August 27th, 2022
This week was a tougher one on the Miramichi salmon scene after DFO closed angling on cold water brooks again in spite of some stretches of water staying cool and well below the threshold for the protocol to take effect. However after receiving decent rain-fall and cooler temperatures, the cold water pools were once again reopened in time for the the weekend. Many in the fly fishing community, both outfitters and anglers, we a bit perplexed by the most recent closure and concerned about the manner in which these decisions are being made given the impact on the industry! To be clear, we are the first to support good conservation and will always put the salmon’s interest first however decisions that impact outfitter and anglers need to be based on good science and proper judgment. The welfare of the Atlantic Salmon is the #1 priority but the Miramichi River system is a huge system of river, streams and tributaries. A decision to close cold water pools across the entire system based on temperature measurements taken from only a couple of locations does not seem reasonable or appropriate. Applying protocols in such a broad based manner impacts angling on rivers and tributaries where the conditions are still within the guidelines which does not seem appropriate or within the scope and intent of the protocol itself. Our main rivers can be warmer than some of the tributaries which have greater foliage cover and/or one area or section of a river can be cooler based on where rainfall may occur. This can result in temperature differences between rivers of up to 10 degrees or more. As guides and outfitters our main priority will always be to protect the salmon to the best of our abilities as we need a healthy salmon population to stay in business. We would propose that DFO consider making the Miramichi River System dry fly fishing only during the warm water periods, to at least keep fisherman on the rivers enabling us to police the waters and provide greater protection from poaching which we know occurs when anglers are restricted from fishing.
On the fishing side of things, with only a few guests in camp to start off week, we had little success landing fish. That said, folks were seeing fish and having fish were rolling for the flies which provided some entertainment but these anglers can’t wait to get back now that cold water pools have reopened so that have a shot at landing a Miramichi Salmon!
As the weekend neared, family and friends were out for some fishing and boy did they succeed in hooking lots of grilse and landing a nice salmon which was a fight of a lifetime for our friend Robert Lurche. Having landed many fish in his lifetime thus far, he said this salmon was one for the ages as she just would not give up fighting! After a great battle though she was once again on her way upstream to spawn to produce another generation of hard fighting salmon for our future anglers!
Cooler weather will now be arriving and the calendar changes to September and we’re all anticipating a great fall salmon run to follow up what’s been a great season thus far with many large salmon on the Miramichi River. Now is the time to get your fall flies from W.W. Doaks, Curtis Outfitters and Sid Matchet’s fly shops and get out on the river to make some more Atlantic Salmon memories!
