Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Signs Of Life

Even though we’re still hibernating in Canada, we’ve scheduled step one – snow plowing - in our open-the-lodge process. It won’t be long now before the sunny spring we’ve been enjoying in the South makes its way to New Brunswick and we’re picking fiddleheads and casting for hard-hitting Atlantic salmon.

Making sure Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge is in tip-top shape for our guests is a priority. Our guides and lodge staff have their assignments, we’ve confirmed booking details, including the all-important equipment, with our clients, and will put a buff and shine on our beautiful wooden walls and floors and throw open the windows (even though it might be a bit cool, and only then for a few minutes) to give the lodge its first breath of the season.

I began organizing my spring flies one evening last week, changing my line from fall to spring and putting those smaller flies toward the back of my box in anticipation of September, I was overcome with a shiver of delight and excitement as I thought of the upcoming season and how spring fever takes hold of us no matter how extreme our winter climates may be (or not be).

Have you changed your line yet? There’s just 16 days left until the official season begins!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Fit To Be Tied

In just 22 days Atlantic Salmon season will begin in New Brunswick. We're so excited we can hardly stand it. Our lodge is still asleep beneath snow and ice, but as soon as the thaw begins we'll have lots of work to do to prepare for our first guests.

In the meantime, we'd like to know what our guests and fans are doing to countdown to the opening of the season. Have you packed and repacked your bags, ensuring your gear is in tip-top shape? Or are you taking inventory of your fly box, ensuring your flies are top-rate and ready for your first cast into the Miramichi River?

David McPhail ties flies in Scotland, and graciously agreed to us posting this video of several of his Atlantic salmon flies. You can find more of David's detailed tying videos via his channel on YouTube.



Do you like to tie your own flies? Have you ever caught an Atlantic salmon at Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge? We'd love to hear about it! Send us your story: any pictures or video would be greatly appreciated. We'll enter you in a drawing for an MBR "swag basket."