As the season enters the final few days, there are good numbers of fish in the system. Generally, the catching has been difficult in most places, but there are some exceptions, and water conditions have been good.

With the season closing for the majority of rivers by Saturday’s end, there are only a few which remain open until October 29. These are the Bartibog, Burnt Church and Tabusintac Rivers.

As the season enters the final few days, there are good numbers of fish in the system. Generally, the catching has been difficult in most places, but there are some exceptions, and water conditions have been good.

With the season closing for the majority of rivers by Saturday’s end, there are only a few which remain open until October 29. These are the Bartibog, Burnt Church and Tabusintac Rivers.

As we move into the final weeks of the season for most rivers, there are positives and negatives. On the plus side, there are very good numbers of fish being report across the system, although not many fresh ones. The negative is that in some places they are not taking well and are hard to hook. The water is also high in some places.

The counting fences at both Cassilis and Millerton are both reporting very few fresh fish each day, and some days none. Yet, anglers are catching some darker fish with sea-lice.

MSA Hatchery Manager Mark Hambrook said the hatchery staff will be starting the hatchery spawning process next week. They will be doing this on alternate days and only in the mornings. If anyone is interested in observing the process, please contact the hatchery at (506)622-1781. There is no admission fee.

As we move into the final weeks of the season for most rivers, there are positives and negatives. On the plus side, there are very good numbers of fish being report across the system, although not many fresh ones. The negative is that in some places they are not taking well and are hard to hook. The water is also high in some places.

The counting fences at both Cassilis and Millerton are both reporting very few fresh fish each day, and some days none. Yet, anglers are catching some darker fish with sea-lice.

MSA Hatchery Manager Mark Hambrook said the hatchery staff will be starting the hatchery spawning process next week. They will be doing this on alternate days and only in the mornings. If anyone is interested in observing the process, please contact the hatchery at (506)622-1781. There is no admission fee.

As we close September and open October, we have moved into the “Cast ‘n Blast “season as Bird season opened October 1. On the down side, this is the last month for angling this season.

Now for a bit more on the good-bad line that characterizes many jokes. The good news is that there are great numbers of fish in the system. The bad: They don’t want to take a fly.

The counting fences are reporting a somewhat quiet group of numbers. The Northwest trapnet at Cassilis is averaging less than six fish daily, while Millerton on the Main Southwest Miramichi has had a pendulum swing to it this past week. Last Wednesday to Friday it had an average of 20 grilse and seven salmon. On Sunday it had a total of four grilse, and continues to Wednesday with less than 10 totals.

These results fuel the questions on most anglers’ minds: Where is the Fall Run, or has it already come? Mark Hambrook who manages the MSA hatchery in Miramichi offered an overview that is worth considering. He noted that last year there was a change in terms of the Fall Run. Normally, the Fall Run would arrive as its name suggests, in the Fall. This would include 60-75% of the big spawners.

Last year (and now this is shaping up to look the same) the Fall run came early. About 2/3 to ¾ of the run came earlier in the season. Last year was a dry season. This year has been a wet one with lots of high water and no Fall Run yet, although over all numbers have been great. Does that mean that the run has already come in? The only plausible answer is the fish know best and we will have to wait to see what finally happens and as to whether this earlier arrival will be the trend of the future. Anyway, this is something to chew the fat on.

Hambrook and staff are into full brood stock collection and he’s noted that there are very good numbers of fish in the system, but not many new fish. He also noted that work at whittling down the numbers of Large-mouthed Bass in Miramichi Lake is continuing. As well, he said that are some Stripped Bass starting into the system where they will spend the winter.

As we close September and open October, we have moved into the “Cast ‘n Blast “season as Bird season opened October 1. On the down side, this is the last month for angling this season.

Now for a bit more on the good-bad line that characterizes many jokes. The good news is that there are great numbers of fish in the system. The bad: They don’t want to take a fly.

The counting fences are reporting a somewhat quiet group of numbers. The Northwest trapnet at Cassilis is averaging less than six fish daily, while Millerton on the Main Southwest Miramichi has had a pendulum swing to it this past week. Last Wednesday to Friday it had an average of 20 grilse and seven salmon. On Sunday it had a total of four grilse, and continues to Wednesday with less than 10 totals.

These results fuel the questions on most anglers’ minds: Where is the Fall Run, or has it already come? Mark Hambrook who manages the MSA hatchery in Miramichi offered an overview that is worth considering. He noted that last year there was a change in terms of the Fall Run. Normally, the Fall Run would arrive as its name suggests, in the Fall. This would include 60-75% of the big spawners.

Last year (and now this is shaping up to look the same) the Fall run came early. About 2/3 to ¾ of the run came earlier in the season. Last year was a dry season. This year has been a wet one with lots of high water and no Fall Run yet, although over all numbers have been great. Does that mean that the run has already come in? The only plausible answer is the fish know best and we will have to wait to see what finally happens and as to whether this earlier arrival will be the trend of the future. Anyway, this is something to chew the fat on.

Hambrook and staff are into full brood stock collection and he’s noted that there are very good numbers of fish in the system, but not many new fish. He also noted that work at whittling down the numbers of Large-mouthed Bass in Miramichi Lake is continuing. As well, he said that are some Stripped Bass starting into the system where they will spend the winter.