May 21st, 2022
Bass, bass and more bass was the story as we switched over from our spring salmon season to the striped bass season. The first weekend and start of the first week saw clients hooking and landing large numbers of fish and commenting on the sheer abundance of them. Most were hooking fish after fish for hours on end until the bite came to bit of a screeching halt mid week as rain, cold weather and frost make the striped bass hunker down and take a pause on the bite. We did manage a few bass but not in the numbers we experienced at the start of the season, however that did allow for a chance to land some nice brook trout and even a few spring salmon who are still making their way down the river system. A couple of our fisherman even came close to the Miramichi grand slam, losing either a nice trout or big healthy may salmon close to the net!
As the water begins to warm up again in the coming days, the striped bass fishing action will pick up again and our guides are already saying each day seems more productive and that they are seeing more action on flies. The flies of choice are blue and pink streamers tied by our own guide Ian Cavanagh. If you’re looking for some amazing bass or salmon flies from Ian we are happy to provide you with his contact information.
Some of our guests who are choosing to fish with spin tackle down below Doyle’s Brook are having the best luck with pink sand eels. As the striper population keeps working its way into the river to spawn, it is truly an amazing thing to witness as the water will start boiling with fish as they chase the smelts and begin their pre-spawn activity. The vast majority of the spring salmon have now dropped down on their way out of the river with the exception of a few stragglers. The bright sea run salmon are yet to arrive but the bass fishing is a great way for the avid fishers to work on their casting rhythm and to wet a line while waiting for our amazing bright salmon to work their way back into the river system.
This time of year, everyone on the river waits with great anticipation, for news of the first bright salmon to be caught. And when folks hear get the news, the summer season starts in earnest with folks grabbing their rod and flies and heading to the river! The early salmon are some of the most aggressive fish of the year and can arrive as early as the first/second week of June. These fish have lots of cold water at their arrival and can travel up to 20 miles per day up the river system. These bright chrome silver fish are truly a thing of beauty and as fresh as can be and provide the opportunity for a memory of a lifetime if hooked on their way up! We look forward to another wonderful summer season ahead on the Miramichi and to seeing our many return clients and new ones who arrives with hopes and dreams of landing the mighty Atlantic Salmon!
