Action! Camera! Lights!

Check your local listings and get your DVR's set to record: Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge will be featured on a soon-to-air episode of Fly Rod Chronicles. We just wish the crew would've been here to film this gorgeous 20-lb. salmon our guest Darryl caught and released on June 27 (he was using a black bear green butt). Oh well, all the more reason to return!

Fly Rod Chronicles will air four times the week of July 13th -19th on The Sportsman Channel, which is their national carrier. The program will repeat in October for four airings. Local affiliates will air at different times throughout the year as well. Make sure you visit their site and keep your eyes out for their visit to Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge.

Warming Trends On The Miramichi

It seems like it was just yesterday we arrived at the lodge to begin chipping away the ice and “hurrying along” the snow melt. Now we look around and the landscape is completely green with trees leafed-out, and bald eagles, black ducks, loons and, of course, Canadian geese filling the sky.

During this time the Atlantic salmon around whom we so diligently plan our calendars are feeding in the open ocean, and while we’re eagerly awaiting their return we’re spending our slow fishing days taking in some of the other sites and scenes offered here in New Brunswick. The culture and history of the Maritimes are a very important part of the Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge.

Our “Must-Do Short List” includes:

*Beaubears Island

Beaubears Island, situated in the Miramichi River, is located just outside the boundaries of the City of Miramichi, between the former Town of Newcastle and the Village of Nelson-Miramichi. In 2002 Beaubears Island was recognized for two designations of historical significance by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. This month afternoon and evening boat tours will depart from Bicentennial Parke, Nelson-Miramichi waterfront.

*Atlantic Salmon Museum

Located along the banks of the main southwest Miramichi River in the Village of Doaktown, the museum is a short ride from the lodge. Through its many interpretive displays, the museum illustrates the life and history of the Atlantic Salmon – as well as the people who live to cast for it.

Our spring season has been wonderful and we wish to thank our customers for supporting MBR. We caught and released fish ranging from large to small, but whether it was a 46-inch salmon or a 3-pound trout, each carried with it a great story of how it was caught, and what it meant to the angler. That’s what we’re about – creating experiences that lead to stories, and stories that lead to lasting memories.

Salmon and Stars

When the 4-man filming crew from Fly Rod Chronicles arrived at the airport in Fredericton, I could just hear host Curtis Fleming saying “We are here today on the banks of the Miramichi River …” We knew Douglas, Greg, Gene and Steve – who hail collectively from Virginia and West Virginia – were eager for an authentic Miramichi River experience fishing for Atlantic salmon and trout, and we were ready to live up to those expectations.

The crew was filming for a show scheduled to air in August, and we hope you’ll visit their site frequently to stay posted on details.

Only minutes after hitting the water, Greg hooked a nice salmon that was released on the Pink Lady, just downriver from Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge. It’s always exciting when a nice fish is caught early on, as it sets the mood for the duration of the trip.

Greg’s morning success earned him the esteemed position at the head of the table, a long-established MBR tradition honoring the guest who catches and releases the largest salmon of the day. This practice also sets the tone for even more competition, and though he eventually reigned over the table for the entire trip - despite the beautiful salmon Douglas landed on the second afternoon – the group gave him a hard time as they pressed for the head seat.

Along with the nice salmon caught and released, the group also had opportunities to catch some sea-run brook trout, a favorite pastime as the weather continues warming. Other activities and tourism options are available at the Mighty Miramichi Tourism site. Visit to learn more about an authentic Miramichi experience, and call us if you’re interested in fishing the famous river for the legendary Atlantic salmon.

Fiddleheads Emerge ... Bring On Summer!

The unfurled fronds of a fern as it begins growing each spring are known as “fiddleheads.” A seasonal delicacy in the Canadian Maritimes, they represent the eagerly anticipated and rapidly approaching summer, inspiring song lyrics about “fiddlehead and gaspereau,”* though at Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge, we pair them with salmon – purchased, of course, and never from our catch-and-release river!

Learn more about fiddleheads here.

The gathering of fiddleheads signifies the transition from spring to summer fishing, giving us something more to anticipate as June approaches.

Why is June such a great month for fishing?

• The first run beginning around June 10 – end of month usually consists of larger salmon.
• Fish caught in June have not been in the river long; they’re very fresh and take the fly eagerly as the water is still cool!
• Great brook trout (the salmon actually don’t have a monopoly on the river!) with fish averaging between .5lb. to 7 lbs. And the good news? You CAN keep and clean them!

Interested in a weekend lodging adventure during this glorious time of year? We’ll be happy to accommodate your group. Family and friends will find plenty to do (or not do, depending on preference) at our warm and inviting lodge. Children can float the river in a canoe while dad fishes, and mom can watch it unfold from the front porch with her feet propped up and a great book in her hands.

Learn more by visiting our website, calling (800) 281-7991, or email brslodge@westervelt.com.

*Gaspereau is a rural community in Nova Scotia, named for the Gaspereau fish which migrates up its river each spring.

Full Swing, Here We Come!

The river has melted.
The bread has been baked.
All that’s missing is you!

The smiling faces on our guests arriving at Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge for their annual visit give our staff a huge sense of accomplishment … we work hard to make our lodge welcoming, so you’re comfortable kicking up your feet or getting a fly wet in the mighty Miramichi.!

As the river continues dropping, the conditions improve and clients are beginning to land some nice salmon, with the Mickey Finn fly, once again, pulling through for the dedicated anglers. With smelt strongly moving up the river, we’re reaching for the floating line, though depending on where we’re fishing the sinking line or sink tip are also practical choices. Our guides tend to know best and help guests make those decisions.

The brook trout run will be here any day and there is still time to book. Spread the word (or not, depending on how much you like to fish!) amongst your angling peers, and remember, the first wave of bright salmon will be coming up the river before we know it. We wait a long time to see the spectacular return – don’t miss it!

Be a part of our Facebook group, where updates are routinely made. Search for “Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge.”

For information on booking, contact Katherine Hughes at (800) 281-7991 or email brslodge@westervelt.com.

Breaking Ice

At last! The ice is breaking up and we are so close to getting on the water we can almost taste it. The spring run fishing is done from small boats, fully guided. If the water levels recede enough, wading is an option. Either way, the fish are migrating back to the ocean after spending the winter spawning under ice; even though they might weigh up to 20 pounds, they're still hungry and ready to take flies!

Our regular customers are booked and prepping for their stays, and we're looking for new 2009 guests we can soon call "regulars." We realize fly fishing for Atlantic salmon isn't common in most parts of the world, so here's a suggestion that might get you thinking.

Corporate executives are falling for fly fishing now more than ever. Fly Fishing is a clever way to build business relationships. Provide clients with something a little different than a round of golf, or take your staff through a different kind of team building exercise while learning a new skill and building camaraderie.

Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge provides guides, equipment and exceptional customer service, making it an ideal setting for corporate groups, incentive or rewards trips, or as a planning retreat.

We are running several booking specials - it's great time to trade in your business suit for a pair of waders.

Salmon Stimulus Package

Looking for an incentive to book an Atlantic salmon fishing trip in New Brunswick? Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge has a "stimulating" opportunity for you! Book a trip for 4 at regular rates and you come for 1/2 price! While the river is still iced over and thaw is a few weeks off, the season's official start is April 15, and our guides are ready to get you on the water. Dates are available the second and third weeks of May, and into the summer months.

Imagine an action-packed day on the mighty Miramichi, followed by a relaxed evening enjoying libations and our famous cheese bread - either inside the lodge or on the banks of the river around the fire pit. Regardless of the setting, the story swapping (and truth stretching!) doesn't get any better.

Call Katherine Hughes at (800) 281-7991 or email brslodge@westervelt.com for more information.

disclaimer: 3 guests must book at regular price in order for 4th guest to receive 1/2 price on regularly published day rates. Discount applies only to day rates; all other costs remain unchanged.