The River: Now and In The Future

 

Now that the exciting Winter Olympics are over, we can shift our focus to opening day of salmon season: tying flies, checking equipment, and packing our bags.  As we have mentioned it’s been a mild winter in New Brunswick compared to the last few. However, it is still unpredictable to say exactly when the ice on the river will recede.

Many who have been calling to book have been concerned about the number of salmon in the river. The numbers are not like they were thirty to fifty years ago. But as we’ve also mentioned, both the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) and the Miramichi Salmon Association (MSA) are working hard to promote the longevity of the river systems. The spotlight should also shine on other organizations such as DFO, DNR, The University of New Brunswick (UNB) and the Miramichi Watershed Management committee (MWMC) for their hard work and dedication to improving the Atlantic salmon numbers, one project at a time.

Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge understands the history of the area and importance of the river to the community, which is one reason we have gone totally catch and release. Along with eight public outfitters and a number of private clubs we have become a member of the ASF’s Live Release Program. We want to support the hard work of all organizations focusing on the preservation and conservation of the Miramichi River.

A great way to follow the latest river challenges being faced is through the Miramichi Salmon Association (MSA). Their quarterly newsletter is very informative: http://www.inmgroup.net/msa/salmonnews 

So as you start tying your flies, please keep the future of the Miramichi River in mind. We look forward to seeing you on the river – in the next six weeks, and over the next 60 years!

Wintry Mix

Snow. It’s one of those things you just can’t make happen when you need and/or want it. Mother Nature has a way of exerting this control, as has been the case with the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Thankfully they’re getting snow now, as is the case at MBR in New Brunswick.

Admittedly, we’re excited about the hockey and can’t wait to see the results of tonight’s game. We cheer for both Canadian and American teams, and have also had a lot of fun watching the curling. What are your favorite events?

Let’s hope Mother Nature doesn’t fool us with an extended snow period this spring. We keep a weather forecast active on our site, (at the bottom of our additional links page), if you’re interested in how April is going to unfold. We’ll be posting river conditions as we count down the days until the season opener.

Small World

 

The faster we surf into the future with electronics and connectivity, the easier it is to see how small the world really is. The past several weeks on the trade show circuit have proven once again that new connections often share mutual friendships – you just never know until you ask!

A good example: at the Somerset show a few weeks ago, our friend Lyne Trudeau in Montreal mentioned she was a friend and mentor to a famous fly tier in the Blackville area named Marc. She also knows Kathy, who ties a lot of the flies at the Curtis Fly Show in Blackville; she is a student of Marc’s. In our correspondence after the show Lyne mentioned she was busy getting ready for the Grandby Fly Fishing Forum – maybe she’ll let us know if she identifies more mutual connections, as it is always exciting to build bridges and make new friendships. Good luck at Grandby, Lyne!

Our next stop will be the Alabama Safari Club Banquet at the end of February. We look forward to seeing our friends there, and discovering new “intersections” through the course of those treasured conversations.

If you are interested in tickets to the Alabama Safari Club Banquet, please contact:  Kevin Slaughter at (205) 969-8065.

Road Warriors

On the road again!

We are traveling to Atlanta this weekend for the Georgia Safari Club Convention, an all-day event scheduled for Saturday. Winter in the South is known for its warm-to-cool-and-back range of temperatures, but it’s not common for New Brunswick to experience mild weather at the beginning of February. We hope everyone in the Maritimes is enjoying a reprieve from cabin fever.

Although we will not be attending the Miramichi Salmon Association Boston Chapter Banquet, we are excited about our presence at the dinner, particularly assisting in the First Cast Program organized by MSA and offering both day (hosted by Miramichi Salmon Museum) and overnight (hosted by Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge) options.

The Boston dinner is essential to MSA fund-raising goals. Goods and services raffled and auctioned off at this dinner typically exceed $80,000. Original paintings and etchings, signed limited edition prints, prime Miramichi angling trips, guided saltwater excursions, fly fishing gear, custom tied flies, outdoor clothing, as well as many other items will be featured.

If you are interested in further information please check out MSA’s website.

Somerset Wrap Up

Last weekend’s participation at the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, New Jersey, didn’t disappoint. Not only did we get to visit with our clients from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, but a few clients who have visited Poronui New Zealand, also owned by The Westervelt Company, stopped by as well.

Last week we asked readers to share their favorite places to eat in Somerset. Thanks for the recommendations! We wanted to share our own discovery: 28 BBQ is Portuguese restaurant in Bound Brook, New Jersey, serving steak the size of a platter in traditional brown bag, Iberian fashion.

After the show on Saturday, we enjoyed spending time with some of our clients at a cocktail party we organized with the invaluable assistance of Frontiers, The Ranch at Rock Creek, and representatives from the Ponoi River in Russia. Already you can see the Somerset Fly Fishing Show has quite an international component, and not just where food is concerned!

As the show closed on Sunday, we were able to catch a bit of the NFL playoffs with clients, outfitters, and fellow vendors. It’s hard to believe the Super Bowl is right around the corner, but we’re really proud of the New Orleans Saints for making it all the way.

Once again Somerset proved to be a productive, delightful experience and we wish our clients and new found friends all the luck in the world as we rapidly begin the countdown to fishing season. Come join us on the river!

Off To Somerset

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One of our favorite places to eat while we’re at the Somerset show was suggested to us by a fellow New Brunswick Outfitter. It’s a little restaurant called Matteo’s Pizza and Pasta.  But don’t let the word “little” restaurant fool you - the food is out of this world!

Throughout the years we build relationships in the fly- fishing industry, and look forward to rekindling them at fly-fishing shows across the nation. Since the Somerset show essentially kicks off our fishing season, we consider it something of a “family reunion” to catch up with clients, friends, and outfitters.

And since reunions should be fun, we’d like to ask another question and share a few additional details:

What is the name of your favorite restaurant near Somerset, New Jersey, and what is it you like to order? 

We are planning a gathering for our clients after the show on Saturday. We’re looking forward to seeing you, so please stop by our booth and we’ll give you the details.

And to our clients who follow the New York Jets, congratulations on making it to the AFC play-off game. We would enjoy watching the end of the game together at the conclusion of Sunday’s show, so let us know if you are interested.

See you later this week!

Tie One On This Winter

In the dead of winter, nothing seems more promising than the melt of snow and the beginning of the 2010 fly fishing season in April. While we start marking “X” on days in an effort to mentally speed up the countdown, many of our clients keep themselves occupied by tying flies. Since we’ve been featuring books about the Maritimes over the past few months, we thought it would be fun to include one on tying flies you may find interesting: Tying the Classic Salmon Fly: A Modern Approach to Traditional Techniques.

It can be found at one of the fly shops we use in Doaktown, New Brunswick, Canada, or via Amazon.com.

We will be attending the Somerset show in New Jersey Next week, where there will be lots of opportunities to watch fly tiers from all over the world. We have some exciting news to share, and ask you to give us a call if you’re planning to attend so we can be looking for you at our booth.