FLY-FISHING


Fly-fishing is an ancient and distinct method of angling, most renowned as a method of catching salmon and trout but today it is also used for many other species, such as bass, pickerel, carp, shad and striped bass. The use of fishing with an artificial fly has been recorded as far back in history as the second century. The modern version of fly-fishing originated in the rivers of Scotland and Northern England. British fly-fishing was further developed in the 19th century with the emergence of fly fishing clubs.

In the late 19th century, anglers began using the fly to fish for trout in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Participation in fly-fishing peaked in the early 1900's in the eastern states of Maine and Vermont for trout and for trout and Atlantic salmon in the Canadian Maritime provinces with the influx of more American sportsmen.

Throughout history and the world's many changes, with the exception of better equipment and fly patterns, there haven't been many changes to the fly-fishing world. Of all the angling sports, fly-fishing still remains the most passionate among anglers worldwide.

Whether fishing salt and fresh water for stripers, lakes for smallmouth or on a freshwater stream for trout and salmon, there aren't many enjoyments in today's busy world much better than nature's own stress reliever, the art of fly-fishing.

For many years, the Miramichi River has been a popular destination among fly fishermen around the world who are interested in fly-fishing for Atlantic salmon, trout and to a much lesser extent, shad.

To many fishermen coming to the Miramichi, their first passion has been trout fishing, enjoying countless hours fishing their favorite streams in their homeland. The thrill of landing the biggest trout in the stream can only be surpassed, while using much of the same equipment and techniques, by the size and fight of the wild Atlantic salmon. Although trout fishing will possibly always remain their first love, the challenge of landing the much bigger species, the King of all the fresh Water Fish, on a fly, has hooked many a fly fishermen for life, and like the Atlantic salmon, they keep returning to the waters of the Miramichi.


Fly-fishing Season

The angling season for Atlantic salmon on most of the Miramichi River system is from April the 15th through to the 15th of October, the longest fishing season for Atlantic salmon in the world. The trout season runs from May 1st until September 15th.

Spring Fishing

After a long Canadian winter, opening day is like music to the ears of fishermen on the Miramichi. Spring Salmon are fish that have entered the river the previous year, spawned in October or November, remained in the river throughout the winter and are now on their way downstream and back out to sea. After a long winter, the fish are very hungry and fishermen using sinking lines and streamer fly patterns can enjoy great success, sometimes landing between 10-25 salmon or grilse a day.

Later in the spring, Salmon start acting more like summer fish and start jumping more while moving out to sea quickly. At this time fishermen might change to sinking tips or sometimes even floating lines, casting in the same fashion as in summer and using a smaller fly then in the beginning of the season. Although fishermen might land more salmon overall in the early spring, the late spring salmon tend to be the best fighters.

The Miramichi River also has a good number of sea run speckled or brook trout that fly fishermen enjoy fishing for, mainly throughout the months of May and June.

Springtime is an ideal time to be introduced or to introduce someone to the beauty of the Miramichi and the classic adventure of fly-fishing. The Miramichi fishing season for the bright Atlantic salmon opens on May the 16th and fishermen can have some luck fishing for the early salmon runs, but the first serious summer angling begins around mid June when the start of the world's largest run of Atlantic salmon begins on the Miramichi river.





Summer and Fall Fishing

The summer and fall fishing season is similar to the typical freshwater fly-fishing that is practiced throughout the world. Most of the fishing is done by wading the rivers, normally using floating lines and a variety of wet and dry fly patterns. Much of the fishing is done while using wet flies, but over the years, dry fly fishing for Atlantic Salmon on the Miramichi has become very popular and many fly fishermen will never head for the river without at least one Bomber in their fly box.


The Wet Fly resembles an insect or bug under the water surface. The most common techniques used for fishing for Atlantic salmon is to cast across stream on 45 degrees down river without retrieving the line till each cast has completed its drift.

Canoe Fishing

Much of the Summer and Fall salmon fishing is done by fishing from a boat or canoe, especially in places where the salmon tend to hold up, like slacker water and often bends in the river where the water is deeper. For those who prefer canoe fishing we can provide canoes for one or two fishermen per guide in many of the private fishing pools.







A Dry fly resembles an insect floating on the water surface and traditionally uses the surface tension of the water to float. Salmon angling with a dry fly may be fished upstream or downstream. Casting upstream keeps the angler out of the view of the fish, while casting downstream may cover a productive location where the fish might be holding. There isn't anything in the fishing world more delicate than a dry fly slowly drifting in the current or more powerful that the tug from below the surface as the wild Atlantic salmon takes the fly.

Although anglers might land more Salmon throughout the spring fishing season, fishing during the summer and fall runs also has its rewards as these salmon are arriving fresh from the sea and tend to be brighter, fatter, and pound-for-pound, the best fighting game fish in the World on a fly line.


FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FLY-FISHING FOR ATLANTIC SALMON, CONTACT:
mailto:flyhook@outlook.com
Tel/Fax No: (506) 843-9010
Toll Free: 1-877-359-4665 (1-877-FLY HOOK)


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