October 1st, 2021
Water, water, water & more water! After 4 years of not having a lot of rain, we have truly made up for it this year with just enough to make for some great fishing in early summer but too much for good fishing so far this fall. I guess you would say it's too much of a good thing as the water height has remained very high for most pools on the lower stretches of the river system for the past couple of weeks, however, we managed to get most of our guests into some very nice Salmon. The Cains river usually has a very good run of fall Salmon and although we have seen better hook ups by now on the Cains, in some past years our anglers have been lucking out most days. Although the Cains has been good to us over the years and over the past couple of weeks, we are looking forward to again starting to fish the Main River system - probably over the weekend with the improved conditions. With the borders again open, it is so great to be welcoming back longtime guests from around the world - it's so wonderful to see them all once again. Returning to the Miramichi is a tradition for so many of them, including this weeks guests - Andrew Done and Gary Berenson from our 12 year annual UK Spey week, Doug Schlink from Anglers Adventures who has fished for Atlantic salmon almost everywhere but has made the Miramichi his home for a week in the fall for over 30 years - including many years and many memories with longtime outfitter and guide Tommy Williams in White Rapids and the last 15 or so with us here at Country Haven with his longtime friend and guide at Tommy’s - guide Daryl Tucker. So many names come to mind who brighten up the lodge and our guests most weeks but none do it better than the Ruckno brothers from PA., with over 40 years of Miramichi Traditions starting at Tom Boys camps, being guided by Stafford Vickers, and keeping the Vickers guide tradition while fishing here with Stafford’s sons, Jeremy & Ken over the past 15 years. The looks on returning guest faces are priceless, especially after missing two years fishing. After greetings provided by the Camp "welcome hostess Dog" Diesel, it’s like old friends returning home. The Ruckno brothers always makes a splash on arrival but this year we loved their first words "We don’t care if we don’t catch a Salmon, a Trout, a Chub, a Bass or even a leaf, we are here"! Throughout their 4 day stay with us, they were all rewarded with Salmon, Trout and even some Chub - way to go guys! Throughout the week we had success using a number of flies, including many traditional fall flies and the most success on some flies from Norway. A great fishermen from Norway gave some to Ken 15 years ago and told him to use them when fishing got tough. I guess Ken must have figured fishing was tough as he used some for the first time with great success! Thanks Od A Lied from Norway - your flies worked!
With only two weeks remaining until the end of the season on October 15th, we will be finishing out the fishing season with Andrew and Nancy Moy from "Tightlines Fly Fishing" in NJ. It's always a good time had by all during our U.S. Spey Week. With the water levels now falling, we are holding our breath for no more rain, improved conditions and lots of big fall Salmon moving into the system, resulting in many "Tight lines on the Miramichi"
