B7

Doug Underhill
On the water

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MIRAMICHI - With a few days of (do I dare say it too loud?) very little rain, the rivers are dropping off a fair bit, although still moderately high. Water conditions are becoming fishable again. Also on the positive side is that conditions have been excellent for the fish with levels and temperatures perfect for them.

n W. W. Doak and Sons in Doaktown said angling continues to improve as the water keeps dropping. There are very good reports from the Doaktown area. Many anglers who have not fished for several years are dusting off the rods and heading to the water, and catching fish again. A good mix of salmon and grilse was reported. Water temperature was excellent.

Flies of choice were Undertakers, Green Machines, Bombers, Butterflies and Cossebooms.

n Herb Barry Sr. of Herb's Fly Shop on the Station Road in Blackville said fishing was great with the river full of fish. There was a good mix of salmon and grilse with anglers seeing a lot of "big" salmon. He described them both as being like June fish. He said there were a little darker, but fresh with some having sea lice still on them. They were fall fish though as they had the fall-hooks. He described the water as "fishably high", noting it had dropped four feet since its highest, but still could drop a couple more feet. Canoeing conditions were excellent.

Flies of choice Green Butt Butterflies, Sugarman's Shrimp and Green Machines with Krystal Flash on nos. 4 & 6 hooks.

n Curtis Miramichi River Outfitters in Blackville said there were all kinds of fish in the river, both salmon and grilse. The water was still high, but the temperature was good. There were even some fall hook-bills being reported.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Green Machines, Green Butt Bear Hairs, Shady Ladies and Bombers.

n George Routledge of George's Fly Shop at the Mouth of Renous in Quarryville said anglers were getting a few, but there were no great numbers being caught.

The water was still high with the island being out, but anglers could not get to where the chairs normally are. The Renous was still high, although some fish were being caught opposite Hayes' Lodge below George's shop. It was mostly grilse that were being caught.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Green Machines, Shady Ladies, and some fall patterns starting to be used mostly on the Main Southwest.

n Jim Laws of Miramichi Hunting and Fishing in Newcastle, Miramichi reported the water still being high in the Northwest with a foot-raise on the weekend, but anglers were still having success.

He had also heard good reports from Quarryville and Renous. He said angling was great for this time in August. Anglers were reporting a lot of grilse. As the water drops, angling should get even better.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines and Smurfs.

n Syd Matchett of Trout Brook Fly Shop on the Northwest Miramichi said there was still a lot of fish in the Northwest system. The water was excellent and anglers were doing well. It was mostly grilse being caught, and they were nice fresh fish.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Yellow Butterflies and Green-butt Bear Hairs.

n Debbie Norton of Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures on the Little Southwest Miramichi said fishing was good and the water was cool and high. Brett Silliker noted that Vince Mazilli had caught and released two grilse on Sunday and a salmon and a grilse on Tuesday. Fish were also caught in the higher pools of the Little Southwest. Silliker also noted (with a chuckle) that John Carney still was fishless. I think Brett was giving him directions to Sobey's Store.

Flies of choice were Shy Dog and Envious Dog (both tied by Mazilli from hair from his own dogs). Silliker said they were similar to Bear Hairs.

I did have the opportunity to fish the Restigouche last week with Jacques Hereaux. We were guests of Jean Claude Savoie at the Cheuters Lodge.

The place was beautiful, the food wonderful and the hospitality excellent. Jacques released a salmon and I released a grilse, so my Emery Streamside did have some action. Other guests had good, and even better, luck as well. The guides were extremely helpful and very friendly. So a special thanks to all who made it such an enjoyable visit.

We also had the opportunity to tour the Sharpe Canoes factory in Mann's Mountain, a short drive from Campbellton. We were again treated royally by the Sharpe family, so a special thanks to them as well.

I also hear that there has been some very good mackerel fishing along the Chaleur Bay.

So with less rain this week, and the rivers starting to get closer to normal height, get the canoe and/or the rod and head out "on the water".

n Doug Underhill is a Miramichi-based writer and avid salmon fisherman. His column appears on Thursday.