Just when you think you have these Miramichi River Atlantic Salmon figured out we are once again proved wrong. The fishing has been slow all week on low and clear water with a few fresh-run salmon taken and seeing plenty of jumpers. Thursday morning was dead, then Thursday evening Arthur R. & Doug H. hooked into 7 fish landing 4 , one of which was a bright 16 pound hen salmon. It proves our point, don’t give up and don’t get discouraged because of someone else’s slow fishing. The Miramichi has a ton of fish in the system and more to come over the next several weeks. Rain coming today should give us a little raise of water.

The fresh run fall salmon are here. Reports from the estuary and on up to McNamee are most encouraging. Mark Betts lucked out on his private pool in Doaktown with several fish like this one in the 8- 14 pound range, and all were bright and fresh from the ocean. Wilson’s began picking up fresh fish yesterday with most of them nice size salmon. The fall fly patterns are doing well. A little rain would do us good and that is forecast in a few days.

The Miramichi Watershed Management Committee just released its 2006 annual report with great news and a renewed sense of optimism for our beloved Miramichi River. For example, the salmon smolt study that has been ongoing since 2001 is showing a huge increase in the number of smolts leaving our river on their journey to the ocean to mature. In 2001 it was estimated that there were 500,000 smolts heading out to the ocean, in 2004 this number was estimated to be at 1.1 million which resulted in fantastic fishing two years later ( 2006 ). The numbers were estimated this year to be over 1.3 million, so with any luck our 2008 run should be even better. Email me at wilsons@nbnet.nb.ca for a copy of the full report.

This is what we are talking about, a beautiful 30 lb hen salmon taken by Doug Schlink ( guide John Robinson ) September 2004. The Miramichi at present is still at normal water height with plenty of fish in the pools and the rain we are getting today is a welcome site too. The larger fish are reported to be moving into the system on a daily basis therefore setting the stage for more of these beauties to be hooked. The hook-bill males are taking better this weekend along with a fair number of grilse.

As seen here in this Sept 18th photo, the Miramichi River has some huge salmon ready to take the fly. Though we think many fish are sulking around waiting for a raise in water some anglers are still lucky enough to hook into a real trophy like this 30 pound hen. Even without a raise of water we are seeing plenty of fish and as the hook-bill males begin pairing up they become very aggressive and begin chasing the larger fall fly patterns. It will be interesting to see who the next lucky angler will be to hook into a real Miramichi trophy .

The water is getting down but we are still seeing tons of fish, mostly the old summer run so they are taking tough right now. There still appears to be fish on the move in the mornings but few fresh ones to date. A raise of water is needed to perk things up. Rain is forecast for the Miramichi this coming week. In the meantime we are working the deeper holding pools with small # 10′s and bombers. The Ruckno party landed 19 and lost 19 up till Wed of this week but very slow this past three days.Tons of fish in the system though so just a little change in weather is all that is needed .

The upland season opened here on the 15th with dry conditions and too warm for the dogs. The birds are going to be be tough to get until we get some rain and the weather cools in October. It looks very good coming into October for both woodcock and grouse with reports of good numbers of both resident and flight birds around. Keep an eye on the weather and our report page as the prime season approaches.

Anglers began our first official day of the 2006 fall season under sunny and clear skies but blessed with a nice 6 inch raise in water. With all pools holding fish this raise of water was just what the “Ruckno Party” from PA needed, the boy’s got into 7 fish, landing 2 nice salmon and 3 grilse. Conditions look very favorable for a great week ahead.

The Miramichi is full of fish but they are not taking well this week. The river is clear and cool and a little low, but not too low for fish to move on. DFO are reporting a good number of fish slowly making their way into the system and suggest that the river height is just fine for moving fish along. All holding pools have plenty of salmon but mostly just jumpers. As the fall progresses these summer fish will also move and be in the taking mood. We are also keeping our fingers crossed for a good raise of water later in September to bring the run up the Cains, it looks like a repeat of the big 2005 Cains River run .