Living in New Brunswick, Canada I’m extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to fish for ‘the fish of a thousand casts’. This summer, from most accounts, has been a good year for Atlantic salmon in terms of numbers but the fishing has been difficult with the rivers running high and fast for the better part of July. Each summer myself, my brother, father and grandfather (86 years young) travel to the Miramichi in early July. It rained the entire first week of July, the rivers rose quickly and we were heading into our stretch for 3 days of fishing. The log book didn’t give us much hope as the 3 previous groups didn’t get much fishing in due to the high water. When we finally set up and waded into the river we found that we were able to at least cast to where the fish should be holding. My brother and I helped my grandfather set up and watched him cast as if he were in his 30’s again, anxious to feel the tug of a bright fish. Unfortunately he didn’t hook into one this year but as he said “I’ve caught plenty of fish in my lifetime, I’m just happy to make the trip”. My brother and I headed up river to check out some other pools and found a decent spot to cast. My brother was the first to catch a fish, caught on a dead drifting bomber, the 12lb salmon broke the surface and was off tearing out line and down into the backing. 25 min later and a picture in hand the fish was back swimming freely in the northwest Miramichi. We let the pool rest then I threw out a bomber in the exact spot my brother caught his and smash, a grilse tore my fly down river tail walking almost into my backing. After lots of whooping and hollering I had her back in the water and released my fist salmon of the year. This would prove to be the best trip for me ever. The second day I limited out, 4 fish caught and released 3 of them in different pools, the last of the day came at 8:30pm, another bomber dead drift and a 14lb salmon crushed my fly, I hesitated, set the hook fought for a brief second and then was gone… S@#T! Going against all salmon common sense I immediately threw my fly out to the exact spot and SMASH… hesitate… set the hook… and the reel started screaming. The salmon came out of the water 7 times, took me to my backing twice and after 20 min I had her reviving in the calm water to be released. Not in my dreams would I have thought this day possible, high water and after 3 days I had 6 fish caught and released. Of all those fish caught and released and screaming reels and whooping and hollering, what rings clearest in my mind now as I sit in the office dreaming of the next trip are my grandfathers’ words… “I’m just happy to make the trip”.
Great fish tale! Congrats on “the best trip ever” for you! It is beautiful fishing country up where you live. I have made a few trips to the Miramichi and it is an amazing river with equally amazing Atlantic salmon fishing. I hope to be making a trip up there again this fall to try my luck fishing to “the fish of a thousand casts.” It is amazing though, how those fish can change from day to day. It also baffles me as to what makes them change, why they decide to turn on and turn off and how they can change from sulking on the bottom with lock jaw to crushing bombers on the surface. I guess that is part of the allure? Ya just really never know when a salmon will turn on your fly and when you could have your best day of atlantic salmon fishing. Anyway, congrats on a great trip. Very cool that you had your “best trip ever’ and what you remember most is your Grandfather saying, “I’m just happy to make the trip.” Who knows? In a different way from you and your brother, this very well could have been your Grandfathers “best trip ever” too.
Hats off, sounds like you had an exceptional time. That is a wonderful river you have up there and pound for pound, the fish of the Miramichi are the strongest fighting freshwater fish I have ever tangled with. Glad you were able to “make the trip”
Thanks Jeremy. I have a feeling that my Grandfather did have the trip of a lifetime. I agree that part of the allure of Atlantic salmon is their ability to frustrate you, surprise you and make you shake your head all in the same day. Beautiful fish and a beautiful river glad to hear you folks make the trip up. Best of luck this fall. Bright fish are moving into the river every day.
Much appreciated. Those Miramichi fish pull hard and often, an absolute joy to fish for. Always looking forward to the next trip, hopefully early October. I’ll keep you posted.
I am hoping you have left me a few Salmon for October. Thanks for the great story as it provides me with a good feeling for my trip, hope its as good as yours, congrats on your trip!
Greg
wow what a trip I would love to fish up there some day. It has been on my bucket list for a long time. congrats on your best trip ever. It must have been special to share that trip with your gramps. Great tale.
what a trip, i hope when i am 86 i can still be in the river …love it congrads on crushing some beautiful salmon… cheers Alex
Good luck this month Greg. What part of the river will you be on?
Thanks Joey. Yeah the river is pretty special. It is amazing how the different tributaries and rivers running into the main southwest and northwest branches can offer such diversity. I was standing at the head of this one pool casting to a grilse which I finally hooked and released, spun around 180 degrees and casted to 12 inch brook trout sipping flies off the surface. Amazing!
I know eh! I have to shake my head sometimes watching him cast. He spent a good chunck of his life in Northern Quebec fishing for big brookies, charr and land locked salmon.