31st July 2011

To be honest the fishing has slowed to a crawl, the fishermen who were in for past few days, saw some fish moving in the mornings, had one good grab and that was it - good sports - claimed any day on the river is a good day, fish or not.  Plenty of cool water but not a lot of fish moving and those that are don't pay much heed to a fly at the moment.

A raccoon tried to walk off with the food chest the boys had on the front deck and when challanged it wasn't the raccoon that backed down :)

I expect we will experience a few typical summer weeks where we can recover, check the equipment over and get ready for that fall run and let the tubers and kayakers have their fun.

For the most part the cottage will now swing over to out of province vacationers coming back East for weddings, reunions and family gatherings.  These have a tendency to be longer stays and we don't have to work so hard at turn arounds - Wendy and I are due for a bit of a rest after the fishing frenzy.

29th July 2011

July is coming to an end, summer is slipping by.

Over the past few days our fishermen have reported seeing fish porposing but they are not taking.  I'll have to give them credit for being on the water in the pouring rain, claimed they were at least honing their casting skills.  On the positive side DFO are still reporting 25-30 salmon entering the system daily.

As for cottage bookings September and October are starting to fill up and
July 2012 with the exception of the last two days is now booked solid. 

In the past few years, from my records we started picking up the evasive Rocky Brook Run end of May first of June and got into the Main Summer Run around 17th or 18th of June.  June water levels can vary on this river.  Chest waders may suffice or you may require a boat to get on the river.

25th July 2011

Couldna done it with out Ashley :)

Nice day, turned a little hot, water temperature and height good, still seeing fish move.  Tim tied into a nice grilse late morning (#10 green machine white tag) had raised several more.

24th July 2011

Miramichi River is dropping, water a bit dark, temperature good, we are seeing a few fish moving but not taking well, typical for this time of year.

In response to a question posed.

Must rapirian rights be reflected in each deed or certificate of title?

"In common law the owner of lands adjoining a river, stream or lake has certain rights related to the uses of water.  The rights arises from the ownership of the bank, that portion that adjoins the upland with the water itself.  The latin word for bank is "ripa" hence the rights are called "riparian", and the owner similarly referred to as "riparian owner".  Since riparian rights are part of common law, there is no requirement for them to be expressly conveyed in a deed or title certificate."  Government Services Canada,  Valuation Guidelines 2011

21st July 2011

Very hot day on the river although heavy rain in the late PM has cooled things off with a slight rise in water.  Fish  showing throughout the day, rising but not taking, which is to be expected in this weather.

Lots of fish in the system but definitely slowing down, expect we will now see more holding in the cold water pools.  Reports of a number of dead salmon in the area in past few days.  I have seen a few drifting down river.

19th July 2011

By 7:30 am, Todd, Ed and Luke all hooked into salmon, Lee is still working away at it. 

Ah, Lee finally got his grilse - it was the Walmart Line, after he figured out a $10 sinking line was not the best for summer  fishing and casting up river seldom works, every thing clicked. 

Ed continued to hook fish and Todd did everything he could to make sure Ed never got a fish to shore, even to the point of trying to net one tail first, according to Ed.

I'll add some pics later when I have a desktop computer up and running again.

Boys report Nelson Hollow full of  fish, so lots still to come, lets hope the water holds up a bit longer.

18th July 2011

Hard fishing today, there were fish around, a few good tugs, but not taking well.  Luke did finally pick up a grilse around 7pm., Todd got his by trolling sort of, he was walking back up river with the rod over his shoulder taking to the Canada geese when a salmon hit his fly - sort of an accidental catch :)

17th July 2011

Good start to the morning, Stephen B landed a large grilse, and I tied into a couple all on  a "green machine/white butt #8" and saw a few more.  Didn't take him long to book in again for this fall and next year, he's tryng to hit the "sea trout run."

Around 11am another run went through.

Neighbour Steve reports in with a 32 and 33 incher.

Todd picked up a grilse this afternoon after a downpour you could hear him yelling throughout the valley, he also volunteered to pump all the water from my boats.

16th July 2011

Wow, a hot day.  Water at a good level, still dark.  We still had fish moving through the pool in runs, will rise to the fly but not taking solid, even so reports of fish taking this morning both up and down river with down river reporting  lots of fish headed this way. 

Hearing through the grapevine that some of the upriver pools are being swept at night - guess there will always be poachers with that mentality.

Received another booking for July 2012, only a few days left.

Our neighbourhood bear seems to have crossed back over the river to this side, now in the immediate area, 
we have more problems with raccoons than any bear.

Loads of tubes on the river today along with a few canoes even Pierrette and Louise took their first tube run with us.  We now have another tube rental, this one up river.  They seem to be doing a booming business, even ran one of my fishermen down yesterday -  I don't think he minded the 4 bikini clad occupants.

14th July 2011

Water dropped approx. 4 inches overnight still up a bit and very dark.  No one has been fishing this pool for a couple of days.  Lika had a salmon on within five minutes of hitting the river this evening, his leader snapped. (8 lb Maxima Chameleon).  On checking the spool it appears to all be bad, not all that uncommon, so make sure you buy fresh stock when purchasing leader.  Had several fish rise to the fly.

Fish were moving close against both shores.  One grilse jumped so high in the air it looked like a low flying plane.

July 2012 is nearly booked, 5 days left. We continue to receive spur of the moment calls looking for summer dates, for fishing, visits, canoeing etc., unless there is a cancellation we are unable to accomodate so please plan ahead and do check our calendar at moonshadowcottage.ca.

12th July 2011

Overcast and extremely humid, few fish moving this morning, Corey landed a grilse, other than that very quiet, fishing died off afternoon into evening and water is rising, must have had more rain in the Clearwater Area than we experienced down river plus more predicted tonight.

Seeing the odd dead fish floating by, folks it's getting to that time when it's best to snap the leader or your going to kill the fish, especially the big ones - pretend you landed it and take the pictures while it's in the river, put some effort into making sure it's revived and just doesn't swim off a few feet to go belly up a few minutes later.

I know that there is some debate on how to best release a fish, here is part of a recent article on releaseing Atlantic Salmon.

"Often a tired fish will need some time to revive before you release it. Hold the fish upright and allow the fish some time to catch its breath and recover from the fight Turn the fish into the current so that water flows over its gills. In slow moving water, move it backward and forward in the water, so that water flows through the gills. When the fish starts to kick hard with its tail and seems to have regained its strength, let it go. If everything is done properly, your fish will live to fight another day. And most importantly, it will live to spawn. "

11th July 2011

Cloudy day ending with thunderstorms - not the time to be on the river holding a graphite rod.  Lots of fish still showing.  The water is warming although the overnight rain should cool things down.  We did see a very large salmon drift by and thats a good reminder not to stress those large fish too much in the warmer water, break them off, you will feel good about it and can always buy another $3 fly.

10th July 2011

Another great day for fishing, Allen had his first fish on withing 5 minutes of hitting the water, finished up by landing his (4) for the had numerous raises on a green machine white butt,  his buddy (1) grilse in an hour.  I handled a salmon and grilse this evening on a modified shadylady #10.  

My main computer is down so bear with the spelling etc. and if you don't get a timely email responsed try the phone number on our website - moonshadowcottage.ca.

9th July 2011

One of Aaron's

Rain this AM, cloudy day and beautiful evening on the river, sky all pretty like and salmon all over the place - everyone on the river in this area took fish today, some several.  A few had tired arms.  I was only out for a few minutes but hooked into a salmon and grilse - using barbless hooks now - you could actually play with the fish today, dragging a green machine arcross the top of the water and getting them to chase it.

Poling the boat along the shore and spooked a grilse out of the river right up onto the shore grass.

We done got a bear in the area, this is the second one or the second sighting, one or the other and I'm told we have a doe with triplets plus coons in the garbage can at the cottage again - the never ending war.

8th July 2011

Sun/clouds and lots of salmon.  By 10am Aaron and (2) grilse, Keith (1) with a number of near misses. All pools reporting fish.  Saw dozens of salmon working up river through the rapids and reports from down river of lots more to come.

7th July 2011

Having computer problems so reports will be a little off until we get straightened out.

Yesterday was hot with bright sky, very slow fishing although we saw 7 fish, (1) taken, today, saw a dozen or more and Aaron hooked into a nice 13 pounder - you could hear him all over the valley.  Couple of fishermen from Halifax booked into a camp down river (which I will leave un-named) went to check on their reservations, stated the camp was completely run down and two other fisherment were in the pool, they had also booked in, no one showed at the camp including their guide so they just went fishing.  Unfortunate black eye on the outfitting industry.

5th July 2011

Beautiful 29 degree day with slight wind.  We didn't get the major thunderstorm and rain that struck the Frdericton area last night so the water continues to drop, clearing nicely, a good temperature and very wadeable although still a brown tinge.  Drop the hook size.

Peter got his salmon yesterday evening, I hooked (1) and raised a fish everytime I went through the pool, at least (2) others landed I was aware of.  They are there but not showing as much as they had been a few days ago.

I'vc seen a few fish surface today and (1) landed, mindful no one has really been on the water all day.  Will give it a try this evening after the wind drops.  Report that Doaktown was fishing well but not as strong as a few days ago.

Here is the response we got to our question on where The Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee stands on SHALE GAS development in the vicinity of our brooks, streams, rivers and wetlands.

"The Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee is a community based, multi-stakeholder organization, and by virtue of this profile, multi-sectorial. As such we are not a lobby or advocacy organization. Our organization has been quite engaged in informing ourselves about this industry sector with guest speakers and by attending the open houses. I do know there is a diversity of opinion among our members."

3'd July 2011

David Green's Victoria Day Weekend encounter

The day started out with fish showing into early afternoon then things quieted down.  (1) salmon hooked in the evening, nothing showing - the first mad rush may be over in this area we will have to wait and see.  I reported earlier reports of strong fishing down stream in the past few days so maybe we will see those runs come in shortly.

Water is still up a bit and dark but wadeable.  July 2012 is booking up every day so keep an eye on our website calendar if you are thinking of dates in July.

2nd July 2011

What a way to celebrate the Canada Day weekend - the river is absolutely full of salmon - we hooked into at least (7) by 1pm and saw hundreds, if this keeps up we may have no fall fishing.  Manager from one of the camps on the Miramichi at mouth of Cains dropped in this morning, he reported fishing yesterday evening like he has never seen, eveyone had fish on at the same time.  The fish are there but choosy.   I worked through the fly selection, (1) on a Taylor Special #4, which is a bit too big as the water is dropping, the next (2) that paid attention were on a Oriole # 6. 

Day end count was (9) - majority grilse and not all landed.

Fishings not the only river enjoyment, let's not allow industry to ruin it with waste water from hydro-fracking causing contamination.

1st July 2011

Water still very dark but dropping.  We had fish all day but the run died out into the evening, unlike yesterday.  Corey had a grilse about 5 minutes after  hitting the river and his partner tied into a couple.

At the moment fishing is easier from a boat as the water is too dark to see bottom and makes wading difficult.

I believe they decreed the Northwest Miramichi will be hook & release this year and  they are offering refunds on Crown Lease Water.




Corey sitting on the live well