21st October 2010

Here's an article for all you good folks who love to travel that Plaster Rock Renous Highway and for the most part miss the Holtville turnoff.

It’s nice to know that Hwy 108, Plaster Rock to Renous scored as the 5th out of 10 of the most memorable roads by Garry Sowerby, a four-time Guinness long-distance driving World Record holder. Number 1 being N2 Garden Rte in Cape Town South Africa and Number 10 the stretch of Pan American Highway between Peru/Chile and Lima.
“ --- Located in northern New Brunswick, this road is a time saving alternative to the winding Trans Canada Highway as long as you are willing to take the odd pothole, dodge the wildlife and risk a breakdown in the middle of basically nowhere. With nothing but forest and an occasionally open service station about halfway through the desolate 150-kilometre of secondary road is simply known as “The Renous.” And with a maximum-security along the way, picking up hitchhikers is never a good idea.” (Wheels Oct. 21st 2010)

15th October 2010

Frenzy fishing in a Nor-Easter

It's with sad regrets that I must inform you of the passing of another great fishing season on the Main Southwest Miramichi.  A few die-hards ventured forth into the waves and actually got a fish or two before the big blows moved in.

All in all with the exception of a few very hot days in August we had a typical and productive season.  The October fish were actually much more co-operative than normal and were still striking until the very end.

It's now time to start thinking about those fly patterns that really worked and how you wanted to adjust them to make the fly work just a bit better.  You know shorter tail, heavier hook etc. 

Now into the hunters.  We still have some decent dates open October into November so have a look at our calendar, you don't have to be a  fisherman or hunter to relax with a bottle of wine on the Miramichi.

14th October 2010

One day to go and that's the end of fishing season on the Main Southwest Miramichi.  Gorgeous day on the river although  the fish were not plentiful in the morning and afternoon but Gail did manage to hook and release her first non-spring salmon between cursing Sheldon for buying her waders with no felts. She ended the evening landing a 12# +/- female hooked on a green spring fly. Between 5:30 pm and 6:45pm there were lots of fish showing, some very large but not taking well.  One more day and they are calling for rain.

13th October 2010

Today started off a bit slow, lost (2) salmon but things started to shape up in the afternoon and continued into evening.  I released a nice bright salmon (12-13#), (2) smaller salmon and (1) grilse all on a Alley's Shrimp.  Sheldon released (2) grilse (green machine)  and about an 18# female salmon (Alley's Shrimp). 

Rob sorry about the Alley's Shrimp you passed on to me. After the 6th fish I should have retied it, that 5 lb. test leader just isn't what it used to be, so my 6 fish plus your 5 Monday plus ? from Sunday, means that fly took 11+.  Well that  Alley's Shrimp is now headed for Rocky Brook in the mouth of a nice salmon.

12th October 2010

Finally, a day with no wind and sunshine.

Fishing was very slow this morning, had two rods on the water for a couple of hours and all we came up with was one dark grilse on a Alley's Shrimp.  Around 5 pm a nice run went through, they chewed the tail off the Alley's Shrimp hitting short, had about 8-10 pulls in 10 minute time span.  A run went through Sunday at the same time but not yesterday.

Don't everyone rush to the river at 5 pm, that's just the time we  have had several runs go through this pool. The same run probably passed the Priceville Footbridge 3 minutes earlier and arrived in Rocky Brook 5 minutes later. So judge your fishing times accordingly.

A friend from Montreal brought us down an autographed book titled "Men of The Autumn Woods" by Gerry Parker.  The theme is non-resident big-game hunting in New Brunswick, 1885-1935 and is well worth taking a look at.  For those not wishing to fork over the $, I see the library is carrying copies.

11th October 2010

Rob calls this "Five before 9:45"   all on an #6 Alley's Shrimp.  The last grilse was a bright fish.

10th October 2010

Warmer then yesterday, windy but not quite as bad.  Rob landing a salmon, he had released three by 09:30 and touched a few others using an Alley's Shrimp.  The problem with this fly is that fish often hit the tail only and if you cut the tail off the fly doesn't seem to work as well.

Rob picked up a salmon in the Cains in the afternoon, they are still reporting no fish.

The wind kept up into the evening, when it dropped so did the fishing. I picked up a nice salmon and grilse, we both had the tails chewed off the Alley's Shrimp

These fish are being taken right off the shoreline.

9th October 2010

Cold and windy with water up and dark but there are still fishing moving.

Rob hooked/released salmon last night in front of the cottage and a grilse this morning, both dark on a Chief Needabah.  Fish are running 20 to 30 ft off shore. He tried the Cains River in the afternoon, hooked into one grilse and thats all he saw.  Reported a strong run of fish entered the cains last week but no one has seen or touched them.

Afternoon around 5pm a strong run went through, Rob tied into a salmon,  I lost a grilse in the evening, saw a number of fish rolling and raised several. The cold wind never let up.

Another 5 days and the fishing seasons shot.

We still have some dates open the end of October into November.
For the hunters we have had a cancellation Nov 11th through 16th so those dates are now open and don't forget the rates drop to $100/night November 1st.

3'd October 2010

Received an email asking about fishing conditions:
The water is up from recent rains and we haven't had any rods on the water over the weekend, all I can provide is the following.

Water level is a bit high and dark but fishable plus the weatherman is calling for sun all this week, we may see a drop in water level,  A friend dropped in this evening and advised that they had landed a salmon and had a couple of strong pulls when fishing his pool in the Priceville area - so if you can catch them at the right moment - I guess that's a pun.

1st October 2010

Water remains up and today is very windy, seems to be coming from every direction. 
Seeing a lot of salmon moving, alot more than is the past few days and they are travelling, all in the center of the river.  No rods on the water so I cannot provide any insight as to their taking a fly.

Anyone interested in a cat or two, seems we are being overrun with feral cats.  Some so wild they put the run to the local raccoons and probably would take down a deer.