________________________
How lucky am I? To live so close to this opportunity... Unfortunately not so lucky at all.
________________________
The Miramichi River in New Brunswick is advertized internationally as one of the best Atlantic Salmon fishing destinations in the world. Beautiful scenery and miles and miles of the ideal fishing venue, from shore or by canoe – one can have the opportunity to hook with your fly a battle that is second to none.
How lucky am I??? I live a short 45min drive from work (or home) to having waders on and enjoying this beautiful sport. Even better, was able to introduce and teach my son from the age of 10 (now 18) the finer points of fly-casting, and reading the river.
How lucky am I? To live so close to this opportunity... Unfortunately not so lucky at all.
I hope even non-fishing New Brunswickers share the anger that the fact that as a New Brunswicker, we are not welcome on the Miramichi River. Virtually every tourism advertisement for New Brunswick, offer us photos of men, women, and children fishing on the Miramichi. But those photographs are of Customers of Private Fishing Business, or the few fortunate owners of the water. The vast majority of our New Brunswick Gem, is tagged as private water. A father and son are unable to drop a line in almost the entire river. The riverbanks are cluttered with large signs stating “NO FISHING, PRIVATE WATER”.
I admit, there are but very few “public pools”. These are typically small sections of the river between privately owned sections. These pools – are typically areas that fish are not present, shallow, rapids. For if these public pools were any good for fishing, they would have been bought up and closed to the public.
Several years ago, my son (around 11-12years old at the time) was fishing one of these public puddles. As far up and down the river we were the only signs on humanity. My son wanted to cross the river to fish from the other side. As the water was dangerously fast where we stood, we agreed that he would walk up river around 50 yards to cross where it was less dangerous. With his rod over his shoulder, he ventured up to cross. As he was about half way across, I heard shouting.. and profanity. It was directed at my son. I could not see the idiot screaming the expletives, as he was hollering out his camp window. It (obviously) upset my son, who was rattled by an adult yelling at him that he was wading in private water. With his head down, he yelled back that he was sorry, returned back to me. And that ended our day. I think it would be hard to put this experience in our beautiful province of New Brunswick Brochures.
Although not being allowed to fish, I have had many opportunities to scan the Miramichi and see what is advertized as the best Atlantic Salmon fishery in the world. And I see private pool, after pool, with not a soul using them. Non residents camps overlooking the river, with no fishing signs posted prominently along the shore.. Empty of fisherman. I have seen abandoned camps with old weather no trespassing signs that pools go unused for years.
My son and I have given up Salmon fishing, simply because we have nowhere to fish. Not so lucky to be a moments drive from the Miramichi River.
How lucky am I??? I live a short 45min drive from work (or home) to having waders on and enjoying this beautiful sport. Even better, was able to introduce and teach my son from the age of 10 (now 18) the finer points of fly-casting, and reading the river.
How lucky am I? To live so close to this opportunity... Unfortunately not so lucky at all.
I hope even non-fishing New Brunswickers share the anger that the fact that as a New Brunswicker, we are not welcome on the Miramichi River. Virtually every tourism advertisement for New Brunswick, offer us photos of men, women, and children fishing on the Miramichi. But those photographs are of Customers of Private Fishing Business, or the few fortunate owners of the water. The vast majority of our New Brunswick Gem, is tagged as private water. A father and son are unable to drop a line in almost the entire river. The riverbanks are cluttered with large signs stating “NO FISHING, PRIVATE WATER”.
Tackle World-Famous Salmon Rivers and Great Coastal Waters
As any angler will tell you, the Atlantic salmon is the king of the game fish. People come to New Brunswick from around the world in search of this prize catch.
- Tourism New Brunswick
I admit, there are but very few “public pools”. These are typically small sections of the river between privately owned sections. These pools – are typically areas that fish are not present, shallow, rapids. For if these public pools were any good for fishing, they would have been bought up and closed to the public.
Several years ago, my son (around 11-12years old at the time) was fishing one of these public puddles. As far up and down the river we were the only signs on humanity. My son wanted to cross the river to fish from the other side. As the water was dangerously fast where we stood, we agreed that he would walk up river around 50 yards to cross where it was less dangerous. With his rod over his shoulder, he ventured up to cross. As he was about half way across, I heard shouting.. and profanity. It was directed at my son. I could not see the idiot screaming the expletives, as he was hollering out his camp window. It (obviously) upset my son, who was rattled by an adult yelling at him that he was wading in private water. With his head down, he yelled back that he was sorry, returned back to me. And that ended our day. I think it would be hard to put this experience in our beautiful province of New Brunswick Brochures.
FOR GENERATIONS, THE FAMOUS MIRAMICHI RIVER HAS ATTRACTED FLYFISHERMEN FROM AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE OF ITS UNMATCHED ABILITY TO PRODUCE THE WILD ATLANTIC SALMON. THIS ONE RIVER PRODUCES MORE ATLANTIC SALMON ANNUALLY THAN ANY OTHER RIVER IN THE WORLD INCLUDING THE ENTIRE QUEBEC RIVER SYSTEM AND IS CONSIDERED THE 'MOTHER' OF ALL SALMON STREAMS. MUCH OF THE FISHING ON THE MAIN SOUTHWEST MIRAMICHI RIVER TAKES PLACE IN PRIVATE WATER. ALTHOUGH THIS RIVER CONSISTENTLY PRODUCES THE MOST SALMON, - http://www.flyfishingatlanticsalmon.com/rivers.html
Although not being allowed to fish, I have had many opportunities to scan the Miramichi and see what is advertized as the best Atlantic Salmon fishery in the world. And I see private pool, after pool, with not a soul using them. Non residents camps overlooking the river, with no fishing signs posted prominently along the shore.. Empty of fisherman. I have seen abandoned camps with old weather no trespassing signs that pools go unused for years.
My son and I have given up Salmon fishing, simply because we have nowhere to fish. Not so lucky to be a moments drive from the Miramichi River.
You should take a look at this method Darryl: http://www.ipetitions.com/?campaign=1&kw=petition%20online&gclid=CO2C5Zfet7ECFYio4AodkSkApg | paste into a browser.
ReplyDeleteIn Nova Scotia everyone is allowed to fish salmon, there are no private waters.
Frank T
Darryl,
ReplyDeleteWe were lucky enough this year to have our name drawn for Crown Reserve fishing. This means we can fish the Government owned portion of the Miramichi.
We were fortunate enough to pay the government $109 each to have the rights to fish the mighty salmon for 46 hours. Take out the hours that it's dark....well you get the picture.
We were also permitted to drive ourselves there and see gill nets across the river as far as you could see several miles downstream from our fishing waters. I was really hoping the smart fish found a way through....
We were also fortunate enough to get our chance to fish with barbless hooks (akin to trying to land a salmon with a safety pin)
Then low and behold, there was one hopeless grilse that made through the nets and did find it's way onto one of our lines. Yes you guessed it, we were fortunate enough to get to experience how to hook and the release the fish.
So I don't understand what is wrong with the system???
I hear bass fishing is fun though....
LJ
LJ, you open up another "can of worms" on this topic (oops - no worms, just barbless flies). No only do private enterprise and individuals (resident and non-resident) own virtually all of the Miramichi, the Government has joined in on this game as well. I am not so naive as to believe that areas identified as "crown waters" would not be well used maybe even crowded if free to the general public, but so what?? I have seen (without exception) exceptional etiquette among fisherman - sharing space, moving down river etc... And besides, what a great problem to have.. loads of NB residents, their children enjoying a healthy, relaxing outdoor activity.
ReplyDelete