan McCormack who came down from Boistown to fish and his friend both landed there limit of 10 fish each. Herb Colford was catching fish and keeping busy netting his buddies as well! Stewart Smith and son was catching fish everywhere from the mouth of Cains River down to Wades shore.





I was fishing with Ron Steeves of Salisbury this morning. We started fishing around 9:30 am and with my 2nd cast I hooked up.I landed 8 fish and lost a few more. Ron had a very heavy line and was catching bottom just about every cast he made. So I traded rods and he made only a few cast before hooking into 1 of his own. After changing lines for the afternoon Ron landed 9 more and 1 trout.

Flies for the day were Renous Specials, Christmas Tree's and a Maribu pattern.





Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters have started a journal called The
Catch of The Day Inviting anglers to come in and log there catch, salmon or trout. Stop in and check out the store and log your catch of the day!!


Tight Lines,
Rodney Colford
Web Site: www.colfordsguiding.com

Miramichi Fishing Report

With just one sleep away from the opening day of the Atlantic Salmon season on the Miramichi River and tributaries, we are seeing 75% of the river still jammed up with ice on several locations.

The lower stretch of Main South West Miramichi River is open from the mouth of Cains River down to the lower end of the White Rapids.

This is a picture of some boats on the water today below the Mouth of Cains River on the Miramichi in front of Colfords Guiding.


Quarryville still has ice frozen but there is some breaking below the bridge. And with the Renous River being still jammed up, it is not helping with the break up in Quarryville section of the river.


Also above the Mouth of Cains River on the Miramichi to Boistown we are seeing several ice jams with open stretches here and there.

As you can see in the below picture taken by the Upper Blackville bridge today this stretch is open down to the turn. But above the bridge you will see lots of ice breaking up and making its way to becoming ice jams.

And with these ice jams also comes some dangerous fishing over the next few days! That's why its good to have a experienced Guide or Fisherman with you on the water until the ice jams clear out of the rivers. Give a call or email if you need a guides.

While fishing take that extra eye watching up river when your anchored. And when you see the ice jams coming have your buddy help you get out of the river and out of its way until it clears up.

If your fishing by the Mouth of Cains River you will be able to pull up in the Cains and be safe. Also down by the Bartholomew River will give you a chance to get out of the way where these rivers are clear of ice jams already.

This photo is above the Upper Blackville Bridge.



With the ice out of the Cains River we are seeing some damage to the Cains River road in by the School House Pool up to the ford at Moores Pool. With over a mile of ice piled up on the road it will take a bulldozer to remove these massive ice cakes of 2 feet thick or more piled some 3 to 6 feet high.





Besides the fact that the ice is piled up on the shores it does seem that if your looking for that spot tomorrow to be safe on the water it will be the Cains River for that number 1 place to be. So if your in the Miramichi River area check out the Cains River its the place to be fishing.





With loads of fish that went up last year you will have no problem hooking into fish on the Cains. The water is clear and at a perfect height to be motoring on the lower stretches of this river.

With weather staying cold over the next week it does look like we will be dodging ice on the Miramichi. And the temperatures will not make it to double digits according to the weather forecast. 4C to 7C for the highs until next Tuesday, so bundle up out there.

Curtis Fly Shop still has last years pricing on waders and some other gear so please check them out for the great deals before prices go up. They are also putting a book at the shop for fish catches if you would like to find out more about it please drop in. Or drop in with a fish that you can record in the book, even better!

Fredericton Outfitters & Anglers are having there first big spring sale. Up to 40% off all Hunting and fishing gear left over form last year. Brand names such as Orvis, Irish Setter boots, Underarmour, Tilly Clothing, Hunter's Specialty, Duck hunting supplies, gun cleaning kits and much more. Sale will go on from April 9th to April 15th. Or until supplies last. For more information check the site at http://www.frederictonoutfitters.com


With my ups and downs for this report please fish safe if your planning on being on the water the next few days. I will be out there tomorrow trying to hook up on a few or just one would be good for starters after a long winter. And I will be on the Cains River playing it safe with a Golden Eagle or a Maribu. I also have openings for spring days and more for summer fishing if your interested give a shout anytime.

Tight Lines,
Rodney Colford
Colfords Atlantic Salmon Fishing Ltd.
Web Site: www.colfordsguiding.com

Lower Miramichi River Ice Conditions

For the Lower Stretches of South West Miramichi River for April 11th ice Out Conditions. With ice still remaining in several spots in the upper parts of the Miramichi River the lower stretches are looking good for the opening day on the 15th.

Areas from the mouth of Cains River down are fishable but still very muddy with ice floating down. Over the last couple days the water must have dropped 6 feet or more in the lower stretches. With so many jams up river I would think a lot of water is being held back by the ice jams.

Even though the river looks good on the lower stretches its always a nerve wrecking place to be with ice jams up river to keep watching for.


Snow Fall Warning For the Miramichi Area
The weather is calling for some snow tomorrow which doesn't help with the spring thaw. If that was rain it sure would be great. Below is from the weather report for the Miramichi.

SNOWFALL WARNING: Miramichi and area Issued at 8:51 PM ADT SATURDAY 11 APRIL 2009

15 TO 25 CENTIMETRES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED FOR EASTERN NEW BRUNSWICK EASTER SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. THIS IS A WARNING THAT SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED IN THIS REGIONS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS.
A DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM SOUTH OF NEW YORK WILL TRACK TOWARD THE MARITIMES TO LIE OVER THE GULF OF ST LAWRENCE BY SUNDAY EVENING. A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE OVER TO SNOW TONIGHT AND CONTINUE EASTER SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. A TOTAL OF 15 TO 25 CENTIMETRES IS EXPECTED OVER EASTERN NEW BRUNSWICK. THE SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH GUSTY WINDS MAY OCCASIONALLY REDUCE VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW OVER EXPOSED AREAS.

Newsletter
I also added a newsletter sign-up from my blog for the fishing reports if your interested in signing up please do. Some have already added from the web site and I will transfer them and you may get a email to confirm.

I will be back tomorrow with photos for you and a better look at the conditions of the ice up river and down to Quarryville on the main South West Miramichi River.

From Colfords Guiding this is Rodney Colford

Fishing on the Cain's River still going good.

Fishing report for the Main South West Miramichi River and Tributaries by Guide Rodney Colford for Oct 18th 2008. Fishing on the Cain’s River yesterday was great, I landed a small salmon about 7 lb’s and lost a grilse in the rocky section of Moore’s Pool. We saw a lot of fish moving but again they were dark in color. The water temperature was 46F with the water being clear. There were a few angler’s fishing and other’s were seeing fish at different places on the River.

I have some picture’s of last weeks fish we caught at Moore’s Pool by Bill Moore’s group. Ron Falusy’s big fish at 46 inches, Bill Moore’s fish and a grilse. Guides Gary and Rodney Colford and photo’s were taken by Barry Holst of Bill’s group.

Tight Lines,
Rodney Colford
Phone: 506 843 6031

Email: miramichifishingreports@hotmail.com

Web: http://www.miramichifishingreports.blogspot.com/

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Fishing still good on the Cain's

On the Miramichi River for Colfords Guiding Services, Report by guide Rodney Colford. Still fishing the Cain's River with very good results. Guide Gary Colford sports landed a couple this morning. Jim Messel landed a salmon and rolled a couple more. Christian Staffas landed a grilse on a LT special on the Cain's as well. Guide Rodney Colford sports landed a 8 lb salmon on the Cain's and lost another using a GP #2 single. This evening sport Bill Moore lost a huge salmon 20 pounds or more and still growing!! Ha! He was using a GP again. Guide Gary Colfords sports Christian Staffas landed a grilse & salmon on the Cain's this evening again using the LT special. Jim Messel rolled one twice but could not get it to take.

The water temperature on the Cain's River was 45 F this morning and still only 47 F tonight. The water was clear today but very black in color. The water level is very good on the Cain's and there are fish showing in most pools up and down the river. The barometric pressure was dropping all day and stayed damp on the Miramichi area. Reports for the main SW Miramichi River are still slow in most of our pools with very few fish being hooked or seen. maybe tomorrow with a little more drop in water over night?

Tight Lines for today,
Guide Rodney Colford
New Web site soon will be up.

Atlantic Salmon takes on the Cain's

The Miramichi River Report for the 6th of Oct. It was a cool day on the river with sunny periods for the most part. The air temperature is 9 C. The water temperature is 47 F. There is a high tide tonight at 11:13 PM and is 1.35 meters high. The water was very clear today but with the normal dark color it looks dirty if you do not look closely.

Now for the fishing today! The Cain’s was fishing very well today at Moore’s Pool for the Colford’s with 6 fish hooked and 5 landed by noon. Then I hooked another at 3:30 on a undertaker #8 double. It was around 7 lbs male. We saw several fish jumping today so maybe they are starting to move up river a bit. The water was down by another foot on the Cain’s but is still very high for most pools in the lower stretches of the river. The Miramichi dropped a foot or so as well but I have no reports from the river as how the fishing was today. Then just before dark this evening Guide Gary Colford landed a 25 pound salmon in the middle of the Moore's Pool.

For guide Rodney Colford tight lines for today.

Miramichi Fishing Report

South West Miramichi River Report by Rodney Colford. Fishing today was slow for the Cains River area with guide Gary Colford landing a salmon and raising a couple more on a small black fly. On the Miramichi today Wintson Gilks of Blissfield landed a couple salmon trolling with a sinking line.The water level is still very high but with the cool nights we should see a fast drop in the levels. Last night and today we saw a drop of about 3 feet. The water looks very clear and anglers should start picking up more fish in the next few days. And with no rain in the forecast the season should be looking very good for the end of the 2008 season.