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Fishing Reports
Southwest Miramichi River Report 2006
February 02, 2007
Posted by Casey
Email: caseybentley@nb.aibn.ca
Current Report
Southwest Miramichi River
Report 2006
The 2006 angling season is
they say, history and now
is the time for reflections
of a healthy river, a superb
angling season and to plan
for 2007.
2006 Strong runs of both
large salmon and grilse
started to appear in the
main stem Southwest
Miramichi River around mid-
June. With good water
conditions, runs remained
strong until mid-July, then
tapering off, as is the
norm, picking up again with
the start of the Fall run in
mid-September continuing
strong beyond the October 15
end of the angling season.
Statistics from The
Miramichi Salmon Association
and Fisheries and Oceans
Canada indicate 2006 returns
of both salmon and grilse
exceeded the mean since
1985, making 2006 one of
recent historys best!
Anglers of course shared in
the bounty of these strong
runs. Early season (until
midJuly) anglers reported
good numbers of salmon and
grilse in all the pools from
the headwaters to the
estuary. Traditional wet and
dry fly patterns were the
norm and reports of many
salmon over 20 lbs. and a
handful over 30 lbs. being
brought to hand were heard
up and down the river.
From mid-July as water
levels dropped and
temperatures increased, the
fish once again sought cold
water and pooled-up in
numbers. Patience and
finesse with small (down to
12s) wet flies like the
green machine, brown buck
bugs, green butt bear hairs
and drys, bombers, bombers,
bombers brought success.
Water temperatures dropped
and levels were good as the
fall run started (and never
stopped). Reports of
patterns being used were as
varied as the anglers
themselves, it seemed
whatever was your personal
preference worked. One trio
of anglers fishing the same
pool on the same day at the
same time were each using
very different flies, one an
orange Allys shrimp, one a
size 8 green butt bear hair
and the other a big blue
bomber. The results, all
three anglers brought salmon
to hand! Of note during the
Fall run, anglers reported
many bright hen fish in the
12 to 20 lb. range, a
handful of hook billed males
and only a few grilse. While
it seemed the majority of
fish being caught were hens
in the 12 to 20 lb. range,
reports of 35 lb. plus
brutes being brought to hand
were not uncommon.
An added bonus for Atlantic
salmon anglers were large
numbers of brook trout, both
sea-run and river natives.
2007- Estimated smolt
escapement in 2006 was over
1.3 million up from 0.5
million in 2001. This 2006
number, considered to a
minimum estimate as the
smolt collection wheel was
not operational for three
days during the peak
migration period speaks well
for continued healthy
Atlantic salmon runs and
great angling for 2007 and
beyond. Dont be left out,
book your vacation and plan
your trip now.
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