Bugs Are Out!

Bugs. They’re in the air now, so bring on the salmon … its time to fish!

Today is a cloudy day and we are hoping it will rain. The river looks in May like it normally does in July. A good rain will help fish to move into the system; the challenge is keeping optimal water levels for fishing. Ideally the river stays moderately low, as our pools fish well in this condition. As long as the air temperatures aren’t too hot, and rain over the next few weeks brings fish into the system, we’ll have prime conditions for a summer full of wonderful memories.

Don’t forget you can follow the river conditions this summer on our website. View the river report here.

There are other links listed on the site as well. Once returns start hitting the river system they’re great fun to follow.

Don’t forget about the events going on around the lodge:

The MBR Tourism Package, offered all summer for anyone passing through.

May 29 - the Miramichi Salmon Museum’s Spring Fling (and other events).

August 22nd -25th (First session): First Cast - Youth Fishing School

Weight-Forward Floating: Summer's Right Around The Corner!

One thing we love about fly-fishing is the gear and gadgets that come along with the sport. "Which one works?" "When do I or should I use ___ ?" Anglers ask these questions before hitting the water, when the hopes of hooking into a big one are high. As spring fishing is coming to a close on the Miramichi, the all-sink lines we used at the beginning of the season have changed to sinking-line-floating-tip and now find us with almost all weight-forward floating lines (WFF).

Since half the fun of fly fishing is figuring out what to use in certain conditions, having the right line and loading it properly is essential if you want to be successful once you start casting. We had the pleasure of a visit from Marc and Line Madore one day last week, who demonstrated different lines, rods and casting techniques. Line even took the time to show me how to cast her two-handed road, focusing on establishing a smooth rhythm. She saw the smile on my face after the first cast and said, “It's nice isn’t it?” and boy was she right: I have to get one!  A valuable resource they left was a DVD by Mel Krieger, The Essence of Fly Casting which reminded me to never stop learning. We want to thank them for their time, and we hope to fish together soon.

Where flies are concerned, everyone has their theories and preferences. But if you don't have a fly in the water you're not going to land a fish so it's really a matter of trying as many as possible until you find what works on the day. We're now starting to use (and see others using) the Green Machine and butterfly patterns, along with the infamous Black Bear Green Butt, which is really fun to say! If you are interested in seeing some very well-tied flies, check out some of Marc Madore’s videos here.

This summer is looking promising at MBR and we hope you'll get the chance to be part of it. Here are some things going on in New Brunswick:

The MBR Tourism Package, offered all summer for anyone passing through.

Miramichi Salmon Association Moncton Dinner.

May 29 - the Miramichi Salmon Museum’s Spring Fling (and other events).

August 22nd -25th (First session): First Cast - Youth Fishing School

Tell us about your favorite fly. Leave a comment here, or post it on our Facebook Fan Page!

Breaking The Ice

The Miramichi Salmon Association (MSA) Ice Breaker, held on Saturday, was a sellout event. It was great fun, and it’s always nice to spend time with our clients and friends away from the river. (But make no mistake, it's more exciting when we’re casting!) If you would like to catch up on the latest news from MSA, please read their newsletter online.

You’ll see on page 6 of the newsletter, MBR is mentioned as part of the MSA First Cast Program, spearheaded by MSA board member Paul Valeri. The MBR event is just one of several being held this summer to help introduce younger generations to the river and fly-fishing. Our event is scheduled August 22-25, 2010.

One of the sessions we will be offering, fly-casting techniques, will feature Joan Wulff, a local and experienced Atlantic salmon guide. We believe this is the best way to help youth learn more about fly-fishing and the Miramichi River: from someone who knows it like the back of her hand!

We need your help to keep the tradition of Atlantic salmon fly-fishing going for future generations. Spots are available but they are going quickly. Please call if you’d like to be part this special event. If you're not interested in booking, please share the link with friends, family, or even media contacts who might help highlight such a unique opportunity.

Meanwhile, Down Under

We’re pleased to link you to an article that has just run in Forbes Magazine online. Poronui, owned by our parent company, has been listed as one of their Top-10 Best Fly Fishing Lodges in the world. Congratulations Poronui!

Catching and Releasing - It Feels Great!

The 2010 Atlantic Salmon season is off to a great start! A client who has been fishing with us for several years caught and released a nice grilse and a 15-pound salmon this morning using traditional spring flies. We wanted to capture it in a picture but he said it was bad luck! 

We’ve been at the other end of the river for the last several days and had a nice 23 pound salmon on within an hour of hitting the water. She was down deep and did not want to come up; she was very close to being landed then back out she went again. The sun was shining just right that day so we got a really good look at her. She looked like a torpedo! We realized we couldn’t land her within the proper time limit so we gave her some slack and sent her on her way down the river. Almost immediately we had a grilse right back on.

The salmon are really tightening our lines this week.

NOTE:

See how to properly catch and release your salmon on the Atlantic Salmon Federation’s website.

Smelt In The River

When the Atlantic salmon fishing season opened on April 15, the smelt had already made it up river, meaning the hungry salmon can’t be far behind! We’re back in Canada and excited to be hitting the river.

The light rain predicted over the next day or so will keep the river up, which is good for fishing from the boat. There are still some beauties up river waiting to come down right past us in the rapids, and we’re eagerly waiting to hook and release them back into the Miramichi River.

Doug Underhill had some good pointers on how to get ready for spring fishing in his fishing report on April 8. Doug writes a nice report every few days. You can read more about him on his website.

Over the winter we lost a dear friend of ours, Anne Pearson. She fished with us for many years and enjoyed both spring and fall fishing. Last year she caught and released a really nice 46-inch salmon she was very proud of, as were we. This spring will be dedicated in her honor, and her traditional fishing week will now and forever be Pearson’s Peak Week! Tight Lines for Anne!

Maine Tour and Season Kickoff

The spring season kick off is in full force! Kevin McKinstry, Westervelt Sporting Lodges Manager, and MBR Lodge Manager Katherine Hughes headed to the Maine Sportsman’s Show (April 2-4), where many attendees were interested in the lodge. Even more fun was catching up with current clients at our booth, where we were visited by a special guest, Lucy,  the National Field Champion Cocker Spaniel, from Dixmont, Maine.

Congratulations to Paul and Elley from Bethel, Maine. They won a three-day fishing trip for the 2010 fishing season and we thank them for stopping by our booth at the show.

Augusta, Maine, was very welcoming during our stay. We had two great dining experiences: the first at Slates in Hallowell, just down the road from Maine’s state capitol building and the second at the Wharf, which is just down the main drag from Slates.


If you are traveling through this summer (maybe en route to MBR!) and are looking for a nice place to eat, stop by Slates. You can read their reviews on Urbanspoon. Good music and the Maritimes go hand-in-hand, so you definitely don’t want to miss the Wharf. You can also see their reviews on Urbanspoon. Kevin is a chicken wing expert of “world renown,” and highly recommends the wings served at the Wharf.

The week was finalized by having lunch at The Anglers' Club of New York in Manhattan with new friend and author of “Land of Little Rivers” Austin McK. Francis. His website is: http://beaverkillpress.com/ and is positively beautiful to visit.

Bonding Experiences

Only five weeks until the season opener on April 15. What better time than now to start planning your summer? If you are looking for the experience of a lifetime we have the opportunity you don’t want to miss. Both Mother’s Day (May 9) and Father’s Day (June 20) are approaching, and what better opportunity is there than spending a weekend with your children (or parents) at Miramichi Black Rapids Lodge?

Working with New Brunswick Parks and Tourism on the upcoming travel season, we’ve developed a package that allows children to come at practically no cost! See the Bonding Experience link on the New Brunswick Tourism Website for more information:

While we’re looking ahead on calendars, we will remind you of another opportunity later this summer: our fly-fishing clinic in August. Not only does it offer time on the river complete with fly-casting instructions, it also includes exposure to some cultural influences, like a scheduled tour of the Miramichi Salmon Association Hatchery. For more information check out the details on our website.

The Miramichi River has been an important part of the province history for many years. We hope its legacy will be shared with many future generations.

We look forward to seeing you on the river in about five weeks; start the countdown with us!