May 28th, 2022
The first summer salmon was landed this year by Colin Gilks of Blissfield! Every year somehow it seems that either Colin or Jason Curtis manages to land the first bright sea-run salmon of the year, either in late May or early June! Although Colin’s wasn’t the only one to land a salmon this week in the river system and rumour has it that there was another one landed on the Renous river the next day. The angler lost what he believed was a bright salmon as it jumped and popped off the end of his line! All of these are wonderful signs that this summer season is starting out on a positive note and we are hopeful that June may offer guests some wonderful fishing.
As more and more striped bass move into the river system to spawn, our Country Haven guests have been busy landing them (on flies), with one client saying that his arm has never been this sore from fishing and another who had fun hooking them on bombers and poppers on the surface! Pretty exhilarating for sure! Several guests have stated that they believe that this is some of the best striper fishing in the world and although we mainly focus on Atlantic salmon it’s hard to argue the enjoyment that guests have hooking into these bass. Based on river talk and videos being posted on social media it appears that the bass population is as healthy as ever with fish ranging in size from 14 inches to over 40 inches! It’s certainly a fishery that everyone should try at least once and is also its best during what many call the lull period for Atlantic Salmon fishing which would be from roughly mid-May until early June. It’s great to get out and both hook some stripers as well as retain what you are permitted to, as they are a wonderful eating fish and we also need to manage the population at the same time. The striper season is also a wonderful time of year to introduce fly fishing to non fishers and given that you are typically able to land numerous fish in any given session, it is a particularly unique opportunity to get children hooked on the sport as well. Lastly, it also serves as a great way for fly fishers to get warmed up for the summer Atlantic Salmon season by getting their casting mojo back and preparing to throw some bear hair or green machine flies in June!
With each passing day more and more salmon will begin to enter the river system and it is the time of year that most of us have dreamt about all winter and spring long! Folks grow more anxious too by the day, to get out and to have a chance at landing a salmon of a lifetime! Here at Country Haven, we are so looking forward to hearing of more signs of the summer run coming in and we are looking forward to having many old and new guests alike experience the Mighty Miramichi River this season.
