Salmon fishing on the Miramichi had it ups and downs the past week as warm weather during the day heated the rivers up. The up side was the nights stayed cool and allowed many anglers to hook into some nice fresh salmon and grilse in the mornings. There is starting to be a good run on and very fresh as they have sea lice on many of the fish.

Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn had very good fishing the past week as many men and women were catching some nice fish. We had a group of women from the (IWFFF) International Womens Fly Fishing Federation for a couple days fishing and they hooked into some of there very first Atlantic Salmon. I would think they will also be hooked on salmon fishing now too. Flies of choice seemed to be White Tail Green Macine, Smurf, Shady Ladies.

Keith Wilson of Wilsons Sporting Camps said fishing was superb for this week and river was at a perfect level. They are landing salmon and grilse and some as big as 40 inches in length. He said they are looking forward to the big July Run.

Country Haven Lodge on the lower stretch of the Main South West said they are hooking some salmon and grilse but are not landing many. They were seeing several fish jumping but seemed to be heading one way and that was up stream. Green Machines seem to be the fly of choice.

Anglers' on the North West were still seeing a few fish and more grilse were starting to be caught. River conditions were very good the past week. Anglers fishing the Little SW Miramichi were hooking a few fish and were seeing better numbers on Monday and Tuesday and also starting to see more grilse coming in. Many fish in the NW and Little SW were very fresh fish.

Conditions on all the tributaries were very good this past week as the water level decreased. Temperatures stayed cool in the mornings around the mid to low 60's F and evenings it raised to the high 60's to the low 70's. The odd day we had the river temperature around 73 degrees where it can be very hard to hook into a salmon. Temperatures seem to rise very fast in the hot sun but cools very fast in the evening.

Local fly shop in Doaktown W.W.Doak said fishing was very good as many anglers were landing and seeing fish. Flies were green machines, belly dancers and undertakers.

Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters said fishing was also starting to pick up as many anglers in the shop were excited to be getting fish. Fly of choice seem to be the White Tail Green Machine and a few bombers.

The outlook for the next week is we are starting to get a lot of fresh fish in the river to fish for. The down side on this is were are also going to be getting a heat wave that will keep the river temperatures up. So the best advice will to be to get out on the water very early in the mornings to beat the heat. Try smaller flies and lighter tippets to try and hook up. A good reminder when the water is 70 degrees or more not to play the fish very long as it is very hard to revive them in the warmer water. It's a great time to be practicing pinching your barbs on your flies to help release your catch without harming it.

Fresh Atlantic Salmon runs are arriving on the Miramichi River

Fresh Atlantic Salmon runs are arriving on the Miramichi River as many fishermen are hooking up. Reports of salmon and grilse over the past week have been landed on the North West Miramichi, Little South West Miramichi, Sevogle, Renous and Cains River. Sunday started off slow on the Main South West Miramichi and then more and more fish were seen jumping through out the river as the week went on. Wednesday had runs of fish coming in covered with sea lice straight from the sea.

River conditions were very high for the past week but is starting to get back to a fish-able level. Depending on the area of the river you fish water levels are different. The lower stretch from Quarryville to Cains River is still very high. The middle lower stretch from the mouth of Cains River up to Blissfield has a few pools very fish-able. The middle stretch from Blissfield to Boistown is starting to get very fish-able and should be in perfect condition by the weekend. The upper stretch of the river is in perfect condition from Boistown to Juniper. 

Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn in Doaktown said the water is slowly dropping and are seeing more and more fish daily. Water has cleared up a great deal and the fish are on the move. Derek said most of his guest are landing fish with some being grilse and salmon. Average size is around 12 to 15lbs. 

Guides Andrew Anthony and sports landed a salmon 17lbs and a grilse on Tuesday and Wednesday using an Ally Cascade. Myself and Marc Bedard and Steven Palmer landed a 15lb salmon and 2 grilse. Dr. Bolie limit out on Tuesday with 4 grilse. Lloyd Lyons and sport landed a couple grilse and a salmon. Guide Vembrose Watson sports landed 2 grilse and lost a salmon.   

Country Haven Lodge are also hooking fish through out the river. Salmon and grilse are also being caught and pretty much the same sizes from 10 to 15lbs. They also hooked a salmon on the Cains at Salmon Brook. 

Wilsons Camps in McNamee said the river is still a foot above normal but the salmon and grilse are here and with the cool nights the river should stay very good. They are catching a few in the 30 to 34 inch range.

Black Brook Salmon Club near the Mouth of Cains River are also hooking a few fish. Guide Donald Colford said water is still very high and they are fishing from boats and wading. 

Fishermen should have a good weekend as many fish are running from the high tides we are having. One thing that always seems to play a good factor is the full moon in July always seems to bring a nice run of fish in. 

Flies for the week seems to be the old faithful  White Tail Green Machine, Undertakers, Glitter Bears and Alley Cascade and also a few bombers. Black and green flies are most popular this time of the season but always try a fly that just maybe will catch you that fish of your dreams. 

Until next week have Tight Lines.

Rodney Colford

High Water on the Miramichi

What a change from last week on the Miramichi River as we went from low and very warm water levels to high spring like levels. River temperatures have reduced and is now in the lower 60 degree levels which is much better for the fishing. River had stayed very clear with the raise in water and fishing conditions improved a little for the better.

Mack Giffin just ten minutes ago (Wednesday) at Kelly's pool with guide Rodney Colford of the Ledges Inn. The grilse was covered in sea lice and landed on a grey marabou pattern.

There have been a few anglers hooking up on different stretches of the river from Quarryville to Boistown. Scott Cormier landed a nice salmon on the lower stretch of the River on a green machine pattern and also a 24 inch grilse. Peter Squires landed a couple nice salmon and his buddy a grilse.

The Ledges Inn said they are finally getting the much needed rain we all have been praying for. Salmon fishing picked up some as they landed a few at Mountain Channel Pool and a couple salmon and a grilse at the Ledges Pools.

A nice grilse landed Tuesday evening by Sam ingram at mill brook with guide Rodney Colford.

Wilson Sporting Camps said fly fishing conditions on the Miramichi near McNamee can breath a sigh of relief now that the water is up a fair amount. They had a grilse landed after the raise but fishing was still very slow.

This is a photo from the Wayerton Bridge taken by Chris Edmonds.

Country Haven in the Blackville area had some luck this week after the rise in water as guide Gary Colford landed a salmon with his clients and raised a few more. Byron Couglhan  also said they were landed lots of Stripped Bass and some as far up as Upper Blackville.

There were also a few fish landed in the Mouth of Cains River area and two salmon reported at Black Brook Pool being landed with sea lice.

Lets see after all this rain if our salmon runs will improve, lets hope this rain and higher river levels brings them in. The levels will be very high after all the rain the head waters got so be very careful this weekend on the river. There have been over 90 ml of rain on Tuesday alone in the head of the river so the Main River and a few of the tributaries should rise into today.

Tight Lines.
Rodney Colford

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

Salmon fishing picking up

Salmon fishing is picking up on the Main South West Miramichi River as many fishermen have been hooking up. There are good reports from Quarryville area of the river to Boistown area. There have also been reports of salmon up in the juniper area of the river.

Most fish that are being hooked seem to be in the 15lb range and the odd few in there twenties. There is also the odd grilse being landed too. There is still the odd trout being caught on the river from 10 to 14 inch range.

River conditions are getting very low both on the North West and South West Miramichi. The lower stretch from the mouth of Cains River to Quarryville is almost at a perfect level right now. But from the mouth of Cains River on up the Miramichi is starting to get very low and could use some rain to get the level up.
Temperatures this week were in the mid 60's (F) which is very good for the Miramichi.

On Monday Andrew Anthony of the Ledges Inn hooked a salmon and lost it in the morning and then landed another in the evening. Derek Munn landed a nice salmon about 16lbs the same evening. Both fish were landed at the Harris Ledge Pool. Tuesday evening I landed a 15lb salmon at The Mountain Channel Pool on a Samething Murray, and also lost another salmon and grilse. I saw several fish both Monday and Tuesday which was a good sign. There seems to be a good run on of fish but not the greatest yet.

Some other fishermen that hooked up this week were Steven Moody who lost a grilse on a bomber pattern.

Bruce Waugh of W.W.Doaks in Doaktown said there were a few local anglers picking up the odd salmon and the lucky grilse.

Chris Munn of Fredericton Outfitters had a great turn out with the Fly Casting Course as Rick Whorwood's Fly Casting School held courses Friday evening at Fredericton Outfitters and again Saturday and Sunday at the Ledges Inn.

Fishermen looking to get out for the weekend to throw a line should try early mornings and late evenings if the weather stays warm. With a chance of a shower today and a little over cast should help the fishing for this evening.

Until next week tight lines.

This is one I landed last Thursday of 3 salmon.