Browse: Home / News

MSA News

By Miramichi Salmon Association on May 22, 2013

Hi All 

Yesterday morning there was little sign of bass in the Northwest and even the DFO biologist agreed they must have moved down to stage somewhere. Then yesterday afternoon they moved up and spawning of striped bass has begun. My husband and a friend went out fishing last night about a kilometer or so below the Cassilis trap net and the river was bubbling with activity. They fished from 7:15 until dark and caught about 90 fish. It was not hard to catch them as the faster you reeled in your hook the faster they swam after it. The boys did say that if you did not reel and just left the bait lay there the bass were not interested. So it looks like they were not feeding but rather chasing anything that moved. That said, they did swallow down a lot of the boys lures so had those lures been fish they would have been eaten. When returning to shore they had to go slowly as there were so many bass they were hitting them with the boat.

 The smolt wheels at Trout Brook and the Sevogle are slowing down with catches of 23 and 27 smolts today. The trap at Cassilis however had a big day with a catch of 900 smolts. Hopefully the bass will be more interested in spawning than eating and this big run of smolts will make it through. I have no data yet on our tagged smolts but will get it to you when we receive it.

 The bright salmon have made their way into the river. While DFO biologists were using the gaspereau trap just above the Anderson Bridge (Route 8) in the Northwest Miramichi to catch and tag bass they reported catching a number of bright salmon. And yesterday a local angler canoed the Northwest from Miners Bridge to Wayerton and caught a bright grilse. I am told this is early for bright grilse – most reported now have been salmon – but he did keep it and it was a grilse. I have heard rumours of others catching bright fish as well. But only on the Northwest – DFO conservation officers confirmed today that they have not heard of any bright fish being caught on the Southwest Miramichi as of yet.

 The Red Bank Trout Derby took place on the weekend with over 800 entrants. Catches were down from last year but there were still a lot of trout caught with a lot of sea run trout reported. The winner of the car was Marie Levi of Red Bank.

 The MSA and the North and South Esk Regional (NSER) High School Youth Fishing Club will be co-hosting angling clubs from schools all over the province on Friday and Saturday, May 30th & 31st. Students will arrive Friday at the Salmon Conservation Centre in South Esk and will be competing in a number of activities including casting and fly tying. The MSA will be supplying lunch, touring the students through the hatchery and giving every participant a complimentary membership to the MSA.  On Saturday, Miramichi Valley High School (MVHS) will be hosting the students and taking them fishing on the Southwest Miramichi.

 Also on Saturday the MSA is hosting a salmon dinner with hot dogs and hamburgers for kids with proceeds going to the youth fishing club. This will take place at NSER in Sunny Corner running from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. There will be silent auction tables and raffles. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from NSER at 836-7000 or from the MSA office at 622-4000. Please come out and support this event – MSA staff will be there to answer questions on our field programs and activities on the river. 

If you are in the Miramichi area this weekend please visit the Miramichi Fly Fishing and Sportsman Show 2013 being held on Friday and Saturday, May 24th and 25th, at the Miramichi Curling Club (Next to French Fort Cove). There will be demonstrations of fly tying, casting, canoeing and archery with opportunities for you to try your hand. Outfitters, tackle shops, DFO, DNR and more will join MSA in the displays section. Entry fee is $5 with youth fishing club members and children under 15 entering at no cost.  

Finally I would like to thank everyone that made the 2013 Annual Freeman Dunnett Moncton Conservation Dinner such a great success.  A sold out crowd filled the Crowne Plaza in Moncton last Thursday night and were very generous as usual.  Our next event will be the Salmon Classic Gala Dinner on July 14th at the Rodd Miramichi. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by contacting Jo-Anne at 457-2220 or Nola at 622-4000.

Posted in , | Leave a response

Province ponders new Crown waters rules

By Miramichi Salmon Association on May 15, 2013

By James Foster

Times & Transcript Staff

The province wants to wring more money out of New Brunswick’s fabled Crown reserve system, which are stretches of fine salmon-angling waters reserved solely for residents.

The provincial Department of Natural Resources says the stretches are only producing about the half the revenue needed to maintain them and after the annual draw for the stretches is held every spring about half the stretches remain unclaimed.

“We’re losing about $200,000 per year on these Crown reserves,” says department spokesman Steve Benteau, “so that doesn’t make any sense.”

The reserves are located on the Miramichi and Restigouche river systems, with some trout lakes included. Only New Brunswickers can apply to fish there in an annual draw. While the draw is held to mete out the stretches to lucky fishermen because demand outstrips the supply, most of that demand is for prime fishing times on each stretch, Benteau said Friday. A mini-draw is held later for any remaining Crown stretches.

It all serves to show that there must be a better way of managing the stretches both for fishermen and the province, which wants services to pay for themselves as much as possible, so the department is exploring its options and consulting with user groups, Benteau said.

“If we could get more people to go, that would take care of the revenue issue,” Benteau said.

Some fishermen, however, fear the exercise is a thinly disguised way to boost fees.

“It hasn’t been that long ago that they raised the price considerably,” said Fred Wheaton, fisheries chairman for the New Brunswick Wildlife Federation.

“They’ve raised it so that the average working man can’t afford to fish Crown reserves any more. They’re taking away the waters from the blue-collar man and giving it to the white-collar man. They’re throwing away the basic principle behind it all.”

Wheaton is referring to DNR’s refrain that one of the main premises of the Crown waters system is so that the average New Brunswick fisherman can enjoy quality salmon fishing at a reasonable price. And his blue/white collar reference refers to the tracts of prime New Brunswick salmon fishing properties that are leased for top dollar by well-to-do groups and businesses — to the exclusion of everyone else. As well, in a throwback to feudal times, New Brunswick is one of the few jurisdictions that still respects riparian rights, which allows landowners in some cases to also hold the rights to the stretch of river that flows through or past their land, again excluding the average Joe fisherman.

Fishermen currently pay $104 each for the right to fish a Crown reserve stretch for 48 hours, most often including a camp for the fishermen to stay in. That’s up by more than $20 since 2010. Two years ago the province instituted an application fee as well of almost $8 per fishermen — most stretches host four fishermen at a time (a few host only two fishermen) meaning it costs anglers almost an extra $34 more just to apply, whether they get drawn for a stretch or not.

When you add the cost of travelling to the stretch, Wheaton contends most fishermen would find it too expensive if the price rises again and usage would actually go down. He argues that if the province wants to get more use out of the stretches, it should lower the price, not raise it.

Many of the ideas being bandied about the conference room table at the DNR do not involve higher fees but boosting usage, such as lowering the price for the stretches during periods where demand is typically low, though some are focused on money, such as hiking costs during those times when demand is high.

Benteau stressed that at this point, all options are being considered, users are being consulted and nothing has been decided. Fishermen can also provide their input via email from the department’s web site.

Some of the other options being considered to boost revenue, increase usage and make it easier to apply include cheaper fees for those whose stretches finish prematurely because fishing season ends during their Crown time; splitting parties (i.e. instead of one party of four fishermen, allowing two parties of two fishermen on some stretches,) booking unclaimed waters online, paying for your bookings online, awarding unclaimed stretches to runner-up parties (already started this year,) increasing bag limits on some reserved trout lakes to generate more interest, increasing the number of stretches you can apply for, allowing anglers to apply for daily and live-release stretches more often, boosting application fees, charging hefty fees to substitute party members, hiking licence costs, and charging additional fees for use of a camp.

Posted in , | 1 Response

Local salmon conservationist to be honoured in Montreal

By Miramichi Salmon Association on May 3, 2013

Local salmon conservationist to be honoured in Montreal   

Miramichi Leader staff

ST. ANDREWS —  A longtime salmon conservationst from Miramichi will be honoured in Montreal by the Atlantic Salmon Federation .

Mark Hambrook, president of the Miramichi Salmon Association, will receive the federation’s highest honour, the T.B. “Happy” Fraser Award. at a meeting of the federation’s board of directors on Thursday May 2. 

The award has been presented annually since 1975 by the Atlantic Salmon Federation in memory of T.B. “Happy” Fraser to an individual who has made outstanding, long-term contributions to wild Atlantic salmon conservation, said a news release from the federation.

Born and raised on the Miramichi River in the community of Renous, Hambrook’s passion and dedication for salmon conservation have helped to make the Miramichi recognized as one of the best managed salmon rivers in the world.

Over the course of his 35-year long career in salmon conservation, his knowledge and experience has been extended to numerous rivers and organizations interested in salmon conservation, and he has become a recognized leader in salmon management throughout North America.

A graduate of the University of New Brunswick, Hambrook began his career as a biologist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans where he was subsequently employed for more than 18 years.  Working for the department as manager of the Miramichi Salmonid Enhancement Centre in South Esk, he was known to be an influential supporter of anglers and their role in salmon conservation.

When the federal government announced the closure of the Salmonid Enhancement Centre in 1997, Hambrook was determined to stay in the Miramichi community; he partnered with the Miramichi Salmon Association as a private investor to acquire the hatchery from DFO, now known as the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Centre.

The association assumed full ownership of the facility in 2000, and Hambrook continues to guide its operations today as president of the Maritime Salmon Association.

“Mark’s life work embodies the spirit of the Happy Fraser award,” said Michael Meighen, chairman of the Atlantic Salmon Federation (Canada).  “His personal commitment is admired by the many people who, like Mark, recognize the importance of protecting one of the largest Atlantic salmon runs in the world.”

The salmon of the Miramichi River contributed $16 million to Canada’s gross domestic product, and created 637 full time jobs in 2010, according to Gardner Pinfold Consulting Economists.  “We’d like to thank Mark for his significant involvement in protecting and restoring the Miramichi’s famed wild Atlantic salmon that attract visitors from around the world,” said Meighen.

Hambrook will be the 38th recipient of the “Happy” Fraser Award.  T.B. Fraser was a former President of the Atlantic Salmon Association in Montreal who made significant contributions to Atlantic salmon conservation, both nationally and internationally.

The Atlantic Salmon Federation is dedicated to the conservation, protection and restoration of wild Atlantic salmon and the ecosystems on which their well being and survival depend.

Posted in , | Leave a response

Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation funds projects

By Miramichi Salmon Association on May 3, 2013

Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation funds projects   

Bathurst Northern Light
The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation (ASCF) made this year’s Earth Day an even bigger celebration than usual for wild Atlantic Salmon supporters in New Brunswick. The Foundation announced that funding for projects to preserve wild Atlantic salmon in the province, and the number of projects funded, will more than double what they were last year.

Some 11 projects in New Brunswick will share a total of $117,770 in funding, the Honorable Rémi Bujold, chair of ASCF, announced.

The conservation work being conducted by the 11 projects in New Brunswick includes habitat assessment, restoration, rehabilitation and enhancement, monitoring salmon activities and the development of watershed management plans.

The Miramichi River watershed received support through two grants: $12,000 to the Miramichi Salmon Association for use of satellite tag technology to monitor kelt movement and water temperature preferences from the Miramichi River through the Gulf of St. Lawrence; and $10,000 to the Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee to evaluate the Bay du Vin river drainage basin.

In addition to the 11 New Brunswick-based projects that will receive funding, another three interprovincial initiatives also include New Brunswick. The Atlantic Salmon Federation will receive $25,000 to continue its salmon tracking research, tagging smolt and kelt in New Brunswick’s Miramichi and Restigouche Rivers and in Québec’s Grand Cascapedia River and Rivière St. Jean, and then monitoring their movements through the head of tide in the Cascapedia, Miramichi, and Restigouche rivers, Miramichi Bay, the Baie de Chaleur, the Strait of Belle Isle (Gulf of St. Lawrence) and Cabot Strait.

Posted in , | Leave a response

Fishing remains decent on Miramichi

By Miramichi Salmon Association on May 3, 2013

Fishing remains decent on Miramichi   

by rodney colford

Times & transcript

Spring salmon are leaping high on the river going into the third week of the season. Many fish are being hooked with a small percentage being grilse. Salmon start moving more as the river is warming up into the mid to high 40s F (about 8 C). We are seeing some fish jump and even some rolling to the surface. The river levels are still very good but another rain wouldn’t hurt to keep the levels up where they are now. 

I was out fishing with Peter Beardsworth and Aaron Bourque of Riverview on Sunday. I would have to say Aaron’s salmon was the biggest weighing about 12 pounds and Peter’s just under 12 pounds. Both fish put up a great fight and were very silver for this time of year. Both salmon took a variation of the Green Slime which Peter tied, I must say.

Guide Derek Munn of the Ledges Inn said fishing is still very good with anglers hooking six to 12 fish per day. Water levels are still very good for the Doaktown area. Flies of choice were Marabous and Rabbit Strip’s and all on the cast.

Keith Wilson of Wilson’s Sporting Camps is also having very good fishing with lots of fish around. Many anglers that can cast good have an upper hand he said and are hooking some nice salmon. Sinking tips seem to be the line of the week as all fish were on the cast.

Country Haven Fishing Lodge is still having very good success on the lower stretch of the Southwest Miramichi River. Fishermen are hooking anywhere from four to 10 fish per day. Most fish are being hooked trolling with sinking lines. They are fishing from The Mouth of Cains River to the Renous area and seeing lots of fish.

In the Quarryville area, Chris Edmonds of C E Salmon Flies and Guiding said conditions have improved. River levels for the area are very good and have salmon and the odd trout taking the fly.

The Northwest Miramichi River still has some fish around and many anglers are hooking up. River levels are still good but again could use a little rain to keep the levels where they are now. Some anglers are hooking some small trout from the eight to 12-inch range.

Some good news on the river as DFO finally opened a striped bass season yesterday. Anglers can keep one bass per day or hook and release as many as they can catch. The size you can keep is 55 to 65 centimetres and it is measured from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. Single barbless hooks and if using bait use circle hooks. The season will last two weeks from May 1 to 15 with hook and release to follow.

Flies of choice for salmon on the river are Green Slimes, Black Rabbit Strips, Renous Specials, Mogot Smelts, Grey and Black Ghost along with many Marabou patterns. Size of hooks seem to vary from 1/0 to 5/0 single barbless.

With the opening day of trout season yesterday, things are  active here on the river. I will keep you posted on the trout over the next few weeks also as we hook up.

With all this beautiful weather we are having, and great river conditions it is a very good time to be canoeing, kayaking or fishing. So if you’re in need of any gear for these activities you can contact the local fly shops in the Miramichi River area.

To name a few for you, starting in Miramichi City, is Miramichi Electronics that has fishing gear in the city centre, Miramichi City Surplus in Derby, George’s Fly Shop in Renous, Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters in Blackville, W.W. Doak in Doaktown area, and if you’re on the Northwest Miramichi drop into Trout Brook Fly Shop. Most of these places will give you a river report daily if you drop in.

And if anyone has any reports on salmon, trout or striped bass for the Miramichi area you would like to have posted, please forward your information to me at miramichifishingreports@hotmail.com and I’ll try my best to include it. I do not need to know your hot spots just a description of the fish and which river if you like to include that you have fished. I am always looking for more reports for my readers.

Until next week have a great week on the water and tight lines.

■ Rodney Colford is a third-generation salmon guide of the Miramichi and has been guiding fishermen for 28 years. His column appears in the Times & Transcript every Thursday.

Posted in , | 1 Response

Next »