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N.B. Report

2K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  JR SPEY 
#1 ·
I was in Maine last week and hoped to get up to the Gaspe' for a couple of days. Ann Smith was very helpful, but my son was late arriving and I didn't leave time to make the trip -- which required a 12-hour drive up and a 12-hour drive back.

I did, however, find time to drive up to New Brunswick -- only 6.5 hours -- for one day of fishing at Big Hole on the Miramichi. I didn't wait for my son, but because I was able to get up, fish, and back in a day-and-a-half, I was able to get one day of fishing under my belt.

It has been two season since I have fished for salmon and I was really rusty. I took the fly away from a grilse that chased the fly on my second cast, but that got my adrenaline pumping.

On about my tenth cast, a bright, approximately 12 pound salmon hit the fly like the proverbial freight train. I set the hook hard and the fish immediately started taking line with a vengenence. As I was trying to get some modicum of control of the situation, the fish jumped. I didn't give it any slack, and it spit the hook like it had never even been set.

All this happened at about 8:15am. I had no more action for the rest of the morning. The other two people fishing the pool, however, did hook two fish. One grilse was landed. Not bad for salmon fishing.

That action came on my single-handed rod. I have been attempting to teach myself how to cast a two-hander, and changed rods at about 10am -- BIG mistake. At this point, I know just enough about casting the two-hander to be dangerous, but I am stubborn. I spent the next two hours -- from 10am to noon -- trying to use the two-hander in real fishing conditions. I have alot more practicing to do. In that two-hour period, I think I made 3 fishable casts, but beautiful casts they were. I won't tell you about the other umteen casts that landed around my neck, tangled the line, fell in heaps on the water -- you all know what I am talking about.

The evening fishing started at about 7pm. I raised three different fish to bombers, but did not hook any. Only one fish was raised by the other two people fishing the pool.

Big Hole is a very large, cold water pool. It is fed directly by a very cold stream on one side of the main river, and there is a very long run on the other side of the river that also gets a large amount of cold water from an upriver stream. When I say "long run", I mean a stretch of water that can be fished comfortably at one time by eight people on rotation. The fish were visible and did alot of jumping and rolling. The weather had been very hot, but the fish were there for the catching, if you could get them to take.

Fishing was slow on the rest of the river, except in cold water pools. The area has had some rain and the weather has cooled off a bit since I was there (July 8th), so my guess is that if you can get on the water now, you stand a good chance of picking up a fish or two.

I hope to give the river a chance again in the Fall.

CK
 
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#2 ·
NB

Smolt
sounds like you had fun. The two hander stuff takes some getting used to, doesn't it? Good luck with it. Many days I wish I had a little better place to practice than my front lawn. Something about a bit of current makes a world of difference.

Thanks for the report.
 
#3 ·
NB Blues

Not a bad day's fishing, Smolt, glad you connected with some fish!

I just had a Dr.s appointment yesterday, and my doc had just returned from his 3rd annual trip to the Miramichi (Salmon Brook). He was very discouraged, as he has yet to hook a salmon, and this year everyone in his group landed fish except him. The last day, his guide was determined to get him into a fish, so got him first onto the best water, continually checked his flies, and coached him intensely all day. The last pool, he fished through expertly, covering the water perfectly with his green machine- nothing. As he stepped out of the tail of the pool, Wham! The guy behind him in the pool (on his 1st salmon trip!) hooks a screamer, and minutes later lands a beautiful 24 lb hen, (green machine of course!). I tried to boost doc's spirits by telling him of some of my past 'skunk' trips, but it didn't seem to help. Salmon fishing can be brutal!
 
#4 ·
Hi Smolt,
I am happy you enjoyed yourself.... and fish were showing interest. .... That's what's fishing is all about...!!! Myself, I prefer low-water conditions ...... I can try all my back-up flies and ridiculous looking ones (when no one is around). My goal is to catch a fish on one of these "no name flies"......then, I'll find an appropriate name for them.
Conditions are pretty well the same here in Gaspé...... rain would be greatly appreciated.
Let us know how you do this fall.....
I plan to visit the Margaree in October ( yes!! I'll be a tourist !!! My dream!!).:)

Au Revoir!!

Ann
 
#6 ·
Just returned myself from a trip there last weekend. There were a decent number of fish around earlier last week but the water got pretty warm and the fish stopped coming in and moving. The few fish we saw were not in the taking mood at all. Hopefully with some of this rain they are getting and a little cooler water some more fish will flow into the system. For the record the 3 1/2 of us (my 10 year old being a half) got skunked, tried everything and them some. Still had an enjoyable trip anyway. Oh well better luck next time.
JohnP
 
#7 ·
The word I've received is that the rains came. In fact, it rained a lot and at times very hard this past week. The fish are finally coming in and the ratio is 5:1. That's five SALMON for every GRILSE. Just the opposite of what one expects on the Miramichi in July. For anyone who can make it up there on short notice...
 
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