Cache and Conservation

Just because we’re not in the water doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy Atlantic salmon, does it? Of course not, and as this week’s schedule indicates, it’s certain to be both fun and informative. The Atlantic Salmon Federation is having their annual fund-raising dinner this week in New York City at The Plaza. The guest speaker will be world-renowned Bogdan Reel maker, Stanley E. Bogdan.

Proceeds will benefit the ASF, one of North America’s oldest and most respected conservation organizations founded a half century ago by individuals who shared a deep commitment to conservation and abiding respect for a majestic and severely threatened fish and its environment. ASF is a powerful conservation force with seven regional councils and 150 local river-based organizations in eastern Canada and New England, representing a combined membership of more than 40,000 dedicated conservationists.

Miramichi Black Rapids is contributing to the Atlantic Salmon Federation event by donating a 4-3-2 package (4 nights, 3 days, 2 rods) to our lodge in New Brunswick. Maybe we’ll see you in 2010?

A book which dovetails perfectly with this event is Gary Anderson’s “Atlantic Salmon: Fact and Fantasy.” It is a very well illustrated book with lots of details and theories about Atlantic salmon fly-fishing, and I reference it on a regular basis. In fact, I encourage all anglers who visit our lodge to at least thumb through it during their stay.

Like most things that appeal to a distinguished group, it’s not the easiest book to find, but here are two links which should get you started: Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.

For other interesting items, visit Angler’s Cache on the Atlantic Salmon Federation website.

Miramichi Book Club: The Nine Lives Of Charlotte Taylor

 Many of our clients mention spending the winter catching up on their reading (the frozen-over Miramichi River lends itself to this pastime) and though we’re now prepping for the 2010 season at our winter base in Alabama, we thought we might stay connected to New Brunswick by reading and reviewing books highlighting the diverse culture and history of the Miramichi region.

“The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor” by Sally Armstrong was a book given to me by a person I have gotten to know through the last several fishing seasons in New Brunswick. Her family has very strong roots in New Brunswick, and her father actually still lives there.

In a brief review of the book done by Amazon.com you can see Charlotte’s path was a true testimony of perseverance in tough times:

“The epic true story of Charlotte Taylor, as told by her great-great-great-granddaughter, one of Canada’s foremost journalists.

In 1775, twenty-year-old Charlotte Taylor fled her English country house with her lover, the family’s black butler. To escape the fury of her father, they boarded a ship for the West Indies, but ten days after reaching shore, Charlotte’s lover died of yellow fever, leaving her alone and pregnant in Jamaica.

Undaunted, Charlotte swiftly made an alliance with a British naval commodore, who plied a trading route between the islands and British North America, and traveled north with him. She landed at the Baie de Chaleur, in what is present-day New Brunswick, where she found refuge with the Mi’kmaq and birthed her baby. In the sixty-six years that followed, she would have three husbands, nine more children and a lifelong relationship with an aboriginal man.

Charlotte Taylor lived in the front row of history, walking the same paths as the expelled Acadians, the privateers of the British-American War and the newly arriving Loyalists. In a rough and beautiful landscape, she struggled to clear and claim land, and battled the devastating epidemics that stalked her growing family. Using a seamless blend of fact and fiction, Charlotte Taylor’s great-great-great-granddaughter, Sally Armstrong, reclaims the life of a dauntless and unusual woman and delivers living history with all the drama and sweep of a novel.”

In reading the book I felt a strong connection to the culture that continues to exist in the Maritimes. Charlotte Taylor was a woman who followed her heart to survival, which has inspired me as a female in the same area she helped settle. So far we’re at a 100% positive review rate … I highly recommend!

The Season Ends With Wingshooting

Image Copyright Nancy Whitehead

Fall in the Miramichi River Valley is breath taking, and when the colors of the trees are fading, the brief wingshooting season is a great way to round out the amazing outdoor recreational opportunities available in the Maritimes.

The peak season of woodcock falls typically around Canadian Thanksgiving, which is the second week of October. After several frosts, the ground conditions for bird hunting in New Brunswick were ideal, and for the most part, our clients enjoyed a week full of excellent cool but sunny weather.

Our guide worked hard to put clients in the position to shoot numerous flushes of woodcock a day. The average flush for peak week rounded out to be about 45 flushes a day. We can not give the guide all the credit - the dogs worked well in the cool conditions, which makes time in the woods very enjoyable!

Watching a working dog is truly a magical experience. The communication between guide and canine is incredible, and observing this collaboration gives new meaning to “teamwork.” We have worked with an incredible photographer in the past, Nancy Whitehead, whose stunning images of working dogs have graced magazines and publications across the globe. Visit Nancy’s site for a photographic treat. If you like what you see, Nancy's book of sporting dog photography makes a really special gift.

We closed the fishing season out with light flurries of snow on the Miramichi River. The river temperature was in the 40’s and had dropped a good bit after the amount of rainfall the week prior, so our hopes were high as we waded the Miramichi on the last day of the season.

Thanks to all who visited us in New Brunswick this year? We hope to stay in touch and see you again next year. Although the seasons have wrapped up, we are already starting on 2010 plans.

Having Fun While The Seasons Change

The first big frost a few days ago came just in time; the leaves have seen their peak colors and have started to fall, giving a little relief to the thick woodcock covers and getting us very excited about the wingshooting season.

Autumn in the Maritimes is a splendid experience. The spectacular colors that radiate from the native hardwood forests are something to bottle up as a reminder of the hard work that goes into a full operational year.

Traditionally the largest salmon are caught in September, as the fish return up the river to spawn. Late summer rains are optimal and usually put the river at the right height for fall fishing, but this year the rain came late. We’re not, however, wallowing in regret. We’re looking to maximize and are planning to fish until the last day of the season.

Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated this week, and we wish our Canadian clients a very happy Thanksgiving. Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge is thankful for our clients who have supported us throughout the 2009 fishing and wingshooting season. We hope to see you again in 2010, so please let us know when you begin planning either a weekend of fishing or a summer vacation with your family.

Even though the season is coming to a close, our plans for 2010 have begun taking shape. We will be attending some fly-fishing shows on the East Coast of the United States, though we’re still waiting for dates to be announced and will, of course, notify you when we might be nearby. We’d love to visit with you outside the lodge too! We’ll also be working with Miramichi Salmon Association to organize the 2010 Youth Fly-Fishing School.

Please do not forget to check out our trophy room to see the featured salmon of the season. We are very proud of all of our clients who caught and released their Atlantic salmon trophies. We will also stay current with plans via our Facebook Group, so please follow us there.

We’ll leave this blog with news that the Fly Rod Chronicles episode featuring MBR is airing again this week on the Sportsman Channel  (use their locator to check availability) beginning today. We mentioned this in July, and had lots of fun watching it the first time it aired.

The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, Oct. 13,  1:00PM EST
Wednesday Oct. 14, 3:30AM EST
Saturday Oct. 17, 11:30PM EST
Monday Oct. 19, 1:00AM EST

Salmo!

Did you know both Gauls and Romans referred to the Atlantic salmon by its ability to leap? It was known as “salmo” in Gaellic, and “salar” in Roman – both mean “leaper.” In fact, Linnaeus used these words when he was codifying the names of species in the 18th century: Salmo salar.  Not much has changed over thousands of years. We’re seeing fall leapers daily as they travel up the river.

Our lodge is filled with anglers who have fished for Atlantic salmon for many years, and others who are working hard to land their first. Regardless of experience level, the first lesson learned is quite simple: it takes time, and it takes patience. And when it comes together, it’s nothing short of perfection!

On Monday a guest hooked and released a six pound grilse fishing with a spey rod and using a tube fly he tied himself. Other flies our anglers are finding successful are Undertakers, Ally Shrimps, and of course, the Black Bear Green Butt.

Our pools fish well in the low water, and with rain in the forecast we’re optimistic the seasonal change will continue making the fishing even better.

Autumn Arrives

 

The anticipation has been building for several weeks, and the arrival of autumn has not disappointed the expectations.  With leaves committing to colors, a few light frosts, and the promise of great fishing, the village is lively with fall anglers.

Today Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge kicks off the fall season. The grounds are groomed and arriving clients will help us christen a new fire pit overlooking the Miramichi River later this evening. Our low water pools have taken shape after the high water we had last month subsided, and we are ready to hit the river in search of the large hook bill Atlantic salmon returning to spawn.

Another recreation opportunity we’re welcoming this week is the opening of woodcock season. The thick cover in the New Brunswick woods provides a perfect habitat for these small game birds, and a morning amidst the spectacular foliage with a trained bird dog and guide adds another dimension to the sporting experience.

Welcome fall! We are looking forward to a fun season with great sportsmen from all over the world!

A Memorable Season

 

Each fall we enjoy reflecting on the memories we make during our annual fishing season. At Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge, each of our guests lends their own unique qualities to create such special experiences, like Frank Logan who arrived by train from Ontario in early July for his first visit to MBR.

One evening on the water Frank and his guide, Darryl, began discussing a rock on the river which Darryl used as a landmark to designate one of our pools. He took the opportunity to explain how it signified where he should begin wading, and then where to fish. At some point in the conversation, they nicknamed the landmark “Kat’s Rock,” and decided they would have a plaque created and installed to make it an official marker.

Conditions on his first trip were not ideal but he said “You took care of me as promised,” and before he had gotten home he’d begun planning a return visit for later in the month.

We decided to surprise Frank for his return and painted "Kat’s Rock" in bright silver, and it almost glows at sunset. He was taken aback, though, because he’d also followed up on the joke and had ordered a plaque he intended to have installed! It will be installed prior to the close of the season and before the silver paint fades away.

The second trip proved more successful, with Frank landing a nice 9 lb. grilse, then catching and releasing another beautiful 18 lb. Atlantic salmon.  The fishing made him so happy he extended his trip for a few more days.

With just a hint of fall in the air, the leaves are on the precipice of changing colors. As usual the season has flown by, with only 37 fishing days remaining. It isn’t too late to plan a trip for a fall getaway. Contact us for additional details.