We’ve turned another page of the calendar as we move to September, and for anglers that means looking forward to some of the season’s best angling as we anticipate the “Fall Runs”.  Personally, I enjoy September fishing the most with the cooler days and Fall foliage.

As we move into the ninth month there is good news from DFO.  They have lifted the ban on the 23 cold-water pools , so that now angling is back to the normal seasonal angling in terms of times and closures.

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Doug White’s Tammerack Sports Fly Shop in Juniper said earlier that angling there was almost non-existent with few anglers out and very poor angling conditions.  As such he decided that there was little use in trying to give a weekly report.  If things change, he would be back into the fold.  I mention this as I have received an e-mail wondering where his report had gone.

I must also apologize for my mistake last week regarding DFO’s announcement.  They had lifted the morning only fishing, but I had cut and pasted the list of the 23 pools that were still closed, and it had a statement in it that morning fishing was still in effect.  So, it was my ooops!

Notice to Recreational Anglers
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Gulf Region

Salmon angling on the Miramichi River

Moncton – August 31, 2015 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) wishes to inform the public that the angling restrictions to 23 salmon pools in the Miramichi River system has been lifted due to improved water conditions. This change will be in effect as of Monday, August 31, 2015.

The following 23 salmon pools are now open to angling:

• Confluence of Wildcat Brook and Northwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Wildcat Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Trout Brook and Northwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Trout Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Harris Brook and the Little Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Harris Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Parks Brook and the Little Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Parks Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Gray Rapids Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Gray Rapids upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to Route 118, an area locally known as Pete’s Brook;
• Confluence of Hudson Brook and the Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Hudson Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of the Bartholomew River and the Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of the Bartholomew River upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to the Highway # 8 bridge;
• Confluence of Mersereau Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Mersereau Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Morse Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Morse Brook upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to Howard Road;
• Confluence of McKenzie Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of McKenzie Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Black Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Black Brook upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to South Cains River Road;
• Confluence of Donnelly Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Donnelly Brook upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to the South Road Bridge;
• Confluence of Mill Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Mill Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth.
• Confluence of Big Hole Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Big Hole Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Betts Mills Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Betts Mills Brook upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to Highway # 8;
• Confluence of Porcupine Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Porcupine Brook upstream from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River to Story Town Road;
• Waters of the Renous River surrounding the pump house located at N 46.86483, W 65.67698 (WGS 84);
• Confluence of Butty’s Brook and Renous River, and the waters of Butty’s Brook from its confluence with the Renous River to South Renous Road, an area locally known as Duffy’s Brook;
• Confluence of Otter Brook and Cains River, including the waters of Otter Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth. An area locally known as Brophy’s Place;
• Confluence of Cold Brook and Cains River, including the waters of Cold Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Salmon Brook and Cains River, including the waters of Salmon Brook upstream from its confluence with the Cains River to South Cains River Road;
• Confluence of Muzeroll Brook and Cains River, including the waters of Muzeroll Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;
• Confluence of Six Mile Brook and Cains River, including the waters of Six Mile Brook 50 m upstream of its mouth;

Please note that the following salmon pools will remain closed until December 31, 2015:

• Confluence of Sutherland Brook and Northwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Sutherland Brook upstream to the Highway 420;
• Waters of the Southwest Miramichi River in Quarryville, 300 m upstream and 300 m downstream of the Quarryville Bridge, including Indian Town Brook from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River, upstream to Highway 108 bridge;
• Confluence of Wilson Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Wilson Brook 100 m upstream of its mouth, an area locally known as the Bear Den;

Please refer to Gulf Variation Order 2015-069 for further details. The Orders Registry is available online at: Orders Registry – Order summaries for existing fisheries

To report any suspicious fishing activity, please contact the nearest Conservation and Protection detachment in the Gulf Region or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

For more information on this fishery, please contact:

Pierre Bélanger
Senior Advisor, Recreational Fisheries
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Moncton, NB
(506) 851-2002

Reminder of the Striped Bass retention period:  Angling for Striped Bass has been open since May 1 with a retention period in May and August.  Hook and release continues until October 31, but there are two more retention periods coming up.  The most immediate is September 4 to 7, followed by October 24-31.

During the retention fishing periods, anglers will be able to retain a maximum of one striped bass per day and will be prohibited from possessing more than one striped bass at any given time. Outside of these retention fishing periods, all striped bass caught must be released immediately in a manner that causes the least harm to the fish.

• The size window for the retention fishery is established at a minimal length of 50 cm and at a maximum length of 65 cm. The length is measured in a straight line from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail (total length);
• Angling activities will begin two hours before sunrise and end two hours after sunset of each day;
• The use of a non-offset barbless circle hook is mandatory when bait is used while fishing for striped bass in tidal waters.

DFO will continue to compile data collected during the striped bass recreational fishery and asks for the angler’s participation in this data collection. Catch report forms are available on the Recreational Fisheries website. All catch report forms regarding the striped bass recreational fishery should be completed and returned to Fisheries and Oceans by November 30.

Anyone wishing to report suspicious fishing activity anonymously is asked to contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Striped Bass Tagging Study

Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) regularly tag fish in experiments to record fish behaviour, movements, growth and fishing catch rates. The recovery of tagged fish and the success of such tagging campaign rely on the collaboration of recreational anglers and the fishing industry.

If you catch a tagged striped bass please take the following steps:

• Remove the tag from the fish,
• Take note of when and where you caught the fish,
• Record total length (if possible),
• Send the tag and the information in the two bullets above to the address printed on the tag. We are only interested in recovering the tag and associated information.

Address for the return of tags and information:

Striped Bass tagging study

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science Branch
343 Université Avenue,
P.O. Box 5030
Moncton, NB E1C 9B6

If you want to know more about the tag information you collected and forwarded to DFO, please provide your name and address when sending the tag information indicated above.

Country Haven Lodge below Blackville reported angling picking up as of Monday with a decent raise of water and cooler temperatures.  A couple of bright fish were hooked in the Rapids area, and some older fish were more active on the Cains. Since then, Country Haven said they were having a great week, hooking 70 fish in the last three days.

W. Doak and Sons in Doaktown said it has been a quiet week, but the water temperature has improved, but a good raise would be welcomed.  There are still good numbers of fish around, but most are pooled.  Anglers were picking up a few.  They were awaiting the Fall run to start.

Flies of choice were Same-Thing-Murrays, Undertakers, Bear Hairs and White-tailed Green Machines in wets, along with some Dry flies and Bombers as well as a few Fall patterns such as General Practitioners and Ally’s Shrimps starting to be used.

Derek Munn of Ledges Inn in Doaktown and Mountain Channel in the Rapids area said angling was tough with only an odd old fish being caught.  The water level was very low, but at least the temperature had improved.  They were praying for a good rain to raise the water as well as to bring in the Fall run.  There were good numbers of old fish around, but they were staying pooled.

Flies of choice were an assortment of Bombers.

Herb Barry Sr. of Herb’s Fly Shop on the Station Road in Blackville said there was not much angling going on at the moment, but he expected it to pick up with improved conditions.  There are still good numbers of fish around, although not many fresh fish yet.  But the Fall runs should be starting soon.  The water was cooler and had come up about a foot.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Shady Ladies and Green Rats, Blue Rats, Bombers and plenty of traditional Fall patterns to stock up on.

Curtis Miramichi River Outfitting in Blackville said fishing was good with decent numbers being hooked.  The water temperature had improved and they had received a small raise in water levels, but more was certainly needed.  There was the odd fresh fish, but most of the catches were older fish that have been in the system.  They were waiting for rain and a good Fall run.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Shady Ladies, Brown Bombers with orange hackle and a few Fall patterns such as General Practitioners and Ally’s Shrimps.

George Routledge of George’s Fly Shop at the Mouth of Renous in Quarryville said there was no one fishing as the water had been low and very warm.  However, heavy rain in the Minto area recently has poured into the Cains River and from the Mouth of the Cains down, the Main Southwest received about a foot raise of water.  This plus cooler night temperatures have vastly improved angling conditions, so George was hoping to see more anglers out for Fall fishing.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Black Ghosts, Green-butt Bear Hairs, Red-butt Bear Hairs and Shady Ladies.  AS well it is time to stock up on traditional Fall patterns.

Jim Laws of Miramichi Hunting and Fishing in Newcastle, Miramichi reported very few anglers out and very few fresh fish coming in yet.  There was only the odd report of fish being caught.

The Striped Bass angling has also be slow, but the Tracadie-Neguac areas were getting some.  However, the bass had not moved to Miramichi yet.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Dry Flies and Bombers.

Syd Matchett of Trout Brook Fly Shop on the Northwest Miramichi said angling conditions had improved and anglers that were out, were catching fish.  A crew at the Ground Hog Crown Reserve Stretch had landed seven and lost two, and were so pleased that they applied to continue their stay since the next date was open.  Another anglers and his wife hooked two salmon and a grilse one morning, while another couple landed 13 over several days.  Although water temperatures had improved, the river could use a nice raise in water to really kick-start the Fall.

Flies of choice were an assortment of Dry Flies and Bombers.  In wets, it was small black bugs and White-tailed Green Machines.

Debbie Norton of Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures on the Little Southwest Miramichi said there was not much angling going on , but she expected it to pick up soon with the anticipation of the Fall run which she predicted to be at its prime around September 20.  There are still good numbers of old fish in the system which should be livelier with improved conditions.

Flies of choice were big Marabous.

So  as conditions improve and hopefully the advent of Fall runs beginning, it is time to get out and “on the water”.

Don’t forget to show your support for our sponsors, because without them, this column would not be possible.

Check out Deals 4 U in Miramichi for your grocery needs, and good Cuban cigars to celebrate getting back to the rivers. Drop by Mac’s Seafood Market to get fresh-cooked lobster and all your seafood needs!

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ANY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD HELPING WITH THIS COLUMN ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. Click here to donate now. A SPECIAL THANKS to all who made contributions last season.

If you would like to sponsor this column, give us a call at (506) 352-7668 or email .

Thought for the Week: “Work: a dangerous disorder affecting high public functionaries who want to go fishing.” ~Ambrose Bierce

E-MAIL:

You Are Invited . . .

THE ATLANTIC SALMON MUSEUM’S 32nd ANNUAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2015
Doaktown Curling Club, 29 Prospect Street

Beginning at 4:30 pm with a Meet n’ Mingle and followed by a buffet dinner and the induction ceremony itself, the evening promises to be a memorable one with a variety of silent, Chinese and live auctions, great food and, in particular, heartfelt tributes to five individuals whose lives have been intertwined with those of the Atlantic salmon.
This year our five inductees are:

• JASON WAYNE JOHN CURTIS of Keenan, NB.  One of the youngest inductees in the history of our Hall of Fame, Jason has been professionally involved with salmon and salmon conservation since the age of 18 when he began work at the Old River Lodge.  Since then, he has gained a well-deserved reputation as a guide par excellence, a dedicated conservationist, and an enthusiastic educator having been one of the founders of the Fly Fishing Club at Miramichi Valley High School and a long-time volunteer with the Miramichi Salmon Association.
• JOHN WILLIAM HAWKES (posthumously) of Miramichi, NB.  The word most often used to describe John Hawkes is “passionate” – he was passionate about his devotion to the River, passionate about the sport of salmon fishing, and passionate in his quest to make others (especially youngsters) as dedicated as he was to the love of fly fishing.  An educator in all aspects of his life, John was one of the organizers of the Miramichi Youth Fly Fishing Program and through the challenges he faced in his last years, an inspiration to everyone he met.
• DOUGLAS RAYMOND MACDONALD of Moncton, NB.  2015 has been a good year for Doug MacDonald.  On May 21, he was honoured for his long-term commitment to the Miramichi Salmon Association and his financial support of its many initiatives.  On October 3, the Atlantic Salmon Museum will acknowledge not only Doug’s dedication to the MSA, but also his devotion to salmon fishing, salmon conservation and most of all, the importance of leaving a lasting legacy for the next generation.   As a successful businessman and an experienced angler, Doug recognizes the importance of conservation and the impacts it poses for the economy and our way of life.
• WILLIAM ROBERT MACKAY of Hayesville.  Bill MacKay is referred to as one of Canada’s top river guides and, with a career that began in 1950 when he was only 18, one who perfected his craft at an impressive number of fishing camps up and down the Miramichi.  Deadman, Salmon Brook, Hinchey Pond Lodge, Clearwater, Pond’s, KenMore Camps, the Griff-Inns, Rocky Brook . . .  the list provides only a glimmer of Bill’s widespread reputation as a guide who was very much in demand.  Not satisfied with his many hours on the water searching for salmon, he also took up canoeing and has won many canoe races on both the Miramichi and the Saint John Rivers.
• EVERETT ALEXANDER MOIR (posthumously) of Bloomfield Ridge, NB. The River did it all for Everett Moir – from nearly drowning him in a spring freshet when he was only six to providing him with steady employment throughout his adult life.  He worked first as a cook on the log drives of the 20s and 30s; then with the Griff-Inns making countless trips by canoe to transport “sports” and their gear from the railroad station to their camps; then as a guide at the Kenmore Camps, a thriving outfitting business owned by his uncle which Everett later purchased and successfully operated until 1970.  A man “of the River” indeed!

Tickets for the October 3 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are now on sale for $75 but with only a limited number available, it’s wise to reserve yours quickly.  For more information or to reserve your tickets, please contact the Atlantic Salmon Museum at 506-365-7787 (Toll Free at 1-866-725-6662) or at .

We look forward to seeing you there!

Atlantic Salmon Federation News – Friday, Aug. 28, 2015

ASF RIVERNOTES – Continued Signs of Better Runs in 2015
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The latest figures indicate more signs that 2015’s runs may provide a step towards recovery for the Atlantic salmon in North America. Read more.
http://atlanticsalmonfederation.org/rivernotes/

Working Together for Salmon Conservation
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ASF’s Steve Sutton pens a letter on Atlantic salmon conservation for media in Newfoundland. Check it out.
http://asf.ca/we-all-want-to-conserve-salmon-stocks.html

What IS the Future of Farmed Salmon?
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A short video in which Carl Purcell, former president of the Nova Scotia Salmon Association, provides input. The video also discusses Sustainable Blue, a land-based closed containment operation
http://asf.ca/cctv-on-future-development-of-aquaculture.html

Decision Soon on Irish 15,000T Salmon Farm
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Western Ireland has been caught up by the push to build large open-net pen salmon farms. A decision is expected next month.
http://asf.ca/decision-on-irish-15-000t-salmon-farm-soon.html
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Until next week
TIGHT LINES
DOUG