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.   

 

Adopt-A-Salmon

What better way to support Atlantic salmon conservation than the Atlantic Salmon Museum’s Adopt-A-Salmon Program? Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge has adopted a family of salmon parr that have been released into the Miramichi River. Learn more about this worthwhile cause by visiting their website.

Words of Wisdom

American baseball legend Ted Williams mentioned in his book “Fishing the Big Three,” that August conditions were usually the worst for catching fish. From our perspective, his comments were dead-on where 2009 was concerned, mostly due to heat. While clients have certainly caught fish, the runs haven’t been abundant.

That should be changing as we progress into September and begin to see the fall run of salmon. We were happy to have missed the brunt of Hurricane Bill, though we did receive a fair amount of rain which raised the river level - a good thing as we see it.

Other inspirational and interesting bullet points from Williams’ book include:

• He liked “… the water on the build of a moon. The tides are getting higher and the fish move in that water all night and into the mid-morning.” [Note: The tides from the Miramichi Bay bring the fish to the Southwest Miramichi River.]
• He mentioned “ … the good runs are all gravel and rock bottomed. Fish lay below the bars in the shallow, gravelly places three to six feet deep, depending on the height of the water.”
• His preference was “high water over low water any day, because when the water’s high the fish come.”

We have not forgotten about our non-anglers. The fall season is young, and the spectacular foliage during the leaf change has yet to arrive. With so much to see and do in New Brunswick, we hope you’ll take advantage of our fall specials and visit us very soon.

Shivers and Excitement

Our Miramichi River morning dawned in the high 40’s (8 C), with the crisp fresh air wafting in on a cool breeze and bringing with it the first glints of autumn. For our customers in warmer climates it might be hard to imagine, and even we realize it’s just a temporary front. But it helps us keep our eye on fall fishing and wingshooting, and we can’t help but get excited at the prospect.

Our August 23-26 Parent/Youth Camp with the Miramichi Salmon Association continues to build steam, with Doug Underhill mentioning it today on his River Report, and heralds a dynamic transition to September, when we’re usually booked nicely with outdoorsmen and women who enjoy both angling and wingshooting.

The golden light that shimmers through the vivid fall leaf change can have a surreal quality as you follow a guide and trained pointer on foot to flush some of the best woodcock and grouse covers in the Miramichi River Valley. After a morning in the woods, a famous MBR lunch, (possibly a nap) and an afternoon of casting on the river, the setting is perfect for blending recreation with relaxation.

Don’t forget to follow the salmon and grilse returns, as well as weather conditions, at our site, where booking specials are also available.

Happy New Brunswick Day

Happy New Brunswick Day!

The Southwest Miramichi River below the Black Rapids pool has been high for most of the summer. The river temperature has been consistent for the last week in the low to mid 50's (F), and the springs coming into the river are a surprising 46 degrees.

Have you taken advantage of our summer and fall specials and now you're counting down the days until you travel? Here's a way to whet your appetite for Atlantic salmon fishing even more ... follow the river conditions on our website any time of the day or night. .

Even though the river conditions were not in his favor, a current guest and his guide covered a lot of water, allowing him to catch and release a 9-pound grilse and a really nice 18-pound salmon. Because we're seeing a lot of salmon jumping, we keep trying to determine what they're "hungry for." Seems we're getting good rolls on different flies such as the shady lady, green machine white tail, and of course our time-tested black bear green butt.

With the still young and the river up and running, canoeing and kayaking are fantastic options for non-angling guests. Local New Brunswick tourism is a "must" when traveling to Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge, and we're happy to help you experience as much of our friendly province as possible.

Leapers!

Spotting the "leaper" in late summer is always an encouraging sign for a big fall run as Atlantic salmon being their return to the river for winter. While the Miramichi's water is temporarily high, it's dropping quickly, and with the river's temperature up into the 60's (F), we'll begin using our dry flies as soon as the water level lowers.

As cliche as it may seem, time really does fly when you're having fun. Already it's the end of July and we're keeping our fingers crossed (and spotters looking for those leapers!) that 2009 will parallel the 2008 season, which is when we saw our first big run of grilse. Prior to the waters rising, we'd caught and released some really nice grilse, and we're optimistic we'll see some big salmon over the next few months.

Of course, we're not just waiting for the fish to arrive; we're teaching youths how to catch them when they do! We're really eager to present the Youth Fly-Fishing School along with the Miramichi Salmon Association August 23-26, 2009. Learn more about it by visiting our website, and don't forget to check out our Summer/Fall booking specials.

Experience the magic of the legendary Miramichi River this summer or fall. It's a decision you won't regret.

MSA Fly Fishing Camp

While it's unlikely Atlantic salmon fly fishing will ever be as popular an activity as hockey, soccer, or football, it has a few advantages:

• It's accessible to just about anyone, regardless of age or gender (provided they can travel to New Brunswick, where Atlantic salmon runs are legendary), though the sooner you begin learning, the longer you'll have to enjoy it.
• Special exercise or conditioning consists primarily of ensuring your casting wrist and shoulder remains flexible, and the ability to "dream big" is constantly nurtured. And it has an upswing: the risk of broken bones is greatly decreased.
• Any dietary needs are easily accommodated, though we tend to favor hearty, well-balanced meals in lieu of protein powder and egg white omelets.
• Your coach won't yell at you or force you through excrutiating drills, but your guide will give you excellent instruction and help you cast for the biggest salmon possible.

We've partnered with the Miramichi Salmon Association to deliver at least one, and possibly two, youth fly fishing schools this August. Details are included on our website.

If you'd like to assist a youth in developing skills that provide lifelong fulfillment, consider this unique opportunity.