Pool Etiquette

Picking the perfect fly, casting the perfect cast, and laying out the perfect amount of line is all part of the perfect process if you’re hoping to land a sacred Atlantic salmon.

And if you want to land a large Atlantic salmon, you also have to know how to work a pool properly. When fishing in a group, pool rotation is very important.

The Margaree Salmon Association makes the following pool etiquette recommendations:

When it becomes your turn, you will start at the upstream end of the group of anglers, and follow the group through the pool. While moving through the pool, it is the usual practice to take 2 casts and then take a step downstream. Be careful not to move too far out into the pool near the fish.

This may cause the fish to move away or cause them to be less likely to take a fly.
A dry fly may be cast up or downstream depending on your preference of presentation. Wet flies are cast downstream and across the current, usually on a 45 degree angle. Casting wet flies upstream increases the risk of foul hooking fish and causing unnecessary damage to the fish.

Pool rotation can be summed up very simply: Take your turn, cast, and move. When you arrive at a pool, and other anglers are there ahead of you, it will be expected that you wait your turn before entering the pool. A waiting area is usually obvious where waiting anglers gather until it is their turn.

At Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge, our guides organize and maintain a low angler to pool ratio in our private fishing pools. If casting in a relaxed environment on the cool, quiet Miramichi River, with top-notch accommodations right at the bank, appeals to you, give us a call. We have spots available for the fall run and are happy to confirm your booking.

A big "Thank You"

On behalf of all the staff at Miramichi Black Rapids, we want to thank all of our anglers who have made the season a success so far.

At the end of June we watched the Miramichi river raise as high as 3 meters. We watched her peak on Canada Day, making it almost impossible to fish for a few days. Despite the bad news, the providence reports of salmon fishing look promising so we are hoping for the best.

On July 8th the river was just about down to a decent height for wading in the rapids and we are set up to land a whale of a salmon. The weather has been ideal for the last several days and each day it warms up a little bit more. There is a small breeze during the day but it slows down nicely in the early evening.

The river should be in great condition for those fishing the Miramichi Classic. Good Luck to all the anglers who will be participating.