Miramichi Fishing Report for Thursday, August 4, 2016

Generally, angling is slow with warm water, and pool closures still in effect.  Here are some stats to consider:

CLOSURES: Salmon angling on the Miramichi River

Moncton – July 25, 2016 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada wishes to inform the public that the following 25 salmon fishing poolswill be closed to angling for all species of fish, for cause of high water temperature and low water levels. These changes are effective as of Tuesday, July 26, 2016:

• Confluence of Wildcat Brook and Northwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Wildcat Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Trout Brook and Northwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Trout Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Harris Brook and the Little Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Harris Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Parks Brook and the Little Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Parks Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Gray Rapids Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Gray Rapids upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to Route 118, an area locally known as Pete’s Brook;
• Confluence of Hudson Brook and the Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Hudson Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of the Bartholomew River and the Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of the Bartholomew River upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to the Highway # 8 bridge;
• Confluence of Mersereau Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Mersereau Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Morse Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Morse Brook upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to Howard Road;
• Confluence of McKenzie Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of McKenzie Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Black Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Black Brook upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to South Cains River Road;
• Confluence of Donnelly Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Donnelly Brook upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to the South Road Bridge;
• Confluence of Mill Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Mill Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth.
• Confluence of Big Hole Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Big Hole Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Betts Mills Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Betts Mills Brook upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to Highway # 8;
• Confluence of Porcupine Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Porcupine Brook upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to Story Town Road;
• Waters of the Renous River surrounding the pump house located at N 46.86483, W 65.67698 (WGS 84);
• Confluence of Butty’s Brook and Renous River, and the waters of Butty’s Brook from its confluence with the Renous River to South Renous Road, an area locally known as Duffy’s Brook;
• Confluence of Otter Brook and Cains River, including the waters of Otter Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth. An area locally known as Brophy’s Place;
• Confluence of Cold Brook and Cains River, including the waters of Cold Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Salmon Brook and Cains River, including the waters of Salmon Brook upstream from its confluence with the Cains River to South Cains River Road;
• Confluence of Muzroll Brook and Cains River, including the waters of Muzroll Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Six Mile Brook and Cains River, including the waters of Six Mile Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Doak brook and Southwest Miramichi River in Doaktown, including the waters of Doak brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Pat’s brook and Northwest Miramichi River in Wayerton, including the waters of Pat’s brook 50 m upstream from its mouth.

Please note that the following salmon pools will remain closed until December 31, 2016:

• Confluence of Sutherland Brook and Northwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Sutherland Brook upstream to the Highway 420;
• Waters of the Southwest Miramichi River in Quarryville, 300 m upstream and 300 m downstream of the Quarryville Bridge, including Indian Town Brook from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River, upstream to Highway 108 bridge;
• Confluence of Wilson Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Wilson Brook 100 m upstream of its mouth, an area locally known as the Bear Den;

Please refer to Gulf Variation Order GVO-2016-050 for further details.  The Orders Registry is available online at:

Orders Registry – Order summaries for existing fisheries

To report any suspicious fishing activity, please contact the nearest Conservation and Protection detachment in the Gulf Region or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

For more information on this fishery, please contact:

Frédéric Butruille
A/Senior Advisor, Recreational Fisheries
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Gulf Region
Moncton, NB
506- 851-7358

Doug White’s Tammerack Sports Fly Shop in Juniper said the fishing was slow and then it stopped. Seems to be a few fish around but the water is low and warm and with the possible exception of a local or two, the river is vacant.

Don’t expect this to change until we get some rain and a lot of it.

Flies of HOPE are the Rain Dance, the Down Pour, the Heavy Shower and the River-Raiser!

W. W. Doak and Sons in Doaktown said angling was quiet with only a few being caught.  One camp above Doaktown had decent fishing averaging a fish a day per rod.  Water temperatures were a little better than last week if one went fishing early in the morning.

Flies of choice were more Bombers and Bugs and small dark wet flies on nos. 8 & 10 hooks.

Derek Munn of Ledges Inn in Doaktown and Mountain Channel in the Rapids area said angling was quiet with only an odd fish being caught.  The water was low and warm.

Flies of choice were some Bombers and small Shady Ladies, Undertakers and Blue Charms on nos. 10 & 12 hooks.

Herb Barry Sr. of Herb’s Fly Shop on the Station Road in Blackville said angling was very quiet with only a few sports out.  The water was low and warm.  He had run a canoe on Sunday from Blackville down to the Rapids and saw only one fish.

Flies of choice were Echo Beaches, Red Squirrel Tails with either red or green butts and White-tailed Green Machines on no. 8 hooks.

Curtis Miramichi River Outfitting in Blackville said anglers were seeing some fish, but they were not taking well.  A few were being hooked early mornings, but certainly in no numbers.  The water was quite warm.

Flies of choice were Same-Thing-Murrays, Brown Buck Bugs, White-tailed Green Machines, Shady Ladies, Green Smurfs, and Undertakers on nos. 8 & 10 hooks in wets, along with some Bombers and Carter’s Bugs.

Jim Laws of Miramichi Hunting and Fishing in Newcastle, Miramichi reported slow angling with only a few being caught.  The cold water pool closure was still in effect.  The water was low and warm.

The second retention period for striped bass opened July 30 and closes August 21.  Retention size is 50-65 centimeters with the daily limit on one and a possession limit of one.  Two more retention periods are upcoming: from September 2 to 5 and from October 22 to 30.  Outside of these retention fishing periods, all striped bass caught must be released immediately in a manner that causes the least harm to the fish.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Shady Ladies, Butterflies, Same-Thing-Murrays on nos. 6 & 8 hooks.

Syd Matchett of Trout Brook Fly Shop on the Northwest Miramichi said fishing was quiet with only a few fish being caught.  There had been a couple hooked at Wayerton on the weekend and one on Tuesday.  There were some fish around, but not taking well as the water was low and warm.

Flies of choice were small Shady Ladies, small Black Bugs and Black Ghosts and small White-tailed Green Machines.

Debbie Norton of Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures on the Little Southwest Miramichi said the water had dropped about a foot and was warm, but they were scaring up a few fish.  They had hooked a salmon and a few grilse on the weekend.  They were hosting a group of Armed Forces (Both guys and gals) teaching them to fish and tie flies in a program titled “Soldier On”.  Some of the group were retired while some were active.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines and Green Machines with Krystal Flash.

So as we wait for cooler temperatures, a good raise in water and the lifting of the cold-water pool closures, plan to get out and “on the water”.

Don’t forget to show your support for our sponsors, because without them, this column would not be possible.  

Deals 4 U and JH Stewart Ltd.

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Miramichi, NB, Canada, E1V 6G2

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Thought for the Week: “Old fishermen never die, they just smell like they did !”  …anonymous

E-MAIL:

The Globe and Mail (23.07.16) – Letters to the Editor
N.B.’s disappearing salmon

Re Mi’kmaq Seek To Block Oil-By-Rail Terminal (Report on Business, July 20): The Mi’Kmaqs want a federal court to reverse the approval for a crude oil export terminal in New Brunswick, arguing that they are concerned about its potential effect on Atlantic salmon in the Baie-des-Chaleurs.

If the Mi’Kmaqs want to show concern about the health of Atlantic salmon, they could start by not catching and killing them by the thousands in nets at the mouth of the majors rivers (notably the Restigouche and Miramichi). Any other salmon angler who is not native is required to release 100 per cent of all Atlantic salmon caught in New Brunswick rivers – which is the right thing to do.

I fished the Restigouche two weeks ago and caught (and released) several salmon with horrible marks and scars on them from the effects of Mi’Kmaq nets. Fish that fight and escape the nets are often severely damaged.

I applaud that the Mi’kmaq communities are looking out for the health of Atlantic salmon in the oil-terminal discussion, but I wish they would go a step further and do away with netting practices, which are harming the health and survival of the species.

Paul Carmel, Montreal
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Atlantic Salmon Federation News for Friday, July 29, 2016

ASF RIVERNOTES gives the latest on river closures and state of salmon returns
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It is nearly the end of July and there have been a few surprises along the way. High temperatures have closed Miramichi cold pools, but in other areas salmon runs are proceeding well. Read more:
http://asf.ca/asf-rivernotes-29-july-2016.html

ASF Considers Unlawful and a Conflict of Interest the Release of the Placentia Bay Aquaculture Project from Environmental Study
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A decision released after the end of the day last Friday by the Newfoundland Government to release from environmental scrutiny the huge Grieg proposal for 11 salmon farms growing 7 million farmed salmon per year points to conflict of interest. Read more:
http://asf.ca/nl-govt-has-conflict-of-interest-with-grieg-project.html

ASF Draws Attention to First Commercial Use of European Strain in Canada
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As part of an overview of the precedent-setting project, ASF gives details that are alarming to those concerned with the welfare of Newfoundland’s wild salmon runs.
http://asf.ca/debate-continues-over-250m-placentia-bay-project.html

Salmonid Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Adds its Voice
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SCNL provided very strong views on the move by the provincial government.
http://asf.ca/salmonid-council-of-nl-appalled-by-marystown-fish-farms.html

Miramichi Closures Due to High Temperatures
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Check on the pools now closed due to high temperatures and low water.
http://asf.ca/warm-water-closures-on-miramichi-start-july-26.html

ASF Regional Directors’ Blog – Another disaster in PEI
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ASF’s Lewis Hinks describes the heartache of finding yet another fish kill on a PEI river.
http://asf.ca/news-from-the-regions.html

Norway Study Shows Wild/Farmed Salmon Interbreeding Negatively Impacts Wild Runs
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A major study of 147 salmon rivers in Norway has shown that farmed salmon are affecting many salmon rivers in the region.
http://asf.ca/introgression-of-escaped-farmed-atlantic-salmon-harmful-to-.html

U.S. Feds will Help Pay for Removal of Dam in Maine
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The U.S. Government is joining ASF in an effort to improve fish passage on the Sheepscot River for endangered salmon runs.
http://asf.ca/feds-to-help-pay-for-removal-of-whitefield-dam.html

Anyone wishing to report suspicious fishing activity anonymously is asked to contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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Until next week
TIGHT LINES
DOUG