Hey Keith,
Attached is a picture of my son Ben and my Dad (Randy ) in front of good ol’ Wildcat. The picture was taken last June. The rod Ben is holding is one we built together last spring and he christened it by hooking about a 3-pound sea trout in the run above the camp. Although the fish got away, he got a good fight out of it so it was still a great thrill! Given that we release all these beauties anyway, probably best we didn’t have to handle the fish.
Also attached is a picture Dad took of Ben with the trout on taken from in front the camp. Also, check out the picture of Mark and I trying to fish the lower section below the camp under very high water!! It was pretty much unfishable at that point!!
Incidentally, Ben also hooked his first salmon on that rod in August on the Little SW Miramichi. He got 5 jumps and two nice runs out of what appeared to be about a 10lb salmon before she too got away as I was preparing to tail her. Great way to initiate his new flyrod.
By all accounts, Ben and Dad are looking forward to a return trip to the Cains for more sea-trout fishing in 2012! Hopefully we won’t be pounded by flood water this year like we were last year!

Talk soon!
Geoff
Director, NB Programs
Atlantic Salmon Federation
6 Windwood Court, Quispamsis, NB

Conservation for a Bright Future

The River is now frozen solid . The water is still an ideal height so with any luck we will get a good blanket of snow to help keep our water table up as spring approaches . Looks like 20-30 cm’s coming tomorrow .

The Miramichi River in the McNamee area has been frozen in a couple of times but with the mild winter and very little snow it remains open as of today . You might be able to see from the picture that there are high banks of ice along the shore at Dudley Pool after a warm rain last week caused the ice to run again . This is not unusual in the grand scope of things to have the river freeze in and thaw out several times over winter . As with anytime of the year it is always nice to see a good height of water . The weather is supposed to stay cold for a while now so I expect within a few days we will see things tighten up once again . Only 102 days till we are back fishing .

Friends of the Cains River – on 2/7 of this year I sent an e-mail to the addresses that I had for people directly associated with the Cains River. Based on Mark Hambrook’s opinion that one of the very best things that we can do for the Cains River salmon run is to remove beaver dams and beavers from the streams feeding the river, we set out to raise some extra money for the MSA to do some of this work. According to Mark removing beaver dams provides fall spawning habitat – the salmon ascend the larger Cains feeder streams for some distance to spawn – and these same streams provide thermal buffering and canopy protection for parr in the summer.

Thanks to some generous donations from camp owners, club members, individuals, and outfitters we raised $10,400, and that made this project possible. Jenny Reid, a biologist working for the MSA, has prepared the attached report reviewing the work that was undertaken this year. In all some 60 miles of streams were surveyed for beaver dams, and 88 active and abandoned dams were either completely removed or notched to provide salmon passage. Salmon were observed moving up through these newly created passages to reach spawning areas. To me this is both exciting and rewarding. The last day of the salmon season this year was preceded by an all night rain, and we witnessed an excellent push of salmon moving up the Cains. It was a wonderful sight to see these great fish rolling and jumping on their way up this incredibly beautiful river, and it made me happy to think that we are doing something concrete to help it all continue.

If you have any questions about the work that was done I’m sure that Jenny or Mark will be happy to help you. I have copied them both on this so their e-mail addresses are there if you need them. Some time after the MSA Boston dinner I’ll send around a financial update on the project. We received some donations from people that I don’t know and for whom I don’t have e-mail addresses. Perhaps some of you can help me get in touch with these folks so that I can thank them. I’ve asked Mark and Jenny for an update on expenses versus revenue, as well as a list of what we should aim to accomplish next year. I’m sure that, at the least, more of the same efforts to free these streams of dams and to thin out the population of beavers should be undertaken, probably annually.

There is one other aspect to this project, and that is that the MSA netted 10 wild broodstock fish from Black Brook’s Admiral Pool – thank you Black Brook – spawned them out successfully in late October, and will introduce their fry back to the lower Cains early next summer. The scale of that project too could potentially be accelerated as the parr density on the lower Cains has been determined to be less than ideal. This effort was paid for out of the MSA’s general budget.

Thanks to everyone who donated to this project. Enjoy the holidays, and please consider continuing or beginning your financial support for this Cains River enhancement project in 2012.

Brad Burns

P.S. I’ve had a number of folks offer to make a contribution and ask if I would keep them updated on the work. Someone commented to an e-mail last year that more than just the camp owners should contribute. That would be great. Please help spread the word and forward this e-mail to anyone you know who loves the Cains and would have a genuine interest in helping with this project. If they would send me their e-mail address I’ll add them to future distributions.

Download the Cains River Project Report in .pdf

Atlantic Salmon Magic and a smaller companion volume called 100 Best Flies for Atlantic Salmon are the most complete books on the subject in a generation. Both are by Topher Browne of Portland, Maine, a lifelong salmon devotee and acclaimed spey caster. The writing and graphics are extraordinary.

The new titles are part of the award-winning “Masters on the Fly” series by Wild River Press, featuring virtuoso anglers sharing their enthusiasm for, experience with, and hard-won expertise in pursuit of their favorite game fish.

The two salmon books come fresh in the wake of national recognition for A Passion for Tarpon by Andy Mill, which Wild River published one year ago. At BookExpo America in New York in May 2011, Mill’s tarpon book received four awards for excellence, including gold medal Benjamin Franklin Book of the Year awards in two categories—recreation/sports and regional—from the Independent Book Publishers Association, the country’s largest organization of 3,200 independent publishers. Previously, no fishing book had ever achieved this distinction.

Nearly 500 pages with hundreds of stunning color photos and original illustrations, Atlantic Salmon Magic is destined to become a classic. The book is an invaluable guide to everything about Salmo salar, the legendary leaper, celebrated since the time of the Romans. A rich literary and visual feast, this impressive new title from Wild River Press is an absolute must for the avid salmon angler.

Order online at www.wildriverpress.com or telephone 425-486-3638.

Just released, covering the artists career in painting with 100 images in full color, text, personal notes from the artist, and a forward by Charles Gaines. A beautiful anthology, representing John Swan’s broad range of style and subject matter in both oil and watercolor.

To purchase your copy please visit:
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2462206

Or Email:
lostpool@aol.com
Phone: 207 7564722

Or send check or money order to:

John Swan Fine Art
1246 Westbrook St.
Portland , Me. USA 04102
(please specify mailing address)

Hard Cover Edition: $75.00 US
Soft Cover Edition: $50.00 US
Add $12.00 for shipping

Hello friends of the St. John River!
Please find attached an invitation to an upcoming series of sessions in communities along the St. John River. CCNB Action, Canadian Rivers Institute and WWF Canada, along with local community hosts, invite you to be a part of a discussion about the newly released “State of the Environment” report of the St. John River, to share your knowledge of the river and to connect with each other to make future positive changes throughout the system.

Sessions will be held in:
Hammond River: Hammond River Angling Association, 10 Porter Road, Nauwigewauk 7:00 pm
St. Mary’s First Nation: Cultural Centre, 35 Dedham St. Fredericton 12:00 pm
Gagetown: Gagetown Recreation Centre, 38 Mill Rd 7:00 pm
Tobique First Nation: Bingo Hall, 24 Main St. 12:00 pm
Fredericton: Renaissance College, 811 Charlotte St. 7:00 pm
Woodstock: Connell House, 128 Connell St. 7:00 pm
Florenceville: Florenceville Inn, 239 Burnham Rd. 7:00 pm
Edmundston: 6th floor Pavillon Simon-Larouche, 185 boulevard Herbert, Université de Moncton, campus d’Edmundston) 7:00 pm

All are welcome, please feel free to distribute this invitation. Please RSVP so we have an idea of attendance.
Looking forward to a great discusscussion about the St. John River!

Stephanie
Stephanie Merrill
Coordinator/Coordonnatrice
Freshwater Protection Programme de protection des eaux douces
CCNB Action/Action CCNB
180 rue St. John Street
Fredericton, NB E3B 4A9
CANADA
Phone / Téléphone: 506.458.8747
Fax / Télécopieur: 506.458.1047
Email / Courriel: water@ccnbaction.ca
www.facebook.com/ccnbaction

The second and final volume of the award-winning history of The Grand Cascapedia River. In its eleven chapters, Volume II covers the history of the river’s eight camps, and the sports who fished out of them, from the mid-1930’s through to the present day.Topics covered include the creation of the Cascapedia Society, salmon netting, both Native and commercial, the nagging difficulties of the logging industry and the Riparian Association. It also details the interesting story of how the Cascapedia Club (New Club) almost lost, but retained the river lease, and lastly an Appendix with several astonishing stories. A gallery of photographs at the end of each chapter further bring to life the relevant people, places and events. This volume is more than an account of the bellwether Grand Cascapedia River – it is a book for those interested in the history of Atlantic salmon fishing in Canada. Stories of big fish, big and little people, and the will it took by many to slowly return the river to its historic greatness.

Each copy of Volume II will be signed by the author and will include a full color map of the river, including all the pools and camps, by Bob Seaman. Over 800 photographs. 480 pages. Limited printing of 2200 copies. Marbled end papers. Sewn-in ribbon market. Cloth slipcase. 3/4 black leather raised hub spine.

Price for Volume II: $175

Limited Offer: Combined Volume I & II
For those who would like to purchase both Vol. I and Vol. II they are now available in a double-slipcase. The same two first edition books, both signed by the author, in one handsome cloth covered slipcase.

Price for Volume I & II: $ 265

To order, visit:
www.booksbycarmichael.com
Anesha Publishing, LLC., 44 Crosby Road, North Salem, NY 10560 • hoagy@hoagy.com

Hi Keith,
Here’s a little more detail on the deer and a couple more pictures…

I figured you’d appreciate this deer story as you’re getting
into full deer mode. So I’ve been an avid hunter for many years and
I’m basically obsessed with deer. It’s only been in the past couple
years that I really wanted to get close, which of course means
bowhunting. Getting close to any deer is a challenge, let alone a
buck, and let alone a big buck. So that’s what I dedicated my time
to….trying to figure out the big ones. Where the travel and why,
where they eat, bed, how to cover my scent, wind, etc etc. I didn’t
figure it all out but I did spend countless hours in the woods over
the past two years, in all 4 seasons, observing and thinking and
scouting. I suppose that helped me figure out enough. It all came to
the moment on Tuesday night when I saw the big guy coming right
towards my stand, just as I planned (but just as we all plan). I
practice with my bow a lot and at all different yardages. One thing’s
for sure, you can’t practice for how heavy your heart beats. It wasn’t
beating fast, just so heavy that it made my whole body move…not
something you want when getting ready to let an arrow go. He came in
and turned broadside at 20 yds, every bowhunter’s dream. So I took my
chance and hit him in the boiler room….almost. I hit about 3 inches
too far forward of where I aimed and got him in the shoulder blade,
tragic. I saw the arrow sticking out as he ran back in exactly the
same direction he came. I could see that it was in a little ways and
could see he was hurting a bit as he crashed through some deadfalls
but I just hoped it made it in to the vitals. This was at 5:45. So I
gave him a bit extra time and waited till 6:30, checking my watch
every 35 seconds of course. I wanted to give him enough time, but also
give myself enough time to track him before it got too dark. So I
followed the tracks, but there was no blood which scared the bejeezuz
out of me. I followed his tracks for 130 yards and just wanted to race
ahead and start looking all over for him. Some wise advice from fellow
bowhunters stopped me from doing that. I didn’t go further than the
last mark I knew for sure was him, and I ribboned everything. I had to
go back and forth a bit and it seemed he had either stopped running
and walked away or was somewhere nearby. My bow was ready just in
case. So from his last track that I could see I took a real good scan
around me. Sure enough, there he was, 15 yards to my left laying down,
neck and head up looking at me. Shit. Quick decision: he’s hurting but
not hurting enough…get another arrow into him. So I instantly
manoeuvered a bit to get a shooting lane and drew, and fired. Anyway,
he got up and took off but was hurting bad. I waited 20 mins until
7:05, just before it got too dark to find him, and I followed his
trail, blood this time. I got to within 40 yards and again I could see
his head up looking at me but I knew it was over. I knelt down 40
yards away, wanted to keep my distance not to push him, and watched as
his head slowly got lower and lower and it slowly got dark. I waited
an hour. Then went up and he was dead. Tough tough buck. It was pretty
hard basically being face to face as he died, he was the king of those
woods and I paid my respects when I got to him. I was happy and
excited, a bit sad, relieved, you name it. It turns out my first shot
did get in there far enough and got to his vitals but all the bleeding
was internal and the arrow pretty much plugged the hole, that’s why
there wasn’t much of a blood trail at the start. So, that’s the story,
here’s the pictures, enjoy and very best of luck getting your deer
this year!
Nathan
> <((((º>