Thursday June 21st, River Report.
Just a quick report going into the weekend. Since Monday we have seen an increase in anglers coming through the Tackle Shop. Most of them have been commenting on seeing a larger number of salmon in the last couple of days. Quite a few have had good success in hooking into salmon and grilse. Size 6 hooks are the most popular with no real run on any particular pattern at this time. This is good news. The river is still good for wading and water temperatures are optimum for salmon fishing. It is always nice to be able to give a positive report. Lets hope this continues into the weekend.
Monday June 18th, River Report.
We are getting reports of salmon being caught all along the river system. There are not many instances of large numbers of salmon but they are there and those who are fishing hard are having success. We continue to hear anglers talk of catching Salmon, Trout and Bass in the Quarryville area. One angler caught two large Bass, a Salmon, and a large Trout all in one day. He was quite excited and felt the fishing was really good. Yesterday I talked to two anglers who had caught two Bass in the 65 cm range at the mouth of Renous while fishing for Salmon. They were heading upriver chasing Salmon for the afternoon.There seems to be the odd large Trout being caught by anglers fishing Salmon too.
The river levels have been dropping and we can use the rain we are getting today. Last weeks rain didn't seem to make a noticeable difference in the river. Hopefully todays rain will give it a bump and bring it up for awhile.
There are salmon in the river system now, how many is hard to tell. These early fish don't seem to show like the later runs in July and August. One thing that those who are angling and catching into these early fish all agree on is, they are a lot of fun to hook into. A lot of early salmon anglers are out there because they believe these are the best fighting fish of the season. Last week we had a number of anglers hook into salmon. They are working for them but they are there.Hopefully the rain this week will bring even better fishing in the days to come.
Tuesday June 12th, River Report.
With a return of early bright salmon on the Miramichi we generally see an increase in the number of salmon anglers at the tackle shop. That is true for this week.The lodges and clubs along with private camp owners are slowly making their way back to the Miramichi for another angling season. With more anglers around we should get a better reading of what is happening on the river. Until now we have been hearing of and personally seeing salmon jumping in various parts of the river. There have been a few salmon caught and we heard of more caught today. These early fish are some of the best fighting salmon you will get on the Miramichi.
The rivers are good for wading and angling right now. They have been dropping and the canoeing on the tributaries will need rain to make them enjoyable.
There is a ban on fires so be aware. Unless we get rain soon this will probably continue.
Just a quick note on an experience I had this past Sunday. While picking up canoes at the park in Blackville I noticed a Bald Eagle flying over about tree top level. Two crows were really giving it a hard time as it was flying upriver. While loading the second canoe I noticed an Osprey fly over. After getting the canoe on the rack I turned to see where it went. It was hovering over the bar in the river maybe 60' above water and only 100' away from me. As I watched it dived and when it came up it was holding onto a grilse. This is the first time I have seen the larger birds fishing this year and being successful in catching salmon. The reason I wanted to tell of this experience is that when on the river there is more to experience than just fishing. This happened to me in the middle of our community. More of these kinds of stories will be told by others in the very near future. Enjoy the fishing and the experience that goes with it. Hope to hear of more stories soon.
Thursday June 7th, Fishing Report.
In my report on Tuesday I indicated quite a few salmon were being seen on various parts of the river and that I expected reports of anglers hooking up with salmon soon. That appears to be happening. Yesterday we had put two young gentleman in the Dungarvon River and they canoed the lower section. One of the guys hooked into a grilse. Today we heard of a couple salmon being caught here in the Blackville area. This is good news and I am sure we will continue now to hear of more salmon being caught in the future.
Word of the first salmon being caught on the Miramichi usually means for the locals a new start to the season. After a long winter and late spring we see this as a time when our rivers come into their own. Anyone who works in the industry now finds themselves back to work in a sport where they will be busy as we locals say" for the salmon season". There are not many places where an employee can say "I work in the fly fishing industry for anglers fishing Atlantic Salmon". To me that is what makes the Miramichi an international treasure.
I have always thought of salmon angling as really a very small part of the whole fishing sport. For those who are salmon anglers though this is what we are waiting for. It is always a joy each new season to see salmon anglers at the tackle shop, some new to the sport and some of the older salmon fisherman with many years of experience on our rivers. My experience with salmon anglers is they are a different breed. They choose to enjoy angling at a whole other level. It is an absolute joy to be part of it. Looking forward to seeing everyone again this season and we hope this is a season of good returns and one to remember.
Tuesday June 5th, Fishing Report.
Well, we certainly have had a roller coaster ride with our weather since this past weekend. Friday brought us high temperatures that broke records not seen in over 100 years. Then Sunday broke low temperatures not seen in over 100 years. It was our 43rd year of doing a river run on the Miramichi. Even though the weather was not the best we all would agree it is always a privilege to get out on our local rivers. My fishing experience wasn't as good as it normally would be on this canoe trip. The winds were strong and it made the fishing difficult with light trout gear. We really didn't see many people on the river either for this time of year,which is something that never fails to amaze me as this is probably one of the most exciting times to be fishing on the Miramichi.
When I speak of this as being a great time to be fishing on the Miramichi, I mean that we are now getting into that time when trout will be taking better, the possibility of catching salmon exists, the bass are abundant and the rivers are nice for wading, and some of your favorite rivers are still accessible by canoe.
After spending the weekend on the river and listening to anglers coming into the tackle shop I will give an update of the river conditions. I personally saw bright salmon jumping just above Blackville and there are many reports of sightings all along the river. I didn't hear of anyone hooking into salmon yet. The trout fishing is hit and miss more to do with the windy conditions though as when the conditions are good quite a few people are enjoying their catches. We are hearing quite a few bass are being caught in the Quarryville area so you don't have to go far downriver to have success. As I said before "this is one of the best times to be angling the Miramichi system and not many people are out there yet". It is picking up but mostly the hard core anglers are making the most of this time. If we get warm weather later in the week I think it will be exciting fishing for those who are able to take advantage of it.
To finish up, canoeing on the tributaries will soon be coming to an end as the rivers are dropping. The rain we are getting this week will help but it won't be long and the rivers will be to low. If you were considering running one of the tributaries in canoes I would do it soon. Maybe that will change if we get a good supply of June rain. Expect to hear of salmon being caught this week. Will post when I hear more.
Tuesday May 29th, Fishing Report.
This is just a quick report on Striper Bass that I witnessed this morning while driving to work. As I came off the hill at the end of the Warwick Road and turned up the Red Bank Road towards Red Bank, I could see fisherman in boats fishing for Bass. What caught my eye though was the splashing and circles forming all over the river around the boats. You could see Striper Bass coming to the surface of the water all over the place. I have seen this before and thought it would be all the way up to the Red Bank Bridge but it wasn't. It seems as though the Bass are beginning to spawn in this area. When it gets really noticeable is when you can see it from the bridge. This is really something to see and if you get a chance it is worth taking a drive to this area to see the numbers of Bass we now have on our river.I will keep an eye on things and post more info as It develops.
Friday May 25th, River Report.
This weekend is shaping up to be a good one. Weather is looking good and all the reports we are getting at the Tackle Shop are good. The rivers are still in good shape for those wanting to run the tributaries. Last nights rain may have even helped. Not sure what it would do for the insects though.
We are hearing of more anglers catching trout this week and some are telling us they are hooking into Sea Run Trout. Insect hatches are becoming more noticeable so that is probably making a difference.
Striper Bass anglers are everywhere and more are coming for the Miramichi Striper Tournament this weekend. We heard this week that they are taking much better so this weekend should be good for those who are interested in Bass fishing.
For those who are camping, canoeing, angling, or spending time in the outdoors I recommend you bring fly repellent. The hatches are on and it is always helpful to be prepared. I would also recommend sunscreen. After a long winter most of us are quite light skinned and the sun can be quite damaging.
Be careful of fires it is still quite dry and enjoy the weekend.
Wednesday May 23rd, River Report.
I spent my weekend at the cabin. We opened it up for the season. A few things I noticed was how good the flow at our spring was. The water table seems to be in pretty good shape as it was only a trickle last year. Lots of black flies, mosquitoes, and shad flies around. Picking Fiddleheads was excellent. The underbrush though is very dry. We need rain. Things are greening up quite fast but we need rain to keep the forest fire index in check.
Fishing was spotty depending on who we talked too. Some people did very well trout fishing and say they were catching sea run trout. Others were not doing so well. The same seems to apply to the bass fishing. While some did quite well others didn't see anything at all. One of my students at school yesterday who spent the weekend fishing the Trout Dirby said she caught quite a few Black Salmon. So they are still around too.
The rain today may change things up. Will post if we hear more.
Thursday May 17th, River Report.
Victoria day weekend is generally a popular time on our rivers here on the Miramichi. Whether opening cabins for the first time for the angling season, early trout fishing, fiddlehead picking, local ATV Run, the Trout Derby in Redbank, or canoeing your favorite river, these are all on the top of the list for people to do this coming weekend.
For some who have been here the past couple of weekends you will notice how green the trees have become this week. The poplars and maple are really starting to come to life. River levels are good for those planning to do a river run in a canoe. The beginning of our hatches are starting as the locals are talking about seeing mosquitos and what will soon be unwanted guests.
At this time anglers are still catching some salmon. The Bass fishing could explode at any time. Some anglers are seeing them come to the top but say they aren't taking like they should. I think they are hoping this weekend that will change. Anglers have been catching trout for a couple of weeks now but in small numbers. We had word today the sea run trout were in Quarryville. With more people out on the rivers this weekend we will probably hear more later in the weekend.
The fiddleheads are up but we found them hard to find. Some of our favorite areas for picking have changed and you can no longer pick there any more. Those we did find were certainly enjoyed with last nights meal. Hope to get more soon. They are there but you have to look and probably by this weekend they will be more abundant.
Be careful with fires, safe on the rivers and enjoy the weekend.
Tuesday May 15th, Fishing Report.
It is hard to believe two weeks ago we were worried about flooding and now it is forest fires. The past week or so we have had a lot of wind and it has dried things quite a bit here on the Miramichi. The forest fire near Nelson is apparently under control but we need to be diligent about the forest fire index as it is at a high level and everything is so dry.
Since Saturday we have heard from quite a few anglers who were out on the rivers. It has been a hit and miss for some while others have done quite well. Quite a few people have picked up some trout. Salmon are still being caught here on the lower section of the river. Not sure about upriver as we haven't heard anything lately. For some the striper bass were elusive while others have been catching them. Today in Quarryville anglers were hooking trout, salmon, and bass.
We are keeping our ear out for word on fiddleheads as some people have been enquiring. Hope to check them out tonight and see how they are doing.
Saturday May 12th, Fishing Report.
Most of our customers today were coming into the Tackle Shop to get ready for the weekend or week of fishing. We didn't get a lot of reports on the fishing in regards to catches. I spent most of the day doing a Fly Casting Course and we were seeing salmon jumping in the stretch of river we were on. Lots of boats with anglers were coming and going all day. One guy came down to fish from the shore and had a salmon on within 15 - 20 minutes. I would say that it is quite good fishing right now from what I saw.
A lot of local anglers who we did see coming into the Tackle Shop were gearing up to go trout fishing. Most of them were heading downriver to tidewater. Others were trying the brooks and tributaries. Also expect they are getting into some trout at this time too.
The traffic going through with Bass boats is very noticeable. For those not chasing salmon they are heading downriver to try their hand at Striper Bass. I did hear they are catching quite a few bass at this time. Will post when I hear more.
Friday May 11th, Fishing report.
Weather was cooler with strong winds today. Conditions being as they were anglers were still getting a few salmon. Popular flies Renous Special and Black Ghost. Forcast is for sunny and warmer temperatures for the weekend. Word from upriver is they are still catching salmon. Expect more reports of catches as the weekend usually is busier.
Thursday May 10th, Fishing report.
It was another beautiful day on the river today. The sportsman coming into the Tackle Shop seem to be enjoying the fishing. The reports continue to come in with most saying it is good fishing and lots of large salmon are still being caught. The Black Ghost was mentioned quite a few times as being the best fly to use.
Wednesday May 9th, Fishing Report.
River conditions are finally at a point where we are able to report daily catches. Once again, anglers coming into the Tackle Shop today were reporting lots of big salmon being caught. Hardly any grilse, mainly large salmon. We are also hearing of large salmon being caught in the Doaktown and Boistown area. The Renous Special and Smelt patterns seem to be the flies of choice here on the lower section of the river.
Some people have been mentioning that with all the high water maybe most of the salmon would have migrated out of the river. This does not seem to be the case. With salmon being caught upriver in the Boistown area it would suggest we will have good fishing for some time to come.
With warm temperatures and sunny days we are really noticing how the ground is drying. Things are really starting to green up and the buds have been sprouting more each day. It is important we remember though that it is forest fire season.
The deer we are so used to seeing here in the village of Blackville and other communities along the river have moved back into the forest once again. There are a few remaining but most have disappeared.
Spring is finally in the air and everyone is looking forward to getting out on the rivers and enjoying it.
Tuesday May 8th, Fishing Report.
Fishing is picking up. The river is dropping and anglers are commenting that it is becoming much more clear to fish. A number of large salmon are being caught with one story of a kelt being quite bright and silver in colour. Popular flies are the Golden Eagle, Christmas Tree, and Renous Special.
On another note some anglers fishing for salmon in the Quarryville area were hooking into Striped Bass. Guess it is that time of year when they are entering into our rivers.
Monday May 7th, Fishing Report.
Anglers coming into the Tackle Shop today are commenting that the fishing is improving and they are catching a few. The river has dropped and is clearing up. The conversations and expectations are that the fishing will continue to get better as the forcast is for warm temperatures and clear skies for the rest of the week. Heavy fast sink lines continue to be the best choice of fly line to use. No one salmon fly seems to be producing better than others.
Sunday May 6th, Fishing Report.
Heavy rain Friday night brought the rivers up again throughout the day Saturday. As the rivers continued to rise so did the wind. Saturday morning started off quite nice then suddenly winds picked up early morning and continued throughout the day. These conditions did not make for very good fishing.
This morning seems to be a much better start to the day. The wind is minimal at this time and the rivers should be starting to drop. The forcast is showing 18C and low wind conditions. Something I noticed yesterday evening and this morning is how dry things are becoming. The strong winds yesterday has really dried our lawns, driveways, and fields. This time of year is normally quite dry and forest fires are a concern. It would be wise to check the fire regulations in your area if you plan camp fires or a burn.
Quite a bit of traffic is moving in and out of the park here in Blackville where the access boat ramp is for this area. If later in the day I get any word on the fishing I will post to let you know what the fishing has been for the day.
Friday May 4th, Fishing Report.
Going into the weekend we have water levels dropping, more rain this evening ,and higher temperatures for the next couple of days. Reports from anglers throughout the day coming into the Tackle Shop indicate quite a few sportsman are catching salmon and our first report for this season of a trout being caught was today. Apparently it was quite a large trout. One of the lodges had a 100% success rate with salmon being hooked by their sportsman.
Things seem slow on the Cains, no reports on the Renous, and most activity that we heard of was on the lower section of the Miramichi in the Blackville area. Popular salmon flies for today and the past couple of days are the Mickey Finn, Golden Eagle, Christmas Tree, and Renous Special.
The key to any success in catching kelts at this time seems to be with those using a heavy fast sink line. The water is high and the fish seem to be laying low in the river. Almost always those not hooking up are using to light of a line. We had one guy tell us the salmon he hooked into was jumping like a summer fish. So, good news on the river. Always nice to hear the guys telling of their experience hooking into a salmon.
Boats being toed behind trucks are quite visible here in the Blackville area. I suspect we will have quite a few anglers on the river this weekend. Looking forward to hearing more reports from the tributaries.
Wednesday May 2nd, Fishing Report.
We continue to deal with high river levels. Just as they are about to crest and start dropping we get another RAINFALL WARNING for tonight into tomorrow. The Norwest and Little Southwest rivers are open and seemed quite clear today when I crossed the Red Bank bridge. Not sure if anyone is fishing those rivers or not. The Main Southwest Miramichi has been producing salmon. We had reports of salmon being caught from a few different people today who caught them from the shore. I expect anyone fishing from a boat would do better. Rainfall tonight should keep the rivers up.
It is quite noticeable how fast the vegetation is changing in this area. The beginning of green is starting to show in many areas on the ground. The buds on our hardwoods are also showing signs of change. Every day we see change along the river valley. The snow in open areas is disappearing quite fast although quite a bit remains on the hills and in the woods.
This is always an interesting time of year here on the Miramichi. Besides those who are anxiously fishing salmon recreationally others will be participating as volunteers fishing for kelts with the Miramichi Salmon Association. This important research gives us a better understanding as to what is happening with the kelts. Later their research will focus on tracking devices in the smolts which is becoming very important as we need to understand what is happening to these small salmon. This research is becoming much more important to understanding what is happening with the salmon population as a whole on our river. I encourage anyone interested to help support this research in any way you can.
On another note, our fly fishing school will be starting this coming weekend. Our class dates for single handed courses are May 5th, 12th, and 26th. The double handed course is scheduled for June 9th.We are fully certified instructors, the only fly fishing school in Atlantic Canada, equipped and sponsored by the Redington Fly Fishing Company.
Monday April 30th, Fishing Report.
I would like to start my report today by saying," this is probably the most difficult time I have ever had to try and communicate what is happening on the river". River conditions have been changing so fast that you could almost report on an hourly bases. Yesterday and overnight last night the river levels dropped and was clearing up quite well. Today we heard of a few salmon being landed while other anglers had no such luck.
This morning the forcast was for RAINFALL WARNINGS in our area. It has been raining all day and this evening it is still raining. The heavy rain and expected snowmelt will probably bring the river back up again. Most of the ice and debris has been flushed out so high water will now be the issue. So, things are a bit of a roller coaster in regards to water levels and it is impossible to predict what the river will be in a few hours let alone a few days. One thing that I keep thinking of, is the fact that, if anglers can hook into salmon at these river levels it should be very good fishing once the river drops.
Sunday April 29th, River Report.
I spent some time watching the river from the Blackville Park today. The water levels are receding and very little debris seems to be coming down the river. Water levels have dropped a couple of feet. The boat ramp is quite busy with people putting their boats in the river. I couldn't see anyone fishing but boats are lined up along the shore while others have headed out to try the fishing.
The Tackle Shop was quite busy this afternoon. Quite a few people are arriving this weekend to fish this week. Most of the ice and debris has been flushed downriver over the past couple of days. More rain and warm weather is in the forcast. The river will probably remain high but we shouldn't see as much ice and debris as we did. Not to say it is safe but it is becoming fishable. We haven't heard of anyone catching salmon at this time. It is just to soon after yesterdays flood like conditions. Lets see what tomorrow brings. I will post any changes as I hear more.
Saturday April 28th, Fishing Report.
The general conversation among anglers coming into the Tackle Shop yesterday and this morning is mainly centred around river levels. The river has really taken on a very different look in a very short time.Those of us watching can understand why. Quite a few land owners along the Miramichi are very concerned at this time about the safety of their properties. Some properties are not even accessible. It is very close to flood levels here in the Blackville area and shorelines have disappeared as the water is high enough to cover low lying areas, bogans, etc.
We continue to have warm temperatures and rain. The forcast is showing more rain into next week. Most of us know how much snow is left in the woods so everyone questions how long we will see these river levels and will it get higher? We are getting quite a few enquiries about river conditions at the Tackle Shop and when we think it will be safe for fishing. All we can do is continue to monitor the river levels and post any changes. Keep in mind these are dangerous river conditions. The river is flowing fast and a lot of ice and debris continues to flow down it. Be safe!
Friday April 27th, Fishing Report.
Fishing has been quite slow on the Main Southwest Miramichi over the past couple of days. Rain brought the river up and it could be said that we are experiencing a spring freshet. Last night it was really high and a lot of ice and debris is flowing downriver. At this point in time it would be wise to remain off the river until it starts to drop. With warm temperatures and rain in the forcast it will probably be a couple of days before we see the water levels drop.
The river is open through Miramichi City. Some of the students here at school are hoping to do some Bass fishing tomorrow.
The Northwest is also starting to open up. It is open from Miners Bridge to Wayerton. Below the Red Bank bridge it is starting to show signs of more open water. Below the end of the Warwick Road it is completely open. This river will probably open up over the weekend. At this time jambs in the river are forming so changes are happening quite fast. I will continue to monitor any activity here in the Blackville area and post when things change.
Tuesday April 24th, 2018 Fishing Report.
We didn't hear much today in regards to how the fishing was on the river. Most of the anglers coming into the store were just arriving and getting prepared for this weeks fishing.
I couldn't help to notice on my way home from work today the amount of snowmelt that has occurred in the past two days. It is quite noticeable how much snow has disappeared. The forcast for the next couple of days is leaning towards warmer temperatures and rain on Thursday. These conditions should remove a lot of snow and possibly free the shoreline of the ice and snow that now exists on the river banks. We should see quite an increase in river flow later this week.
On the Northwest River below the Red Bank bridge is signs of change. On both sides of the river the shorelines are open. Not sure how far down river this exists but it is starting to melt away and open up. We could possibly see a break up in that area after the heavy rainfall Thursday or sometime into this weekend. Things have been late in regards to the rivers this year , but it is slowly changing and we should hear of more anglers catching salmon soon.
Monday April 23rd, 2018 Fishing Report.
As expected, the river cleared up overnight and today we had small amounts of ice flow but the river was fishable. In fact, some of the anglers reported quite good fishing. The fly of choice was Magog Smelt. We checked the boat ramp at the park in Blackville this evening and it has all melted off and is much easier to access. There were small amounts of ice coming downriver, mainly along the park side of the river.
The forcast for tomorrow is for warmer temperatures. You can expect more snowmelt keeping the river levels up.
The ice on the Renous has run today and should be cleared out tomorrow. Most of the anglers feel it should be good fishing over the next couple of days.
Sunday April 22nd, 2018 River Report.
The river continues to rise. This has been the trend for both yesterday and today. This afternoon a very large ice flow started showing here in Blackville and is continuing as I write this report. Last night we took a drive to Upper Blackville and there was a complete blockage for a couple of miles. Above that was a continuous run of ice. Today we decided to take a drive downriver and all the ice is gone through the Rapids and is open well below Quarryville. The Renous is breaking up and it wouldn't surprise me if it went tonight or tomorrow.
With warm temperatures again tomorrow I expect the river will continue to rise and flush out more ice. Most of what we see today should be gone in the morning. The river is flowing a good 6 mph so it should be pretty well cleared out in the morning.
Some of the guys heading back to Maine this afternoon said they had good fishing this morning and Friday was really good. Others who were fishing from the shore also had good fishing.
The forcast for this coming week is showing temperatures in the high double digits. Nice for fishing but will create a lot of snow melt. Once again, enjoy the fishing but be safe.
Friday April 19th, 2018 River Report.
We are into our 6th day of the fishing season here on the Miramichi. Salmon fisherman are arriving on a daily bases and one comment they all seem to make is" I don't think I have ever seen so much snow here at this time of year". One gentleman from Nova Scotia commented that his camp is on the north side of the river and the snow is still to high for him to get access to the river.
Anglers are telling us that the river did raise quite a bit and a lot of ice ran today from further upriver. No real news since Wednesday on anyone catching salmon. The forcast for tonight is indicating cooler temperatures and tomorrow is also going to be cooler. Sunday things start to change and we will be seeing highs in the double digits for next week. We continue to see trucks moving boats through the park to access the boat ramp. I hope to hear more tomorrow as Saturday it usually gets busier.
Thursday April 19th, 2018 River Report.
Today was quiet in regards to anglers catching salmon. Most of our customers were coming into the Tackle Shop to pick up items for the river and we didn't have them coming back with an update as to how the fishing was.
I would like to stress at this time that my reports are very localized. The river is open in the Blackville area but still remains ice covered in other sections of the river. Above the Mouth of Cains River it is blocked by ice and in the Rapids below Blackville it is blocked with ice. Access to the river for boaters is limited. The loading ramp in the Blackville Park can be accessed but has ice buildup on it making it difficult to load and unload boats. While writing this report I can see trucks moving through the park hauling boats with boat trailers.
The fishing was good yesterday and I expect it was again today but we will not know for sure until tomorrow. The temperatures are warm enough to melt the snow and the forcast is for more rain tonight. In fact it is raining at this time.
The river has not reached Spring levels yet and is really quite low for this time of year. Each day we see change and at some point we will see it come up to Spring levels and flush the river out. (This kind of change can happen over night).
It is always exciting to hear people are catching salmon and enjoying the river. Play it safe though as the river can change very quickly this time of year. I will try to post information each day if we see any changes especially in regards to river height and ice flow. The salmon are there but we need to be safe while on the river.Enjoy and be safe.
Wednesday April 18th, 2018 River Report.
We are finally into another season of angling here on the Miramichi. Even though the angling season has been open for a couple of days the river has been quite quiet due to river conditions. It seems that has changed today as we had reports from anglers coming into the Tackle Shop of good numbers of Kelt being caught. One group had hooked and released 15 salmon while other reports of hooking and releasing salmon by other anglers continue to come in. The fly of choice today is the Golden Eagle. Remember these are reports from anglers here on the lower section of the river in Blackville.
We will start hearing more as anglers are now getting their boats in the river. The river continues to change on a daily bases. With the rain over the past couple of days and warmer temperatures along with more rain and warmer temperatures in the forcast this should be the trend.
Keep in mind, it is early and ice still remains in some sections of the river so be careful. Good luck, be safe, and enjoy the fishing. I will be posting updates as I hear more.
Monday April 16th, 2018 River Report.
Another day and with it more change on the river. Water levels are raising flushing out more ice. The boat ramp at the Blackville park is now open. The parking lot and ramp was plowed today. We are currently receiving freezing rain and rain. Tomorrow the local forcast is for 20 mm - 30 mm of rain. A lot of anglers are anxious to get their boats in the river and start fishing. Some of them have been fishing from the shore. We did hear of one fish being caught. In a day or two the river should be ready for angling. Until then we will keep you posted on any changes we hear about.
Sunday April 15th, 2018 River Report.
Today is opening day for the angling season here on the Miramichi. Quite a few reports from customers coming into the shop yesterday and so far today are indicating that the river has opened up quite a bit in the last 2 days.It seems to be open at this time from the mouth of Cains to the Grey Rapids. I took a drive yesterday to get a look at the rivers and the Bartholomew is completely open. No ice flowing in it all. The Main Southwest Miramichi here in Blackville had a lot of ice running in it. Today it is clear and a lot of people are going to be fishing from the shore. The river isn't high like one would expect for this time of year. The cold evenings are slowing the melting and reducing the run off. Rain is in the forcast for Monday night into Tuesday. Quite a substantial amount so that will flush out a lot of the river.
At this time the river is fishable from the shoreline in this area. I suggest to dress warm and wear a PFD for safety reasons. Best of luck and as always be carefull.
Friday, April 13th 2018 River Report.
After a long winter here on the Miramichi it is always exciting to see opening day for angling on the river. The locals are busy preparing boats and equipment in anticipation of catching the biggest kelt and later in the season summer salmon runs. Most of our communication these days are with Sports who are planning their fishing trip to the Miramichi. Orders for spring salmon flies, equipment, and licenses is keeping us busy along with questions like, what are the conditions on the river? When do you think we will be able to get on the river?
Things are going to be a bit late this year. There is still ice coverage on large sections of the river. Most of the brooks are open with a lot of snow on the ground. One could say the brooks are similar to June levels. Warmer temperatures and rain will change things very fast. We have a lot of snow on the ground. The forcast is for warm temperatures and rain into next week. Just what we need. I will predict the river will change by early next week.In the Blackville area from Doctors Island through the village the river is completely open. The Bartholomew River in the Blackville area is also open. Each day we are seeing change and over the next couple of days it should make a difference. I will post any changes over the next couple of days.
Best of luck angling and be safe on the river.
Monday October 16th River Report.
The angling season is now over here on the Miramichi. Reports from anglers indicate it was good fishing at times while others were not having as much success the last few days of the season. One thing we kept hearing though was how many Bass was being caught on the lower section of the river.We even had reports of Bass being caught on the Cains River. The past couple of days was unreal at the mouth of Renous. Anglers were hooking Bass almost every cast,this is while using salmon gear.Should we be concerned? This is a trend we have never seen before this far up the river. Most anglers keep asking"Is this harming our salmon population"? Hopefully we will learn more about this uncertain trend in the near future.
Enjoy the off season. We here at Curtis Miramichi Outfitters would like to thank you for your support and hope you found our river report helpful. Keep in mind our reports are based on what anglers tell us coming into the Tackle Shop. Sometimes the fishing may be quite good on one section of the river but quite slow on another. I hope to improve the river reports next year and the overall website as a whole. For now, lets hope for a successful season in 2018 for our salmon and anglers. All the best.
Real Time Hydrometric Data, DFO, Province of New Brunswick
- Northwest River at Trout Brook
- Little Southwest River at Lyttleton
- Catamaran Brook at Repap Road Bridge
- Main Southwest River at Blackville
Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee Flow Data
- Southwest Miramichi River at Doaktown
- Little Southwest River at Upper Oxbow
- Northwest Miramichi River at Wayerton
