Miramichi June Fishing

[Robert]

Hello All,

I made it back all safe and sound. I had a great time on the Miramchi River in New Brunswick Canada. The water was high and fast as it had only stopped raining a few days before I got into camp. The fish were running and that is a good thing, but with the high water they were not stopping in the pools. Not a salmon was caught in camp all week. We were catching Smolt and fiesty brook trout on salmon flies. They have recieved some more rain since I left.

I got to the lodge at 2:00AM we saw two moose and a deer on the way up from the airport. I got four hours sleep, and then off to a breakfast big enough for a lumberjack. We fished from 0800 to 1200. Then a huge noon dinner and back on the water from 1700 to 2100. Time for a whisky and a shower and off to bed. I had a cabin to myself with a screened in porch. My biggest problem was to get the meals cut down. I got it down to two pcs of toast and plenty of coffee for breakfast, smaller meal at noon time, and saved the desert when I got in for the evening to have with the whisky. I fished very hard and for eight hours a day for six days.

My rod broke after the third cast on the first day. I got a full refund from the shop and bought a new TFO 9' 8wt 2pcs. The guide went right to his truck and grabbed a new Ovis rod we put my reel on and I used that rod for the rest of the week. I was very lucky as I fished with a very seasoned guide for the whole week. He was a heck of a nice guy. I think we tried every high water spot he had ever seen a salmon taken from.

Same guide all week. He was the owners brother. 40 years on the water.

I did not catch a salmon. Smolt do not count. I'm booked in for September of 2007. That should give you all an idea of what I thought of the place. The main lodge was better than most plush hotels. We had a seperate building for meals, and a seperate building for dressing for fishing, and a seperate stall for each fisherman in camp.

Aminals seen. 9 moose(two young bulls not 50' apart, in a bog), 2 black bear, deer, golden and bald eagles, lots of grouse, and a bever that must have weighed 60 pounds.

Early spring and fall are the best times. If the water is down mid June can be very good. The water temperature was 60F, and the air temperature was in the 80's daily. One afternoon I was taken to a fly shop nearby. I have been having a hard time spinning deer hair. The owner sat me right. All he sells in that shop for reels is Hardy.

I gained no weight, met some really great people, caught some wild fish,

and got back to some really great country.

I made three vows. I'll never fly out of Kansas City, never fly Delta, and never fly through Logan Airport in Boston. The next time I will fly out of Tulsa via Southwest Airlines to Manchester, NH. Drop the wife off at her mother's place, get a rental and drive to the lodge.

Bob Andrews

Springfield, MO

[Danoinark]

Man Bob what a trip...dang, dreams can come true uh? Dano

[Robert]

Hi Dano,

If it had not been for the airfare this would have been a very reasonable trip.

Seven nights, six days guided on the river, three squares a day, and pickup and delivery to the airport was only $1,100.USD. The airfare got me for $600.USD.

I just called up there last night to get the proper address, and was told the water is receeding and four salmon were caught this past week. Next year I will fly to Manchester, NH or Bangor, ME from Tulsa.

There was a couple visiting one evening while I was in camp. The lady had landed a 35 pound salmon last year. She figures a pound a minute on landing a fish. Next year it will be September for me.

Robert

[Danoinark]

Bob

Not bad for a week long adventure like this. Sure is something to save your pennies for no doubt.

Looks like that is about a 1/4 for what a similar trip to Alaska would be.

[Robert]

Hi Dano,

You are quite right the trip to New Brunswick was about a quarter of the price of a trip to Alaska. I looked into Alaska, and it was about $4,000 + Airfare.

I have the change and dollar jar ready for next year. I'll be filling it as the year goes by.

Robert