Miramichi Fishing Report October 7, 2016

by Doug Underhill

As we near the end of the salmon season, it is time to get out and enjoy the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. The weather is beautiful, the Fall foliage is hitting stride, there is time for “Blast ‘n Cast” and there are reasonably good numbers of fish around, although they are not taking well. The stripped bass are also returning in good numbers.

W. W. Doak and Sons in Doaktown said the water levels were low, especially on the tributaries, but a good temperature.  Some lodges were having decent fishing with some fresh fish being caught.  There was a 44-inch salmon (low 30 pounds) caught this past week and a good number in the 20 pound plus range.  Over all, it was decent fishing.

Flies of choice were Cascades, Copper Killers, White-tailed Green Machines, Same-Thing-Murrays, Alay’s Shrimps, General Practitioners, and Autumn Belles.

Derek Munn of Ledges Inn in Doaktown and Mountain Channel in the Rapids area said they were are still catching a few fish at Ledges and Mountain Channel but things are slow. River is low some and rain would be appreciated. Seeing lots of fish but not taking very well.

Flies of choice were Marabous and Fall patterns.

Herb Barry Sr. of Herb’s Fly Shop on the Station Road in Blackville said there were fish around and anglers were catching some.  He’d heard that fish were seen jumping in the Douglastown area of Miramichi City, so there must be new fish on the way in.  The water was low, but the temperature was good.  Anglers were seeing some big salmon.  One angler reported catching a striped Bass on the Cains River.

Flies of choice were orange patterns such as Orange Blossoms, Orange Blossom Specials, LT Specials, Ally’s Shrimps, Sugarman’s Shrimps, Tippet Shrimps, General Practitioners and Cains Coppers.

Curtis Miramichi River Outfitting in Blackville said there were lots of fish around, but not always taking as well as anglers might like.  There were a good mix of salmon and grilse, with a lot of big salmon.  Some of the fish caught were fresh fish.  The water was low, but a good temperature.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Undertakers, Green-butt Bear Hairs, Blue Charms, Shady Ladies, Sugarman’s Shrimps, General Practitioners, Alay’s Shrimps, Copper Killers and Cains Coppers.

Jim Laws of Miramichi Hunting and Fishing in Newcastle, Miramichi reported that good numbers of fish were being seen, but they were not taking well.  The water was low, but cool.

There were more striped bass in now and some were being caught.  Most of the catching was on bait, but some were taking lures.  Remember the season is open until October 30.

Flies of choice were Same-Thing Murrays, Shady Ladies, Undertakers and a variety of Fall patterns.

Syd Matchett of Trout Brook Fly Shop on the Northwest Miramichi said he had heard reports of good fishing.  One angler hooked four on Thursday, three on Friday and two on Saturday.  Paul Elson, Howie Gould and a couple of friends caught six on Friday and four on Saturday.  The water was quite low, but a good temp.

Flies of choice were Copper Killers, Shady Ladies, Alay’s Shrimps, Blue Charms, and Marabous.

Debbie Norton of Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures on the Little Southwest Miramichi said angling was good.  They had hooked about20 fish with some taking short, while others were lost near landing.  They did land 7 or 8 fish, with some being fresh.  Jim Hoyson caught a nice grilse and lost a salmon, and Roger Earle of Rhode Island caught a salmon and a grilse.

Anglers also caught some striped bass at Quarryville.

Flies of choice were Copper Killers, Blackmores, and Flannies.

So with the beautiful Fall colours in full swing, some fresh coming in and fish generally around, it is time 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 Northumberland Timber Mart

ANY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD HELPING WITH THIS COLUMN ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. Click here to donate now. Or to donate by mail, send to:

Doug Underhill
438 McKinnon Road
Miramichi, NB, Canada, E1V 6G2

A SPECIAL THANKS to all who made contributions last season.

If you would like to sponsor this column, give us a call at (506) 352-7668 or email .

CONDOLENCES:  This past week the Miramichi lost one of its long-time anglers and a well known and respected Fly Tyer in the person of Frankie Somers. Frankie was a great supporter of the annual Miramichi Valley Fly Fishing Club and donated many framed flies for their auctions.  Frankie will be missed by all who knew. Cast a good line up there my Friend!

Thought for the Week: “The best fishermen I know try not to make the same mistakes over and over again: instead they strive to make new and interesting mistakes and to remember what they learned from them.” … John Gierach

E-MAIL:

Atlantic Salmon Federation News
Fri., Sept. 30, 2016

ASF RIVERNOTES – Interesting week in New Brunswick
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perhaps the season is winding down for anglers, but the conditions on our rivers are very important to the Atlantic salmon travelling upstream to spawning areas. Check out the latest, with a focus this week on New Brunswick.
Also thoughts on turning your salmon experiences into book form.
http://asf.ca/asf-rivernotes-29-sept-2016.html

Assessing Atlantic Salmon in the Nashwaak
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ASF Regional Director Nathan Wilbur describes with a very short video the assessment work he helped carry out a few days ago on an important NB index river.
http://asf.ca/news-from-the-regions.html

Exploits Salmon Run Down in 2016 says DFO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DFO gives details on the run this year and how it relates to other years in the past.
http://asf.ca/exploits-salmon-run-down-in-2016.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

Want to receive the Miramichi Fishing Report by email?  Click here to subscribe now!

Until next week
TIGHT LINES
DOUG