Reels Screeching on Miramichi as the weather warms up.

The reels are still screeching on the Miramichi as fisherman from far and wide are hooking up with the silver leapers. But as the reels are heating up, so does the maritime weather as

temperatures reach the high 30's and putting the river temperature in places up to a high of 25C ( high 70's F). And with very hot weather over the next week, and very little rain in the forecast the fishing will start to slow down unless we get rain or cooler temperatures.

This week I fished again from the Blissfield area of the Main SW Miramichi river to lower Blackville at the Nash Bar pool.

I had some great story tellers and very talented fisherman from Nova Scotia fishing with me. Jim Gourlay President of Saltscapes Publishing and his dog Nickie, Bob Short who owns a B&B on the banks of the Margaree river and who was also Mr. Winchester for Canada for many years. And also long time guide, fishing, hunting and tourism ambassador Bill Bryson. We canoed and fished several pools in the area and saw many fish during our travels. As Bill Bryson lost one and rolled many he took it very easy on Jim and Bob as they both got a couple fish each this trip. They saw hundreds of fish and said they loved the canoe trip too all the pools they fished. My father had a family from North Carolina Dr. Ed Baker, Diana and son Charlie as they all hooked 1 fish each on there 3 day fishing trip.

Pools on the Main South West Miramichi from Boistown to Quarryville were fishing extremly well and many fish jumping and rolling.

Fisherman at the Mouth of Cains river were hooking fish and some double and as many as four fish on at once! Tyler Coughlan was fishing at The Foot Bridge Pool in Upper Blackville and said anglers landed over 20 fish last Friday. The Blackville Pool was fishing very well as local fisherman said they were seeing lots of grilse and a few nice salmon too. Anglers were starting to see some fish holding in the deeper water and in the brooks which has a little colder temperatures.

The Solar Haven Club was hooking lots of fish which were mostly grilse near Upper Blackville. Wilson's Sporting Camps above Doaktown had good fishing and saw lots of fish in all of there pools. Dry flies were the fly of choice later in the week which took a few nice salmon. The Hershey club had a great week hooking fish and the fly of choice was the green machine. The Black Brook Club also had a very good week of fishing and flies of choice were the green machine, undertaker and bombers. Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters said the fishing was very good and still very good canoeing and kayaking. Fly of choice was green machine, butterfly, shady lady and brown bombers.

Public Water activity was very good as Pool 66 action near the mouth of Cains River was hooking lots of grilse and salmon on mostly dry flies. The Quarryville pool was fishing very good with many anglers lined up from all over the province to fish the pool. The Stop Sign Pool was also fishing pretty good, but anglers said the fish were moving through very fast and that the pool needed a bit more water. The Grey Rapid pool which is a very fast water pool was fishing very well. You can find all of these public pools and many more very easy if you have the map book which the salmon museum sells in Doaktown. The public pools are all listed in red and it makes it very easy to locate by seeing each named pool on the SW Miramichi.

Other tributaries that were catching salmon were the Renous, North West Miramichi, Sevogle and Little South West Miramichi. No reports on the Cains River but I expect to hear that there is fish getting up over the shallow gravel bar at the Mouth of the river.

Most fishermen were hooking there fish on the top fly again the white tail green machine. Other flies like the undertaker, shady lady and a mixture of bombers are still very strong competitors.

Tip of the week: With the warm weather in the forecast for the next week and a few late showers fishermen should think when hooking a big fish. Maybe use a lighter leader so you could break him off after a few minutes of play. The hook will come out in a few days and the fish will swim to catch again someday. Also using this lighter leader will help in the clear water with smaller flies.

Until next week Tight Loops,

Rodney Colford

Salmon fishing improves

With water levels being very low over the past week on the upper stretches, the lower stretch from the Mouth of Cains River down to Quarryville had perfect fishing conditions.

The river temperatures were from 62 Fahrenheit (16.6 Celsius) in the morning to 74F (23.3C) in the evening and featured some of the longest days of the year for fishing.

With last week being a good week for fish coming into the system, this week had even more fish showing up and many more being hooked.

On the lower stretches of the Main Southwest Miramichi River, we had over a foot raise in the water level on Monday from the rain. And there was a great run of fish on the move from it. A lot of anglers were hooking grilse and salmon up and down the river. Marty Marshall's 10-year-old boy hooked two grilse below the Mouth of Cains River on dry flies.

Glen Keenan landed his first salmon of the season, Ed Colford and his son Alex were catching fish, Lester Vickers landed a nice salmon, Louis Cormier landed a salmon and his buddy Tommy landed his first after a two-year drought and notice I did not mention his last name!

Joel Kitchen landed a couple of salmon and a couple of grilse, Lanny Burke landed an 18-pounder, Darren Sullivan

landed a grilse, Bliss Arbeau and a few other local anglers landed some grilse in the Upper Blackville bridge pool.

I also landed a grilse and lost another on a Green Bomber with orange hackle and white tails.

On the upper stretches of the Southwest Miramichi this past week from Wilson's Sporting Camps: We had several fish on but very slow takes under these conditions. There seems to be a decent number of big salmon on the move and of course with a rise in water last night and cooler temps we are expecting good fishing this week.

Reports from the Cains River said the fishing was slow on the lower stretches of the river. Renous River anglers are hooking a few fish and with the rise in water it should produce some better fishing this weekend.

The Northwest Miramichi had a good number of fish in the system this week with anglers hooking a few grilse and salmon. On the Little Southwest few fish were showing.

With a little rain in the forecast for today and some mild temperatures in the lower 20's for the rest of the week we should start seeing more fish and more anglers. I would recommend green machines, undertakers, moose hairs and some bombers.

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.

Miramichi Starting To Pick Up!

Atlantic Salmon Fishing on the Miramichi is picking up!

After a great evening fishing last night I decided to get at er early this morning, and it paid off! I landed this beauty at 7:00 am on a dry fly. I raised several more from 4:30 am onward.

If your wondering if there is fish around? you don't have to worry anymore for a few days. There are lots of fish showing on the lower stretch of the SW Miramichi. Last night there was a really big run on that had fish jumping and rolling everywhere.

All for now will be back in a few days with an more up to date report!

Tight Loops,

Rod

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.