After a wonderful first week of salmon fishing on the Miramichi the weather has made a sharp turn and heavy rains hit the river on the second week of the spring salmon season. While relaxing and sun tanning catching Atlantic Salmon was a treat last week. It was far from relaxing when cold rain and sleet was hitting us in the face Saturday through Tuesday.
But up until Tuesday we were still having very good fishing with boats landing 5 or 6 fish a day. Tuesday brought more than we had wished for when saying we needed water as it came up more than 5 feet and still rising by supper time. There was dead trees, debris, grass and the river was the colour of sand everywhere. After all the rain and seeing such a big rise in water one remembers the older guides that have their saying’s about the ice that is left along the shore lines from a drop in water after ice out. They always said the water will rise and clean the ice off the shores that it left, well those guides are correct this season as the water is up and that ice has disappeared once again.

In front of the Ledges Inn Doaktown.

In the Doaktown area Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn was still having very good fishing. Derek thought after the water drops it should be good fishing again as the water is still cold around 42 (C) and should hold some fish in the river for a few days longer. But with over 80mm's of rain and such a big rise in water it will be slow for a couple days.

Zachery Colford 

Monday I had a very good day on the lower section of the SW Miramichi River near the mouth of Cains River as Ray Walker hooked 9 salmon, 6 of which were huge salmon from 36 to 40 inches in length. We also were hooking a few trout from 8 to 16 inch range. Fly was a Grey Ghost with Marabou wing. Allan McCormack and Paul Richards were hooking were also hooking a few on a Elmer Special. Zachery Colford landed a few salmon using his Spey rod with sinking tip casting from shore. Troy Adams of Dieppe landed a grilse and a trout almost as big Sunday on the Miramichi.

Arianna D'Alessio with a nice grilse.

Byron Coughlan of Country Haven Lodge said he was having a very good season and many guest were hooking fish. Tuesday when not expecting to hook or see a fish, his anglers managed to land 16 by noon but said afternoon was tough as water got dirty and with the rise in water the fish stopped taking.

Keith Wilson of Wilson's Sporting camps said anglers better brace their feet with the north-east wind mixed with snow and rain that hit us on Sunday, every guides worse day on the water. He also said their is still a good number of fish in the river and after a few days we should be back to normal conditions again soon.

Andrew D'Alessio with a nice salmon.

Vickers Atlantic Salmon Pools was also having a very good season and said fishing is fantastic and salmon were everywhere in the river. They were hooking fish from boat and shore and anglers were very happy. Flies of choice were Renous and Grey Ghost.

The fishing should be slow over the next few days but should pick up again when the water levels off and starts to drop. Many are questioning the amount of fish and think they are all gone but from reports up river there is still plenty of fish to come down for you to catch in the coming week.

Flies of choice for the week was the Gray Ghost, Renous Special, Elmer Special, Christmas Tree and Golden Eagle. Water temperature’s are in the 40’s degree (F).

If your out on the water please be careful in the high water and make sure you have your life jackets with you. And until next week keep your reels screeching.

Rodney Colford