Warm June Taking Its Toll On Miramichi Salmon Fishing

Rod, Ernie & Andrew of the Ledges Inn
photo taken by Rick Whorwood.

Salmon fishing on the Miramichi is just not in the way we would like to see it for the month of June. I would love to say fishermen's reels are screeching out into the backing. And thirty pound Chrome Bumpers of Salmon that are so silver they are Leaping through the air. But warm weather is taking its toll on the river as river temperatures hit over 21 degrees Celsius (70.F) this week.

Looking up river from the Bridge Pool in Ludlow.
Some fishermen that hooked up this week:

 A few salmon and grilse that are in the river are already starting to lay at the mouth's of cold brooks to get out of the warmer river conditions from midday to late evenings. Some fish that were laying in certain pools during the day moved upstream by the next morning. So it seems they are travelling more at night to beat this heat and to get over the shallow gravel bars.



Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn said his guest Galen Knowles landed a grilse and lost one, Nate Holyoke hooked and lost one at Mountain Channel Pool.
Miramichi Salmon Club hooked a few salmon in the Blissfield area this week.

Looking down river at the Bridge Pool.

Damir Sehic landed a 15lb salmon using a black bomber. Chris Edmonds reported hooking a 10 to 12lb salmon with one of his clients. John Colford hooked a salmon at the mouth of Cains River on Tuesday.


Miramichi and surrounding tributaries are in need of rain and cooler temperatures to improve the fishing. Many anglers are already complaining about the late run of salmon to the river and now with this heat anglers are getting very discouraged. One thing to look at is maybe the salmon knew something we didn't, and being late to arrive this summer may be a good thing with the warm water conditions we are having. Lets hope they are waiting in the estuary for a change in the system and big schools of fish ready to run into our rivers.

At the trout lakes having dinner.

There have been a few small runs of fish make there way in so far this season and a few lucky anglers hooked up. But it has been a slow start to the season and with the warm dry conditions we are having, anglers will have to be patient and wait for the rain to come to cool the rivers down.


The weekend is starting to look better for the fish and the fishermen as some rain is in the forecast and cooler weather for next week. Thunder showers for Friday and Saturday and rain Monday and Tuesday are expected and will be nice to see for the Atlantic Salmon Fishing.

Fishing at the trout lakes at the Ledges Inn.

Reports are low and warm on all the tributaries and anglers should practice safe fishing for the fish. When river conditions are warm try fishing early mornings. In these conditions in warm weather get out on the river early and beat the heat and you may be rewarded. Also remember to drink lots of water and have sunscreen lotion on, or get raccoon eyes like mine and a few other guides I know.

Lets hope we get some rain and the weather stays cooler next week for fishing salmon not only on the Miramichi but all of New Brunswick rivers.

Boats at the lake.

Tight Lines from the banks of the Miramichi.
Rodney Colford

Low water conditions for opening day

This is off the Upper Blackville Bridge

Cains River at Moores Pool

 Well the wait will be over this Sunday on the Miramichi for the 2012 salmon season opening day. And it can’t come soon enough for many anglers as the river ice let go over 3 weeks ago and many anglers are eager to hook up.

The lower end of the School House Pool

Down River from Quarryville

Up river from Quarryville Bridge

Many fly fishermen are wondering, will the fish still be in the river for the Spring Salmon fishing. I can tell you there are lots of fish in the river as they have been jumping for over a couple weeks now. River conditions are very low and very clear and could make this a very good spring season. I have saw fishing very good in low water in early May so why not with low water on April 15^th. It will also give many anglers a chance to see the fish lying still on the bottom and even better see the fish going for your fly before he strikes it. 

Many places all you will need is your floating line. Some places where the water is deep your sinking lines will work but most places floating lines and a short sink tip should be fine. 

Flies of choice are Renous Special, Red Eagle, Golden Eagle, Blue Smelt and Christmas Tree. I would think smaller flies would be worth a try size 2 to 1/0. This should be a great spring for the fly caster casting to their catch.

Up river near Boistown and Doaktown fishing conditions are very similar with low water. The river came up 8 to 10 inches from the rains and snow we got. Hopefully the warm weather expected this week will melt some snow in the woods and raise the river more.

 Derek Munn at the Ledges Inn said the fishing should be very good opening day. He also thought most fish will stay in the river until it starts warming up more before their return.

All the tributaries are very low as well but all are reporting seeing fish throughout. Anglers must remember to pinch the barbs on their hooks and single hooks only until May15th.

A June Salmon 2011

I am looking forward to hearing about all your hook ups this weekend so tight lines until next week.

Rodney C

Salmon fishing shows vast improvement

Salmon fishing and river conditions on the Miramichi have improved greatly over the past week.

Colder nights have put the water temperatures in the 50F (10C) range and the height of the river is very good for the lower stretches, but could use a bit of rain to raise the up river levels.

Everyone is asking if the fall run is here?

Well there are some big hook-bills landed and even some fish landed with sea lice. Last week at Black Brook Salmon Club they reported landing 114 Atlantic salmon and many were sea lice covered fish. There was a report of a 40-pound salmon being landed at Vickers Pools this week.

Troy Adams from Dieppe landed a 25 & 28-pound-plus hook-bills on Tuesday. Richard Lac from New Hampshire fished with me this week. The first day we saw lots of fish from many sizes, but could not hook up. Then on Tuesday Richard landed two grilse weighing about five pounds each on a Ally Shrimp No. 8 single hook at the Half Bar pool.

On Sunday, Jim Corrigan landed a grilse while his buddy Axel raised several fish on Ally Shrimps at the Swett Pool. Damir Sehic landed two grilse on Saturday at Pool 66.

Ken MacLeod landed a grilse at the Nash Bar pool on Sunday and lost another on Monday. His friend Jeff Mosher also landed his first Atlantic salmon on one of my yellow body bombers at Pool 66 in Howard. Then on Monday he lost a 25-plus salmon as he took his fly in the very first run. Bill Moore and Ron Falusey each landed a grilse and Clark Hallman landed two grilse at the Swett Pool all on Alley Shrimps.

A great story of a young man's life being ruined by fishing Atlantic salmon this season as Jason MacCallum from Moncton was introduced to salmon fishing by Andrew Clark (also of Moncton) and has the fever very badly as he landed a fish each of his three times out fishing.

Andrew said it's nice to ruin someone's life with instilling the passion for salmon fishing on him. Way to go guys and thank you for the update.

Other rivers like the Cains River is still fishing slow as fisherman are not seeing many fish from above the Sabbies River. Reports from the Northwest Miramichi had fishing improving over the last week and water levels were still pretty good with river temperatures in the 50sF.

The race is on for Canada's Ultimate Fishing town on the WFN on. So visit the site and vote for Miramichi as your fishing town (http://www.wfn.tv/ultimate-fishing-town/miramichi). Lets go New Brunswickers and get back in this race for the best fishing town in Canada. We only have 6,642 votes so get going and vote.

Also register soon for your booth at the Dieppe Fly Fishing Forum 2011 at http://www.flyfishingforum.ca/info_exhibitors.htm and contact Ron Godin.

Let me know of that fish of your dreams caught on the beautiful Miramichi. So keep your rods high and your reels screeching until next week have tight lines.

* Rodney Colford is a third generation salmon-fishing guide on the Miramichi River and has been guiding fishermen ranging from greenhorns to some of the finest fly-fishermen in the world for 27 years. His fishing reports appear every Thursday in the Times & Transcript.

Salmon Rolling Like In A Dream

Colfords Miramichi Fishing Reports for the middle of June. Fish are in the rivers! Oh yes, Fresh Atlantic Salmon!

I started out fishing the week on the SW Miramichi with a good friend of mine Damir Sehic of Fredericton. We fished a while and saw a salmon jump near the mouth of Cains River. That was the only one we saw there as we decided to motor upstream to Blissfield area and fish our way back in public & private water pools.

On our way we stopped and talked to guide Kenny Vickers. They saw 3 fish at the Brophy Pool and also a few fish this morning and things were looking better.

As we headed upstream we saw a few geese around and some ducks and ducklings, and pair of Eagles soaring over head in search of dinner. We then talked to a couple anglers from Salor Haven Salmon club and they saw a couple fish but had none hooked at that point. Also meeting up with Bob Burgen and his son, and they had not saw a fish all morning.

As the day went on we fished several pools and nothing was showing. I saw several shad scouting from under the boat as we passed down stream and hoping they were salmon!

After fishing several pools on our way back we tried pool 66 and saw 3 salmon jump again. Daryl Wylie and his buddy was also fishing there. We all fished for a couple hours and things happened like you would only dream off! The pool was on fire with fish! The run was here! beautiful salmon jumping and rolling everywhere.

And then Daryl from Harcourt hooked into a beautiful salmon on a dry fly, his first on a dry fly. We joked telling him that it was a shad and not a salmon! ha ha! we knew and he knew because when it jumped and took line of the reel that it was no shad! It was as chrome as a bumper on a 57 Chevy! Must of been 20lbs we figured, man a nice salmon as he released it on his way.

Also over the past week we have saw lots of rain hit us! The Main SW Miramichi River was dirty and very high to fish on the lower stretch. But the upper stretches were taking advantage of the higher levels and Guide Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn netted a nice salmon for his client and saw a few other fish.

Down river near the Mouth of Renous at the Quarryville Pool anglers were saying there was some fish around and 5 or 6 were caught.

Up the Renous anglers were seeing some fish and the odd one being hooked. Rod Hallihan hooked a salmon and had it on for a few minutes before he came loose or quick release we say! Ranger Kenny Louis saw some fish at the mouth of Renous. He also saw several Stripe Bass being hooked in the 4 to 6 pound range.

Daryl Wylie and his salmon in this photo.

Zlacko and Bruno of Toronto fishing the high water on the SW Miramichi last week. They enjoyed some lobster and steak after the long day fishing in the high water.

Ian Fortune was fishing the Bartholomew River and was still catching trout in the 1/2 pound to 4 pound range using bombers in the fast water as he striped the fly through the current.

On the North West Miramichi last week we had great water conditions before the rain hit and Yes! we saw a few fish and also with a fish being caught here and there. Some fisherman were catching a few trout in the 10 to 12 inch range and said that the big run of sea trout had gone through. Dale Steeves had a salmon on for a few seconds and he was gone. Dale also hooked another salmon and again lost it on Saturday! Dale said he saw a few fish rolling and some moving through the pool. He said there were lots of fisherman about and one other guy had landed a salmon. Dale Gildert landed a few trout in the 12 to 14 inch range.

Chris Edmond's tried the Quarryville Pool the other night and saw one pushing 25lbs he said. He said he missed 2 fish at the Wayerton Bridge Pool on the North West with a Colburn Special on Monday and he also saw one at the Allison Pool on Tuesday, and he then said the wind picked up so bad he could not fish anymore. he said there are a few fish around but nothing major, he figured another week or two.

Jim Steeves fished the Sevogle and said the water was low. He had rolled a few in front of his camp on the Main SW but no hook up. He was using Black Ghost, Undertaker, and Green Machine.

Norma & Brock of Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters of the SW Miramichi said there seem to be a lot of fish around but not taking very good. Lanny Burke of the Rapids landed a grilse with a Sugarman Shrimp and saw a lot of grilse jumping. Lester Vickers of Cains River landed a grilse at the mouth of Cains on a Green Machine. Also saying the water is a very good height and very good for canoeing. Norma said there does not seem to be much rain in the forecast.

Flies of choice were bombers, white tail green machines, undertakers and Sugarman Shrimp.

This report is now in the Times & Transcript news paper every Thursday.

So with a pretty good week all in all and fish in the system this is Guide Rodney Colford with your fishing reports for the Miramichi River & Tributaries.

Fish Hitting On The Miramichi

Miramichi Fishing Reports for Colfords Atlantic Salmon Fishing by guide Rod Colford. The conditions on the SW Miramichi River is improving very well over the past week. Anglers are reporting several huge salmon being hooked and now starting to hook more and more grilse. High numbers of fish are reported in the head waters going through the barriers and most are huge salmon says the Miramichi Salmon Association. There are good numbers also going through the counters where they usually get about 5% of fish heading up stream. Today alone they estimated about a thousand salmon & grilse heading up stream, that should keep fisherman very happy for a few days.

The past few days I have saw mostly grilse on the lower stretches of the Miramichi River, unfortunately I only rolled a few and hooked none! not a nice word to say for any fisherman or guide. But other anglers have been telling me they are hooking some nice salmon from the 15 to 25 pound range. We had a 22 pound salmon landed this morning on a shady lady at the lodge. Kenny Walls in Blackville landed a salmon. Don Roy of Fredericton had a buddy with him that landed two fish up in the Cains River on the lower stretches of the river, so much for the Cains being a fall river eh! If the water is up the fish will be up the Cains all season.

Ron Steeves landed a grilse on the NW Miramichi. Shelly Gildert landed her first of the season. Her father Dale Gildert also hooked into a few. And Dale Steeves hooked a few on the NW Miramichi.


Hopefully we will not get to much of a raise from the rain we had this morning and the fishing be tight lines for all. The fish on the lower stretches are starting to hit the dry flies more and more so dig some out of your box and hook into one of those 25 plus pounders. And with only a few showers tomorrow and no rain until the weekend it should be an awesome week of fishing. So if your looking for prime times to fish and you are only a few hours away this would be the week to get out on the water.



And for keeping fisherman happy, Mark Hambrook of the Miramichi Salmon Association kicked off the 2009 Salmon Classic today at the Rodd in Miramichi. Along with Casting Instructor Joan Wulff attending and another 160 fisherman from all over the world. There were lies being told even before the start tomorrow morning! And who says fisherman don't lie. After hearing several lies we all settled down to another amazing dinner. There were lots of new and old fisherman from the last 3 years classic's to this years classic.There were several guides that donate there time to this special event to help MSA raise some funding. And for beginners that have attended this event it has turned some into salmon fisherman that not only hooked there first fish but hooked there self into a sport of a life time to keep coming back for that great take of the Atlantic Salmon.

Good luck & tight lines!

Rodney Colford
www.ColfordsGuiding.com

Leapers on South West Miramichi River

Salmon on the Miramichi the last few days have been showing more and more! I raised a salmon tonight 4 times on a brown bomber with white ends and once on a green machine white tail number 8 double. My son and I both landed a trout around a pound on dry flies. I saw a few more jumping below us so the runs are coming in.

Danny Stewart hooked one Saturday morning at Nash Bar on a number 4 Cossaboom. Joel Kitchen hooked a salmon at Hogans Pool Sunday morning. And my father said Dave Ranslow of Maine hooked 2 at the Hogan bar. Not sure on the fly patterns they were using.

As for those interested in Shad fishing, they are also here in big numbers! I will keep you posted on our shad fishing over the next couple weeks.

The water temperature is 59F and the barometric pressure is rising and was at 1010 tonight. For tide info please check the links on the side bar of my blog and it will open to the Miramichi Tides.

I also have several spots left for guided fishing this summer and fall so check out my prices on my web site for more information on packages.

Tight Lines,
Rodney Colford
www.colfordsguiding.com

News from the ASF about Farm Salmon

Colfords Atlantic Salmon Fishing.

Feb 11th 2009, I just received this news letter from the Miramichi Salmon Federation and wanted everyone to have a look. For more information please go to there web site at the below link.

News from the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF)

In the past week, there have been significant happenings regarding the governance of the aquaculture industry and the need to better protect wild salmon from salmon farming impacts.

A decision by the BC Supreme Court that the province did not have the right to manage aquaculture, and had 12 months to oversee the transfer jurisdiction back to the Federal government, will have repercussions for east coast salmon aquaculture operations. This judgement that determined that the BC provincial government does not have the authority to regulate fish farming or sign MOUs will set a precedent that will cascade across the country.

To read more on this judgement, go to: http://asf.ca/news.php?id=334

Fish taking a rookies fly! on the Miramichi

Fishing report for the Main South West Miramichi River and Tributaries by Rodney Colford. With the season winding down for the Atlantic salmon season on the Miramichi there are great signs of fish still in the system. Last night a rookie to Atlantic salmon fishing Christiana 28 from NY landed a 18 to 20lb female salmon on a LT Special. It took her almost 35 minutes to land this fish in the fast water. She was using my 15 foot Loop Classic Spey Rod and a Snow Bee line, it really helped her to get a few extra feet in her cast with the wind and get that great salmon on the fly. I have it all on video and pictures of the fish jumping until the time it was netted. This morning on the same pool we had two takes but either stayed on. Also on the Cain’s River this morning Guide Gary Colford sports lost 2 salmon at Moore’s pool.

This report from a friend of mine that fished the Cain’s a couple nights ago, Jay Earle.
I fished the Cain’s up above the 123 bridge yesterday evening.
According to the local guys there were a number of fish hooked in the morning and afternoon
I hooked and lost two while my buddy hooked and landed a grilse.
The fish were taking small dark flies, right at dusk.
Headed home in the dark.
Tight Lines from Rodney Colford

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.