Miramichi Atlantic Salmon Angling Reports

Miramichi Atlantic Salmon Angling Reports - 2001
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All of us at W. W. Doak wish to express our deepest sympathy for the victims, family members and friends whose lives have been devastated by the tragic events of Sept. 11.
Our prayer is that in the midst of unimaginable pain and loss, God's presence may bring comfort and healing to those who suffer and wisdom to those who lead.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Is. 26:3)

Oct. 5, 2001

This has been a very good week on the Miramichi. With pleasant temperatures, beautiful foliage and good quantities of fish moving throughout the river, it would be hard not to be satisfied, but there are always a few who try. After an excellent raise of water last week, our levels have dropped a bit and although the river is still fishing very well, we would certainly welcome another rain.
We have heard generally good reports from most areas of the Main Southwest this week with groups of fish moving through the pools as they make their way upstream. With the "urge to merge" getting a little stronger each day, fish seem more willing to move this time of year, even if the water is not entirely to their liking. Many anglers have encountered several fish per day and most reports seem to indicate a good number of larger salmon as well as lots of grilse.
For those who like to keep tabs on the Cains River, we are sorry to say that it is in need of water before any significant number of fish can be expected. There have been a few fish spotted in some lower pools but our last rainfall seemed to be more concentrated in the northern part of the Miramichi watershed as thus was not as beneficial to the Cains. We're hoping that this will change before the season ends on October 15th, but until then we are content to enjoy what some "old timers" are calling the best run of fish we have seen on the Miramichi in years.

Sept. 29, 2001 - Have we got a river for you!

What a week-end to be alive in the garden of the Miramichi! We have been blessed with great water, crisp fall air, beautiful foliage, blue skies and lots of fish. The water level has risen substantially from Tuesday's heavy rainfall and while some reports put the raise at about 2 ft., 18" seems a more likely assessment. As of Friday morning, the water had crested and was clearing nicely. Good quantities of fish have been observed in several pools with a significant number of fresh fish being encountered as well. Reports from the Quarryville area also indicate good runs of new fish and we have heard encouraging news from anglers of increased numbers of both salmon and grilse being caught in many parts of the system.
All in all, with nearly perfect conditions and only two more weeks left in this year's season, you couldn't ask for a better time to be on the river.
So if you're not here, or on your way, what are you waiting for?

Sept. 26, 2001
We are delighted to report that we are in the middle of a good steady downpour which has been going on for several hours. As of 9:00 AM, we have already received close to an inch and it looks like more to come. Some areas of the headwaters may already have had more than an inch so far, as we have tracked this storm's progress and have observed a heavy concentration of precipitation throughout the whole Main Southwest river system.
We are hopeful that this will finally trigger some significant movement of more new fish into the system as well as shaking up the thousands of salmon which have been lounging in some of our deep pools for a couple of months. With great quantities of fish and ideal temperatures, the only thing missing has been the water and now, its finally here. Not a minute too soon, either.


Sept. 18, 2001	Sept. 18, 2001

Sept. 15, 2001	Sept. 15, 2001

Sept. 18, 2001

Instant Salmon Fishing - Just add water!
After a badly needed period of wet weather early in September, we were hopeful that our water problems would be behind us for the year, but, we are sorry to report, such is not the case. Other than a brief shower last week, we have been without rain since Sept. 4. We have every reason to anticipate that when rain does come, it should bring with it a heavy migration of fish. As indicated by this graph which reflects the results of the Millerton counting station on the Main Southwest Miramichi, we have had a very good run of both salmon (in blue) and grilse (in red) this year.
Fortunately, the number of anglers on the river has increased substantially in the past few days and we are beginning to hear better reports of fish being caught in various parts of the river. In addition, there are a few more new fish being seen in several pools which indicates that some fish are moving in spite of the low water. On a positive note, the water temperature has been ranging from the high 50's to the low 60's which has made for a much healthier environment for the salmon. With cooler, longer nights, and the autumn sun squinting through the trees a little lower each day, it should at least be safe to say that we won't have to be concerned about water temperature any more for this year. Hopefully we can say the same about water height before much longer.

Sept. 5, 2001

After a long, hot, dry August, we are happy to report that the rainy season has begun. On Saturday, the entire watershed enjoyed several hours of steady rain with overall accumulations averaging around 1.5 inches. By Saturday evening, the Miramichi was already beginning to raise somewhat and by Sunday, it was up well over a foot in most places. As a result, fishing was re-opened in the areas which were previously closed and while Sunday morning angling was slow, by Sunday evening things were improving significantly. One camp in the Blissfield area reported 8 fish by noon on Monday and the word from the Quarryville pool was that 23 fish were caught on Monday.
Not only did Saturday's rain stir the fish which were previously in the river, it also seems to be bringing a good number of new fish into the system.

As an extra insurance, last night we were also blessed with another heavy thunder shower which lasted for several hours and brought another inch of rain to us. It is not clear yet how much this will bring up the water, but several inches seems a very likely possibility. With good water and new fish, it seems like an ideal time to be on the Miramichi, so if you've been needing a good excuse to go fishing, you've finally got one.

August 30, 2001
Saving it up for a rainy day.......     As many regular followers of the Miramichi know all too well, August has been a difficult month for the river. We have been plagued by low, warm water which has had a very detrimental effect on angling opportunities. While August is always undependable, we were hopeful that our cool, damp July weather would continue, and produce more of the same great fishing we had in July. However, lest we fall into the the naive pessimism of the novice, we need to remember that hot, dry weather is not an unusual August occurrence for the Miramichi system. While August has produced a few great weeks of fishing over the years, low warm water in the "dog days" of summer is much more common than we might be led to believe.
    Some folks have become quite concerned about exaggerated reports of dead fish being found in some areas, but when considered in the context of the large number of salmon with which we have been blessed this year, these minor adjustments are not only unexpected, but they are also part of the way in which the sustaining hand of God purifies His creation through adversity, thereby ensuring that only the strongest and most resistant will survive to participate in the perpetuation of the resource.
    We have seen some encouraging changes in the condition of the river over the past few days. Last Monday and Tuesday brought some badly needed rain throughout much of the system with total accumulations of over an inch. This has moved the water level a few inches and freshened the flow somewhat. While there are no reports of major angling improvements in the lower portions of the river, up-river pools like Rocky Brook, Salmon Brook and Clearwater have all been fishing fairly well for at least the past week or two with some anglers reportedly hooking several fish per day. Cooler nights over the past week have brought frost to some areas and have dropped the temperatures in the river to the low 60's, causing us to wonder when DFO will lift the closures which were imposed on a few pools. As of yet, there is no indication, but things should certainly be changing soon. There is a high expectation of some significant rainfall over the week-end which should result in major improvement in the angling conditions. It may well be enough to get the fish moving, but whether it will be enough to get the government moving is another question.


August 29, 2001	August 29, 2001

August 17, 2001	August 17, 2001

August 13, 2001

Despite our presumptuous predictions that good fishing might be expected to continue into August, the past couple of weeks have brought sweltering heat and drought which has had a serious effect on the quality of our angling. After an unusually cool and damp July, things have changed dramatically and our typical August weather pattern seems to have returned once again.
Some fish were caught by anglers last week, but success stories were few and far between. Although the past few days have brought cooler weather, last week's daytime temperatures were averaging in the high 90's and even the nights remained persistently warm. Expectedly, water temperatures have also been running quite high, causing salmon to seek refuge by congregating in deep cold water pools. Due to the high concentration of fish in these areas, many of these pools in the lower portions of the river have been closed to angling until the weather changes.

The closures include the following pools: Mouth of White Rapids Brook, Mouth of Bartholomew, Mouth of McKenzie Brook, Mouth of Black Brook, Mouth of Mill Brook (Blissfield), Mouth of Big Hole Brook in Doaktown, and the Mouth of Betts Mill Brook (Doaktown). In addition, the Cains, Dungarvon, Renous and Sevogle river systems have all been closed. On the Northwest, the Mouth of Sutherland Brook at Redbank and the area from Wayerton to the mouth of Little River have also been closed. All other portions of the Main Southwest as well as the Northwest and Little Southwest will remain open

In a conversation with Mr. Pierre Maillet from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (506) 851 - 3012 on Friday, I was told that some influential people were advocating a total closure of the entire Miramichi river system. While this position is consistent with many people's efforts to discourage angling over the past few years, it does reflect a basic misunderstanding of the conservation value of maintaining an angling and guiding presence on the Miramichi as a primary deterrent to abuse.

Hopefully, we will see a change in the weather before long and when we do, we should expect to see some better fishing. Until then, here's hoping that cooler water and cooler heads will prevail.


August 9, 2001	August 9, 2001

August 3, 2001	August 3, 2001

July 28, 2001
During the past couple of weeks, the river has continued to produce some very good fishing under a variety of circumstances. After heavy rains over the week-end of July 14-15, the water remained at a comfortable level for several days and most parts of the Main Southwest enjoyed good fishing during the early part of the week. However, as last week-end unfolded, both the temperature and the humidity were at an oppressive level and not surprisingly, the fishing slowed down somewhat. With many fish seeking refuge in cold, deep pools, those fortunate enough to have access to these pools experienced great fishing, despite the adverse conditions. Heavy showers in the headwaters area helped to keep the river flowing at a good level even during the heat wave and with a major shift in temperature overnight on Wednesday, July 25, the water temperature has dropped considerably with morning temperatures now reported in the low to mid 60's.
As a result, there are reports of more fishing moving through the river once again and even some rumours of new fish entering the system. Jason Curtis from Wades Fishing Lodge has reported a significant increase in their catches over the past couple of days, with several schools of fish moving through their pools and some obviously fresh fish being encountered. George Curits of Black Rapids Lodge also reports seeing more active fish in their water with some fresh fish being hooked as well.
All in all, this has been a very good July for salmon angling on the Miramichi and we have every reason to expect that the fishing might continue to be very entertaining in the weeks to come.

July 14, 2001
This past week of fishing has been quite remarkable with good reports of fresh fish moving throughout the system. Although the days have been cloudy, damp and cool, we have not any significant amount of rain in the Doaktown area. However, other parts of the river have received several heavy showers which have helped to keep the river cool and adequately supplied with water. When the photo above was taken yesterday afternoon, the water was raising a bit due to some up-river showers which helped to make today even more entertaining on the river. Just this evening in Doaktown we did receive a very intense and prolonged shower which seemed to be following the course of the river so we have reason to expect an even better flow of water in the next few days.
Perhaps the best news is the general observation of a high ratio of salmon to grilse, with many reports ranging from 30 - 50% salmon. While this would not be unusual for fall, this marks the second summer in a row characterized by surprisingly good numbers of large salmon. Many anglers have released fish in the 30 lb. plus range and indications are good that there are more to come. All in all, this looks like a great time to be on the river and, with many outfitters still feeling the chill of the "precipitous decline" rhetoric of 1998 and 1999, several good spots are readily available.

July 6, 2001

We have been greatly encouraged by the news we have heard over the past few days. The number of fish coming into the system has been quite remarkable and reports from the lower portion of the river have been very good indeed with some pools producing as many as 15 - 20 fish per day. Last weekend was cool and wet and the change in water conditions resulted in several large ( 20 lb.+ ) salmon being hooked and released by anglers. Exceptionally good numbers of grilse were also reported. During the past couple of days, we have heard of more grilse moving through the Blackville / Blissfield area and we have reason to expect that they will continue to make their way up river.
Our weather has been cool and overcast for the past couple of days with a very heavy shower yesterday (Thursday) morning. The long range outlook seems to be for more damp weather. While the river height is slightly lower than what might be considered ideal for the Doaktown - Boiestown area, we certainly have more than enough water for fish to navigate easily and they seem to be doing so quite vigorously. Many pools in the upper part of the river above Boiestown are holding very good numbers of fish and are producing good angling encounters with both salmon and grilse. All in all, no matter where you travel on the Miramichi for the next few days, you have a very high probability of seeing fish in the pools and perhaps, on your line as well.

June 29, 2001
As is typical of June fishing on the Miramichi, some people have found the past couple of weeks very rewarding while others have not. We have had several good spurts of fish moving up the river, and those who manage to encounter these runs have experienced some great fishing. Over the past week-end, we heard many reports of fish being caught in various parts of the Main Southwest, but as the water has warmed and dropped through the early part of this week, the reports have slowed somewhat.
The upper part of the Main Southwest Miramichi has been producing some very good fishing with great reports coming from the Rocky Brook, Clearwater and Salmon Brook areas. The upper reaches of the Northwest have also been reporting good numbers of fish in the pools and for the most part, things look quite encouraging.
While the first few days of this week were exceptionally hot and humid, Thursday brought with it a marked change in the air temperature and it remained cool and windy throughout the afternoon and evening. Thursday night was also very cool which should result in better angling conditions for the next few days. With showers forecast for the week-end once again, we may also see a little positive change in the water height as well. While it is certainly not too low for good fishing, a little raise would undoubtedly have a beneficial effect.

June 19, 2001
These past few weeks have been exceptionally hectic for us and we apologize for not having published our river reports during this period. Although this is normally a quiet time on the river, we would like to have kept you up to date on the river conditions and the reports of those first few salmon. However, this year's unusually high mail order response has kept us consistently too busy to report.
After some dry weather late in May, the Miramichi was blessed with two solid rains in the space of 2 weeks, both of which brought the water level up very nicely and gave smooth passage to a good number of early run salmon and sea trout.
On the Main Southwest, only a few salmon were intercepted by anglers due to the high water and cool temperatures which kept
most fish on the move. Early counting reports from both the Dungarvon and Millerton facilities give good reason for encouragement with respectable quantities of fish moving through the system.
Traditionally, both the Northwest and the Little Southwest tend to offer better early June fishing and local anglers have been reporting
some good catches thus far. At this point it is still much too early to know what July will bring, but if our water stays at a good level
and temperature, we have a good chance of seeing some great salmon fishing on the Miramichi.
After a long, cool, wet spring, we are now experiencing some much warmer weather but with heavy showers bringing some cooler air and almost 1/2" of rain Sunday night, the river is up slightly once again and looking very fishable.

June 6, 2001

May 17, 2001

May 3, 2001
This has been a great week on the Miramichi. As we expected, once the water began to clear late last Thursday afternoon, the fishing has improved steadily and over the past few days we have heard consistent reports of very good fishing throughout the entire river system. Given the early ice runs of the past few years (with the exception of 1997), we would normally expect to see the spring fishing begin to taper off by now. However, with the late start we had this year, we should have at least another week or possibly two weeks of good fishing before things quiet down. This is welcome news for those who may have missed the first 10 days of the season due to the late ice run.
With unseasonably warm temperatures forecast for today and tomorrow, this week end looks like a great time to be on the Miramichi,
but, come to think of it, is there ever a bad time to be on the Miramichi?

April 25, 2001
With the help of some sunny days and warm temperatures, the Miramichi has finally thrown off its blanket of ice and has awakened once again. With so much melting in such a short time, the river is understandably swollen well beyond its normal springtime high levels and this has made for some difficult fishing over the past few days. However, as it begins to drop and clear, we have very good reason to be optimistic that the fishing will improve steadily in the next few days.


Doaktown Bridge - Upstream	Doaktown Bridge - Downstream

April 20, 2001
Its slipping gradually, but its still here.
After receiving several inches of snow on Wednesday, we were relieved to see sunny weather again on Thursday. The recent snowfall melted quickly and brought the river up considerably which began to move the ice around a little more. Although there are larger stretches of open water now, the ice is still solid in many places and will need more melting or more water to take it out. Today and tomorrow are predicted to be very warm and we still have a lot of snow to melt, so we would expect things to move significantly over the week-end.
From the few patches of open water that we do have, we have heard some encouraging reports of good quantities of fish, but it will take a full ice run before we can really evaluate the season. At this point it does seem quite likely that this will be a better May fishery than we have had in years when the ice has gone out several weeks before opening day. In 1997 when the ice was even later than this year, we had very good fishing right through to the end of May and hopefully, that will be repeated again. Given the quantity of fish which went up the river last summer and fall, we have every reason to expect some very good fishing this year, if and when the ice finally wanders out.

April 17, 2001
Still no movement yet, but we have a warm, sunny day shaping up this morning and a lot of snow left to melt,
so who knows what the day may bring?

Below the Porter Cove Bridge

April 16, 2001
The ice in the Main Southwest Miramichi is deteriorating slowly, but when it will finally begin to run is anyone's guess at this point. Monday, April 16 brought warmer temperatures and more melting than we have had recently. Whether the run off will be enough to raise the water and start the ice moving is not clear, but it looks a little more promising than it did a few days ago. Stay tuned for late breaking details.

Below the Doaktown Bridge