29th June 2008

Three days of East wind and rain, enough to put the damper on enjoyable fishing. Water continues to rise and darken so it's back to the bigger flys. Even with this we have seen a few fish, mostly small grilse hugging the shoreline, (3) hooked in this pool on 28th saw about a dozen around noon on 29th.

Not a damper for our clients, they could be heard in the evening sitting around the camp fire and later setting off fireworks in preparation for Canada Day.

Afternoon report, water rising and dirty, with rain projected into Tuesday we may not see decent fishing conditions until this coming weekend, that's not to say you may be able to tie into one by accident.

If you have a chance drop into Betts restaurant in Doaktown, they have placed a picture on the counter of a fisherman and what appears to be this years salmon catch, a very large salmon for these parts.

I was ask today how I would rate this pool. As all salmon pools, we have fishermen who are very lucky and others who leave just considering it lucky to be able to fish on the Miramichi, the actual catch depends on factors such as fish run, water level, water temperature. It's not a cold water holding pool but does hold fish in the late summer and fall. In comparsion to other pools in the area on an overall seasonal basis the pool produces well for this stretch of river. Pond's Rapids the next pool down from us underwent some changes with the last two ice runs and is producing very well for June. The Cache Pool in Boiestown at the mouth of Burtland Brook was exceptional in 2006 and dead in 2007.

27th June 2008

East wind all day long.  We did attempt an outing, (1) salmon rolled, (1) hooked, as the wind stayed strong and light was fading considered the day a write off as it pertained to fishing. 

 

New clients from Fredericton arrived this evening and looking forward to a few days relaxing with some fishing thrown in. 

 

Clients from Montreal arriving Monday for a weeks fishing This is their second time back as they are looking for cottage on a salmon pool on the Miramichi to buy,  if anyone knows of any let me know and I will pass it along.  With luck they should tie into some salmon fishing while here.

 

Wendy & Shane

Moonshadowcottage.ca

26th June 2008

Cloudy day with heavy showers, river dropping but water good level, still dark but clearing.

Few salmon around in the morning not taking well.

6PM to 6:45 PM a nice run was going through, we tied into (7), raised (1), took (2) nice trout, everyone had their limit so we called it a day.

Picture of 4 year old Tyler Fiaui and his first trout. A future fisherman for sure.

Wendy & Shane

Moonshadowcottage.ca

24th June 2008

Cloudy day, water good but remains dark.
Pool fished for short time early morning, around 07:45 hr. started seeing very small grilse running through hugging the shore on both sides of the river, (1) 23" grilse taken on Taylor Special with glitter tag.

The mouth of the salmon is very soft at this time of year so unless they are hooked in the jawbone there is a good chance the hook will pop out on slack line or when netting. So if you are alone and heading the canoe for shore, keep good tension on the line, either directly or use a nice little trick of letting out enough line so the current applies tension and does the work for you.

23'd June 2008

Lite rain overnight and continues, river remains good level except dark.

0:630 to 0:800 hr. saw approx. 10 fish, hooked into a grilse using a white butter fly.

Reports from Pond's Rapids morning fishing very good with a number of salmon & grilse hooked on white tail green machine.

If I were to pick a time of day to throw a fly around it would be early morning and evening, haven't seen much activity during the day, that will change.

22nd June 2008

Lot’s of fish moving through saw 9 fish on the surface 6-7:30 am.  Unfortunately they were not interested in joining us for dinner L and we are off on a motorcycle trip for the day.  Sean & Shannon Rogers are honeymooning at the cottage maybe they will have better luck J.

 

Wendy & Shane

Moonshadowcottage.ca

21st June 2008

Miramichi River remains at a good level but still very dark, however we are seeing a few salmon. 22” grilse landed this morning and another seen, canoeists and there are lots of them on the river, indicate they have seen a few salmon jumping along their way.

Morning report from next pool below us (Pond's Rapids), (3) grilse and (1) salmon.

Late afternoon (17:30hr) small run went through, nothing showing in the evening.

Wendy & Shane

Moonshadowcottage.ca

19th June 2008

Miramichi River is up and dark after the recent rains.

Word from downstream is that we now have bright salmon in the Northwest with some taken in Blackville this past weekend. On the 18^th it appears a salmon run went through this area with (4) fish hooked in this pool and several fish seen. Three boats out this evening with no luck.

Wendy & Shane

Moonshadowcottage.ca

15th June 2008

A good weekend for canoeing. We spent Saturday running boats around for
clients at the cottage. We carry no liability insurance that covers canoe
rentals so usually refer to O'Donnell's who rent canoes and kayaks and will
drop off and pick up, plus it's a nice days run down river from our cottage
to their cottages, works out well. Took time out for a short run ourselves,
started out with a nice West wind that quickly turned into an Easterly and
made us work. We came across a group in Hickey's Pool, one who was using
spinning equipment and a lure. It was nice seeing other canoeists informing
them of the law, it happened so many times as we passed that they eventually
put their equipment away. This is a much rarer occurrence in past years,
although I was advised of a known local in the Doaktown area seen above the
Ledges floating with his motorboat and fishing with lures yesterday.

No fishing activity to report other than the odd trout.

10th June 2008

Miramichi River at a great height however it appears we are now between fish runs.  Two boats on the pool off and on today, with little to show for it other than a good trout strike.  One thing about a bad day fishing it makes us appreciate the good days, and it’s always better than any day at work.  At least we got to watch the deer and Canada Geese at play.

 

Wendy & Shane

Moonshadowcottage.ca

9th June 2008

Miramichi River is up slightly after thunderstorm and heavy rain yesterday afternoon.  It’s at a good level to bring the fish in.

 

A few sea trout taken today however consistent with the down river reports it appears the main run has gone through.

The occasional salmon around, we should soon be tying into some fresh run of grilse.

 

There were a number of canoes on the river today enjoying the nice warm weather.

8th June 2008

Today was a day off from fishing, very hot and humid, took canoe run to Priceville with Glen & Sandra Abbott. The water is at a good canoeing level but just on the border, if it drops slightly a number of bars will be exposed which are a nuisance when canoeing.

On the fishing side, spoke with a fisherman below Porter Cove Bridge, Crow’s Nest Camp, claims to have taken a 5 lb. trout yesterday and before the thunderstorm moved in saw a nice sea trout taken in the rapids.

Wendy & Shane

Moonshadowcottage.ca

7th June 2008

Bright sunny hot day, clouding over in late afternoon. Not much activity other than Ernest Scott racking up his score with the Rocky Brook Salmon Run.

Try this on for size, I'm sitting in a canoe halfway across the river and a rabbit swims by. That's a first for me, I've had otter, muskrat, baby beaver, we even called one called ashore as you will see from the picture but never a rabbit. He made it to shore and sat there shivering.

6th June 2008

Sorry about missing a day, too involved with the "sea trout run. " Water continues to slowly drop, East wind yesterday made fishing problematic although did pick up a few between gusts yesterday.

No hatch and nothing taking this morning other than the odd trout in fast water.

A nice 30 inch Rocky Brook Salmon was landed around 10:45 by Earnest Scott. Today we have a slight West wind.

Wind kept up into evening turned into a gale, did pick up a few trout, nice 18 1/2 inch and one 17 1/2 inch, the rest went back, all on a green/white bomber.

Talking with Don Buck and Val, fishing Harry Ponds Rapids, immediately below us, they have been quite successful tying into the Rocky Brook Run. All the reports I have heard to date have been big salmon.

Another query on canoe rental with cottage, unfortunately our insurance company says "no way" so I refer everyone to O'Donnell's Toll Free: 1 800 563-8724, they rent canoes & kayaks, will drop off and pick up, they are also familiar with our cottage. We prefer to stay out of the canoe/kayak rentals as there are already established businesses in the area.

4th June 2008

Miramichi River dropped slightly overnight, using motors to navigate the rapids can be done but is a bit tricky.

The river is still a bit high for chest waders so a canoe is the all around best mode of transport at the moment. This river can rise/fall overnight depending on the weather.

Picked up a few "sea trout" in the late afternoon, not hard to limit out with the (2) over 12" limit. Today they were occasionally feeding on white millers, the best working fly for larger trout was a green bomber, brown hackle and white end tuffs, fished dry in slower water and only spot casting, sea trout rarely take a dry fly on the swing in this area. But a "Taylor Special" seems to be working on the swing in fast water just not as well.

3'd June 2008

Miramichi River remains at a good level but is cold and dark.

Yesterday and today took some "river & sea trout." Lost a large "sea trout" this evening just as netting the fly came out. It was better fishing today during the morning and afternoon, usually trout fishing is best in the evening but a West wind didn't help much with the dry fly fishing and the trout were not feeding well off the surface. Bombers are not working, just small trout dry flys and bugs at the moment.

Reports of a 24 inch "sea trout" taken in the area.

Wilson's, report of June 1st 2008 "lots of sea trout [coming in]."

Lots of people picking fiddleheads on the Islands and report that there are still lots to pick.

We had three more cottage bookings today, although there are some weekdays still available, anyone wanting to book should contact us soon.

1st June 2008

Two weeks vacation wondering what was happening on the Mriamichi River! In the Porter Cove Area, I'm told I missed nothing, although I have reports of "sea trout" & "bright salmon" taken in the Blackville Area last week of May.

On the positive side, I took time out of unpacking to go over the bank and net a nice 15 lb +/- Rocky Brook salmon for Ernest Scott. The waters great, and we are could to see some fish movement in the next few days.

We returned to a number of summer booking requests for our cottage which was nice, unfortunately we are getting jammed up and there are only a few days here and there left available for those interested. Having just returned from Vancouver I can assure you our rates are a deal.