Fly-fishing the Miramichi River in New Brunswick. Photos: courtesy New Brunswick Tourism

Fishing the Miramichi River was a chance to catch the “king of all sport fish” the atlantic salmon, also known as “the leaper”. I was fortunate to find out why. I hired a guide and for four hours cast a fly called a grey ghost. I was rewarded with a six pound fish that was more acrobatic than any fish I ever caught before or since. Although it was a short little side trip, it was so sweet. There are many guides and resorts along the Miramichi that can accommodate anyone from the beginner to the expert. The last half of the day I spent golfing the Mirimichi Golf and Country Club.

My work then took me to St. John. I rented a cabin on the Kingston Peninsula on the shores of the Kennebecasis River. Beside my cabin ran a small creek of crystal clear water with two waterfalls dropping into deep pools. Eventually, after a series of runs and riffles this creek meandered towards and emptied into the Kennebecasis. I stayed there for five days while I worked in St. John and in the afternoons I fished for and caught some beautiful brook trout. This creek was loaded with them. Many small 6-8 inchers and a half dozen 12-16 inchers. The larger brookies were all caught on small shiny spoons and woolley bugger flies in olive tones and the smaller brookies were caught on dry flies.

On my last day there I was fortunate enough to go fishing for striped bass on the big river. The owner of the cabin took me out in his boat. He said we needed to use larger heavy action rods and large rapalas. We trolled at a fast five knots and used a constant pulling motion, giving our lures an erratic action around this big rock shoal. It took less than fifteen minutes to hook into my first striper, a twelve pounder. The best way to describe how catching a striped bass feels is to stand on a Toronto street corner and hook into a streetcar on Queen Street. I caught an eight pound striper about an hour later and that was that, but what an experience!

In closing, being away from my two boys and family for three months was very difficult on all of us, but with the friendliness and hospitality shown me by the people of New Brunswick and the natural wonders and beauty of the province I was able to keep balanced. I look forward to going back with Cam and Nate for another experience one day to show them the beauty of New Brunswick.

Tight lines and sharp hooks

Peter

Editor’s Note: For the uninitiated, I have included this picture of a streetcar in Toronto. Also, here‘s another great post about New Brunswick and fishing on the St. John River.

A buddy of mine likes to fish. He likes to fish A LOT. He’s the kind of guy that will go out on the lake before the sun comes up, fish all day, and return home after dark. In the summer months, that’s a long time on the water, and during the short winter days, that’s a lot of fishing through a small hole in the ice! When Peter read about our trip to Lake of Bays in Ontario he had a few things to say about how to fish there…

Top L-R: Rapala Skitter Pop, Rapala Husky Jerk, Middle L-R: Tube, Williams Whitefish Spoon, Bouyah Spinner Bait, Bottom middle: Slip Float

Lake of Bays is a clear, cold body of water. It’s deepest part is 230 feet. Fish species that inhabit the lake are lake trout, smallmouth bass, whitefish, lake herring, rainbow smelt as well as many minnow species. Historically there have been some big trout caught – 20 lbs and over. Ice fishing deep with Williams spoons and big tube jigs in winter is a good bet. In spring when the ice is just off the lake, try lively shiners suspended under slip floats in 6-10 feet of water along rocky shorelines and points.

When the water warms up lake trout will start moving to deeper water. Deep water trolling large spoons and minnowbaits like rapala’s in natural colours works best. Be patient. It will take some work.

When bass season opens in June, working topwater plugs is very exciting around rocky shorelines and back bays. They will also take spinners and plastic tubes, grubs and worms. As summer progresses try shoals, points and drop offs. In fall, vertical jig in the 15-30 foot range. Have fun, stay safe and happy fishing.

Map of Lake of Bays, Ontario

If you’re a fisherman and you have a story to tell, please leave a comment for us below. Also see our post at http://roadstories.ca/muskoka-near-algonquin-park-ontario/