The Joy of Fly Fishing in New Brunswick

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I have been stuck, all four wheels and the belly of the vehicle completely on the ground. A very strange feeling comes over me when this happens. It’s brief but a real energy drain.

Fortunately, well good thinking on my part really, I had what I needed to get myself out of a situation like that. Even though it might take hours you will be driving out instead of hiking out.

What to take with you, always and how to use those things to get out of the mud or snow as it was the first time I got really stuck.

1. A shovel

2. An Axe or Hatchet

3. Hip Waders

4. Good Pair of Gloves

5. Your Car Jack

They don’t take up much room but they will save you a long walk and probably some money for a tow truck.

Example: I was heading into a great area for early season trout. Mmmmm When I got to the road heading in to the beaver ponds there was still snow on the road. I hesitated for a moment and should have turned back but not me. I decided to head in.

Well I got a long ways in before hitting a spot where all four tires when through the snow and ice and I was stuck in a gully between two hills and I couldn’t move forward or backwards. I was stuck.

I had my gear and when I looked at the axe it was so rusty I wondered if it would cut anything other than me. It had been that long since I had put the axe in my car and never had to use it, but it was there the day I needed and it worked.

I walked off road and found a dead tree so I cut branches and carried them back to the car. I also found a few bare spots in the road and gathered some rocks and stones.

Once I had what I needed to make a little bridge to safety I started digging. I don’t do a lot of physical work so I was glad to have the gloves to protect my whimpy hands.

I used the car jack to lift the car enough to put wood and rocks under the wheels, then I lowered the weight of the car onto the rocks and wood.

It took me a couple of hours but I build enough of a bridge to get out of those holes and drove backwards up the hill. I got turned around and was out of there.

The second time this happened was in the mud and that time my waders came in handy as the mud was up to my knees before I was done.

Again I gathered wood from dead trees and rocks, jacked up the car, built a path out of the mud and took another route. Because it was mud I had to jack the car up a couple of times as the weight pushed the rocks and wood into the mud, but eventually I made a good foundation and was outta there.

BTW: I was never a boy scout but I was prepared. I don’t think a boy scout would have even gone in those places.

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Sport fishing on the fly is definitely in my blood but normally I would be fishing trout, salmon or bass on the fly so the first time I used my Fly rod on those toothy critters I had a most exillerating experience and returned for more time after time.

I am sure I could tie on a banana peel and they would take it, they are so aggressive. I have tried so many flies and they all seem to work great but if you want to get your arms pulled off all day long just make sure your fly has a red butt. The chain pickerel can’t resist red. I am pretty sure to them it’s a sign of a wounded meal.

I fish from my float tube most of the time and when you are flyfishing for pickerel it makes it even more exciting as the pickerel, just like pike, love to follow a fly or bait all the way back to the boat, or in my case the float tube and then, just as you are about to take the fly or bait out of the water they strike covering you will water and scaring the crap out of you. It’s so great. You just have to give it a try.

I found that if I used Spider wire or any good braided line you don’t really need a metal leader for these aggressive and razor sharp toothy monsters of the shallows. I have been fly fishing for pickerel for a lot of years and since I started using a braided line as my leader I have never had a pickerel cut my line and escape.

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Perhaps, the best type of occasion that is perfect for a camping trip is that of a family vacation.  Camping is most ideal for family vacations because it is affordable. Whether you have two kids or five kids, it can get fairly expensive to plan a “traditional,” family vacation, like one to an amusement park.  Many families have found it much more affordable to go camping instead.

What is nice about going camping for your next family vacation is that you have an unlimited number of options. In the United States, many public campground parks are stocked full of activities, like boating, hiking, swimming, fishing, and so forth. No matter how old or young your children are, they will likely enjoy camping.

Our little family used to go camping but as our son got old he started bringing friends, then the camping together stopped and now he is off camping with his friends. A new generation of campers has begun.

Another one of the many occasions that can call for camping is one that is often unthought-of.  Although it may not appear that way at first glance, camping is also ideal for those looking to take romantic getaways.  One of the many reasons why camping is nice for romantic getaways is because of nature. Many couples love the outdoor feel and the romance that it can create.

If you would like to go camping for your next romantic getaway, but you are unsure as to whether or not you want to camp in a tent, you should research a few of your other options.  There are rental stations in the United States that have RVs for rent. You may also find a number of public campgrounds that have cottages available for rent.

Another occasion that may warrant a camping trip is that of a family reunion. Although family reunions are decreasing in popularity, they do still exist and are still fairly popular. The only thing about family reunions is that many only last a day or even just a few hours.  If you have a large family, it could be difficult to catch up on what is happening with everyone.  That is why many families are starting to examine campground parks for their reunion locations.

As previously stated, campground parks often have an unlimited number of activities for you to participate in, like boating, fishing, swimming and hiking.  This means that everyone in your family, large or small, can have fun on a camping trip, especially one that doubles as a family reunion.  With affordable admission fees or camping rates, it should be relatively easy for most of your family to afford a one or two night stay at a public campground park.

Camping is also ideal if you are just looking to take a break or if you are looking to escape from your everyday life and all of the stresses that are associated with it.  Although fun is often associated with groups, you may enjoy a solo camping trip, even if it is only for one night. What you need to remember though is to be sure to keep a cell phone with you at all times.  Solo camping trips are nice, but they can be dangerous. Be sure to let someone that you know and trust where you will be camping and when you are expected to return.

The above mentioned occasions are just a few of the many instances, where you may want to think about taking a camping trip. As a reminder, camping is a nice and affordable recreational activity, whether you are looking to camp for only one night or one week.

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Modern-day fly lines are made of a tough braided or a monofilament core which is wrapped in a thick layer of plastic. They also come in a variety of models which are used in different kinds of environments.

There are lines that can be used in seawater then there are those that can be used in cold temperatures. Each specific model ensures maximum effectiveness when used in the environment it was designed for.

Fly lines come in different sizes. These sizes are not only important in buying lines but also in determining the rods they can be used with. It is because a line’s size is always matched with the weight of the rod. So for example, a #7 line is to be used with a rod of 7wt.

Aside from the line, another consideration when buying a line is the taper. Some lines have a taper at one end while others are tapered on both ends.

The advantage of the latter over single-tapered lines is that the other side can still be used when the other one is worn out.

Also, the taper has an influence on how well it can be cast. A heavier taper can be cast easier which is why it is recommended for beginners.

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The fact that we have had more rain that I can remember, causing the water to rise considerably, making it easier for the wild salmon to move into the river to spawn but it also has to do with better management of our fishery.

I have been fishing Atlantic salmon for more than 30 years so I remember when the salmon used to be so thick and so large it was scary to get in the water with them.

I have even seen our Atlantic salmon jumping so high out of the water that they actually tried to jump into my chest waders. That day I got a lot of laughs and comments about keeping it legal.

Those were fun days for Atlantic salmon fishing and then they started disappearing and getting smaller. New Brunswick used to be the place to come for trophy Atlantic salmon but that reputation has been tarnished over the past 20 years.

When I heard how the numbers of wild salmon are increasing again I started my happy dance.

I have a couple of salmon hot spots I like to go to and this week I have a friend with a video camera going with me. I will try to get a few shots our awesome Atlantic wild salmon jumping their way up river.

I didn’t get out salmon fishing much this year, mostly because of the rain. Our summer has been a very wet one but I will get out a few more times before the season ends. I love fly fishing salmon but if I don’t get out as much as I would like I don’t mind so much if I know we are getting more wild salmon heading up river to spawn after so many years.

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Although its purpose may be straightforward, there is nothing straightforward in choosing the right fly for the right fish.

In the past, choosing a fly is easy enough because there are specific flies for a specific fish.

For example, a trout fly is to be used exclusively on trout and a salmon fly on salmon. But in the present, there are more specific flies that cater to the varying diets of a particular fish.

So for example, a trout does not only have a singular trout fly, but also has flies that imitate frogs, worms, etc.

Another source of confusion, at least for beginners, is that categories of US fly types are named differently than their British counterparts.

For example, what are called dry flies in the United States are simply called dries in the UK.

But despite the difference in taxonomy, they usually have the same set of sub-categories. Again using the dry flies as an example, the sub-category of mayflies can be found in both categories.

Aside from its different types, flies also differ in sizes. Usually, a fly’s size ranges from #2 to #22 with the former being the largest.

Not to worry though as the confusion can be resolved by a good advice from reputable and experienced fly fishing equipment vendors. It is always a good idea to ask them when in doubt of which type of fly to buy when one goes fly fishing.

I have mentioned how I believe that the day my older foster brother took me fishing for the first time I am sure he changed the path my life was on. I won’t go into details but I firmly believe that taking a kid fishing can be one of the best things you ever do for that kid.

I have also mentioned that I like to keep some secrets about the places I fish. Well I do have lots of places that I don’t mind sharing if it means a few more kids get to go fishing.

A couple of days ago I read a comment on one of my fishing posts. It was a father interested in taking his daughters bass fishing and wondered if I would give the location to one of the sites I mentioned. Well the answer is: ‘I would be happy to’. It gladdens my heart, if that’s a real word, when a man wants to take his daughters fishing, so many want to take their boys but the girls seem to get left behind all to often.

The spot that James is interested in the first spot I took my son for bass fishing and we had a great day. It was also the first time he had used a float tube for fishing and thought that was as much fun as the fishing. Just floating around the ponds is so relaxing and the fishing is fun too.

It’s important to remember you’re taking kids and to go to places that makes it easy for them. You can put your eagerness to fish aside for the day and focus on how much fun those kids are having. It’s all about good memories. That is what kept me fishing over all these years.

Something that is important is taking pictures for sharing those precious moments. I have a few pictures of our fishing trips but I shake too much to take pictures that don’t look like UFO sightings. I have a new camera now that is suppose to help people like me take picutes, I am looking forward to the next day on the water.

So stop being selfish when you go fishing and take a kid and make the day about the kids.