I have posted two pictures of the Miramichi River at McNamee so you can compare water levels today with late July 2007 . After a week or so of warm weather and then a big rain yesterday the river is over its banks . It is useless to fish today and tomorrow but the dirt will clean up fairely quick so we will probably be catching fish at Wilson’s again by Saturday . This freshet will also help warm up the water so the big salmon should be taking better soon . We will be dealing with high water for a while but as long as the dirt clears up the fish should cooporate . Due to the river creeping up and staying dirty , except for a day or so , we have not had the normal spring season catch rates that we are accustomed to so this is a welcome change that will hopefully turn things on for us .
Wilson’s on the Miramichi is gearing up for our first Spey Casting School beginning June 23rd running for six days . Participants can choose a full six days or maybe would like a taste of the action with only three days . Either way you can expect an action packed week of learning new technique while enjoying “Prime Time ” Atlantic salmon fishing . Reccomended fly patterns are Green machines , Brown buck bugs , Conrad , Dickies Special , Undertaker , Blue Charm in sizes 10 – 4 , depending on what height of water we have . We still have limited availability at discounted rates .
Atlantic salmon fly-fishing conditions and report at Wilson’s on the Miramichi River on April 27th . As you can tell by the look on my face this is my first hook up of the year , but come to think of it I feel this way each and every time that I catch an Atlantic Salmon . I promise to lose the AC/DC hat when the weather warms up . I am using a slow sink line with a large smelt pattern , casting into the (more…)
April 24th we are under cold and rainy sky’s , just what we had hoped for . The river has been creeping up higher each day since ice-out but with this cold rain and a cooler than normal forecast for the next week things will surely level off and clear up . We are picking up a fair number of grilse but not many big salmon yet . The big fish will take better as the water begins to clear .
The river is in fine shape this morning . All of the main river is open but with the water rising there will be plenty of shore ice left to come down . This will not mess up the fishing but can be very dangerous if you don’t pay attention . A small piece of ice 3 or 4 feet across can way hundreds of pounds and can (more…)
This photo shows what spring fishing is all about , in this case getting your family together or maybe a group of friends together on the Miramichi for great fishing , great food and a good time for all .
With the late ice out this year some of our goups had to cancell and are not able to reschedule . Wilson’s is offering some fantastic discounts on both full service or housekeeping packages . Retail on the full service plan with all food , lodging and guide with boat & motor is $650.00 per rod per day , today you can book it for $425.00 . ( based on four rod party )
Our housekeeping plan gives you the same guide , same cabin , same great fishing but you cook your own meals . Based on a group of four , retail is at $475.00 per man , today you can book it for $325.00 per man .
This series of photos shows just how quickly the river can change from a peaceful setting to a dangerous place for a novice boatsman to be . These ice jams show up and within minutes you can be trapped . We still have some heavy ice in the headwaters but it is moving steadily towards the ocean . The system should be cleared within 24 hours and the good fishing will begin shortly after . For those brave souls on the water today
( April 18th ) stay on your toes , in my opinion it is not worth the risk . Always , even after the ice is gone , keep a sharp knife nearby in case an ice cake or tree gets snagged in you anchor rope .
Good news , the river is opening up in most areas but anlgers beware , we still have miles of ice to come down so for the novice this might not be the weekend to try the Miramichi . If you have an experienced guide you will do just fine , these guy’s know the river , they know where and when to get out of harms way as these ice jams come through . Wilson’s guides are in constant contact with the lodge as we monitor the ice movement upstream .
Don’t be fooled by the picture looking up river , as you can see the ice has moved here at Big Murphy Pool , but only a few hundred yards . This is typical for most of the upper river areas though . There does not seem to be much to the ice so with the coming warm weather this week we should soon see a good freshet . We are hoping the snow stays in the deep woods and the ice just eases out , we don’t need a flood .
As you can see the Miramichi River ice is slowly but surely beginning to move here at Wilson’s in the McNamee area .There are many of these little jams all allong the river as of this date . This past week of warm weather has created some water and it does not appear that the ice is very heavy . Some of the local guides have a theory that all the snow this winter provided an insulation for the ice therefore preventing it from forming as heavy as it would normally . We still have app 4 feet of snow locally and in the headwaters area it is reported that there is still over 6 feet . We hope the temperatures remain relatively cool and not too much rain , we don’t need a flood . The longer the snow stays in the woods the longer we will have “Spring salmon ” around . And of course the heavy snow sticking around in the deep valleys and swamps will do us good as we near June , when the summer- run of Atlantics start in .
The warm weather all this week combined with rain in the forecast is just what we need to get the ice moving here at Wilson’s on the Miramichi River . Spring Atlantic salmon fishing at Wilson’s will be fantastic as usual but not till this ice moves out . The water is beginning to rise so the next three or four days will be interesting .
Yes , we still have tons of snow and plenty of ice in the Miramichi today , but this picture reveals a ray of hope . The weather is beginning to warm up and as you can see the glades are getting a little wider each day . Keep an eye on the weather link from our site and I will be posting pictures more often in the coming weeks . It is doubtful that we will be fishing by April 15th .
