The Joy of Fly Fishing in New Brunswick

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Spring Fishing In New Brunswick

Brook Trout in the Spring

Since I moved to New Brunswick, some 30 years ago, I have loved fishing brook trout in the spring. The spring is the only time I keep any brook trout to eat. The rest of the year it’s all catch and release, but one or two good feeds of brookies a year is too hard to turn down.

Black Salmon in the spring

In the early spring I like to fish for black salmon, those Atlantic salmon that have spent the winter in the rivers. They are hungry and ready for some action about the time spring rolls around and I am ready to catch them.

Any time of year is a good time of year to have a feed of Atlantic salmon but in the spring they are about 100 times easier to catch than any other time of the year.

Aggressive Smallmouth Bass in the spring

I also love to catch those aggressive smallmouth bass when they are getting ready to spawn. I usually catch a lot at this time of year but unlike other times of the year I pay attention to where I caught them so as to release them close to their nests.

I know they will find their nest from pretty much anywhere you release them but after a good fight I don’t care to let them go too far from their nest.

I bring my Fly rod with me any time I go fishing but I don’t always use it. In the spring I like to use it as early as possible but find that my spinning gear gets me more of the spawning fish. I don’t really like using sinking line on my Fly rod, that’s why I turn to my spinning gear at those times.

Chain Pickerel in the spring

Getting to the Chain Pickerel in the early spring can net you some nice size pickerel and catching them on the fly line is always a treat. That will be a new treat for Jamie as he has only caught pickerel on spinning gear to this point. I will get him in a float tube next year and watch him get pulled around by a few good size mothers.

Trout Unlimited Kennebec Float Tube The Kennebec pontoon/float tube hybrid from Trout Unlimited has storage galore: a back storage pocket, 2 dual compartment armrest pockets, 2 reel/spool pockets, and 2 sloped gear pockets with flat mesh pockets. The Kennebec Float Tube also offers the added stability and high-riding comfort of a pontoon boat; includes an anti-slip reinforced seat and quick-release stabilizer bar. Manufacturer’s one-year warranty. Imported.

For years I had a canoe and it took me to a lot of fun places fishing. The only thing about having a canoe is just how tough it can be to control it in the wind. I am not a professional paddler and many times found myself being blown about without much control and that would take the fun out of fishing in just a few minutes, about the same time my arms would give out.

Then I saw a fishing show where they were using float tubes. The first thought that came to my mind when I saw the float tube was just how easy it would be to get into some of the fishing holes I fish.

Just as fast my mind went back to a few fishing trips that had me exhausted before I ever got to the water. The float tube looked like it would be so much lighter and easier to get through the dense bush I sometimes go through to get to the ponds and lakes I fish.

I picked up my first float tube about 10 years ago, I am just guessing here, it’s been a while. My first trip out was so much fun I could hardly wait to go again.

The second time out I had to navigate through some thick weeds. It was a very hot day, very hot. Well I dragged my butt through those weeds and thought I was going to melt by the time I got through. It was the hardest work I had done in a while.

Later I found that I didn’t inflate the float tube enough. The next time I did inflate it correctly and I just breezed over the weeds like they weren’t even there. I couldn’t help but to laugh as I was going through the weeds because I kept remembering the time I had getting through a week before.

Now when I had my canoe I would take a friend with me as often as I could as it’s more fun fishing with a buddy but it was also a lot easier to control my canoe when I had someone in the other end willing to help paddle through any wind.

I still like to take a friend fishing so I bought a second float tube from one of my computer students. He bought it for his dad after he had a heart attack hoping he would still be able to enjoy fishing. Unfortunately the float tube wasn’t for him, a bit of a blessing for me though.

It is so much fun floating around and getting into spots that are tough to get to any other way.

One spot I was fishing near Chipman New Brunswick was right at the road side. The road was about 20 feet above the water. A trucker was driving by and saw me in my float tube. He stopped his rig and hollered at me asking if I need any help.

He thought my boat had sunk.

Next year I want to introduce my newest fishing buddy, Jamie, to float tube fishing. I am sure he will have an experience that he will want to experience again and again.

My float tubes each have an inflatable back support to keep you comfortable all day long and I have spent many hours in my float tubes without getting uncomfortable at all.

The float tubes also have side pockets where your arms rest so that you can bring food and supplies with you. No need to go back to the car at all.

Well I really don’t like putting my fishing gear away at the end of the fishing season, but there’s always next year and it’s just 6 months away. Oh man I have to move to a longer fishing season.

I had already put my gear away a couple of weeks ago thinking I was done for the year but then Jamie came through and off we went, but that’s not going to happen now. The season is over.

Since I started working from home I have more time on my hands but because my wife still works outside the home we can’t just pickup and leave when ever we please, soon but not quite yet. For this reason the winters can seem very long.

I was talking with Jamie, about next year, and I was telling him I want to see him fly fishing for bass and pickerel. That means that we need to tie a few weedless flies that float high in the water.

I have been fly fishing for bass and pickerel and of course everything else here in New Brunswick but Jamie hasn’t. Once he has he will understand what I am talking about. It’s like they become 4 or 5 pounds heavier while you’re fighting them.

If you are fly fishing bass and pickerel or pike let me know what fly tying patterns you use for your top water flies so please leave a comment.

I have tied big deer hair bugs that work great fly fishing for both bass and our chain pickerel here in New Brunswick but I want more variety in the flies we will be using.

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Fly fishing for bass certainly will not win you any fishing tournaments. But it is the most challenging way you will find to catch bass. It is far removed from most fly fishing techniques, such as fly fishing for trout in a mountain stream.

The rod used is heavier than those used for catching trout. Rods for bass fishing are usually 8 weight, a rod such as this is required because this type of fish takes some landing. Also the fly used would be larger as well. The leader used for this type of fishing would be shorter as well, 4-6 feet, with the tippet at around a 8 pound test line.

The best way to catch your first fish, is to cast your line from a boat towards shore, making sure it lands underneath trees and there branches. A technique that is known to work well, is simply letting the fly rest on the water for a period of time, then snap it across the water quickly, this is a great way to get the attention of any bass that are there. You will find that the popping sound of this action will attract the fish and then you can make your first strike.

Some of the best fishing you will find is in smaller bodies of water. Small county lakes and slow moving creeks are perfect for fly fishing. Slow moving creeks are a favorite, this is because can use the shore to cast from and position your fly in a favorable position, such as, beneath trees.

The thing about this type of fishing, is the fight the fish will put up, will make it seem far larger than it is. A two to three pound bass caught will seem and feel like a six pound fish. All this adds to thrill and excitement of your new fly fishing experience.

Fly fishing for bass is not only an exciting experience, it is also fun to do. So next time you are thinking of going fishing for bass, put aside your normal rod and reel, then give fly fishing a try. You will not regret doing so and will have the most thrilling fishing experience that you will ever have. Also just think about the tales you will be able to regale your friends with, about your new found experience. So are you up to this challenge?

If you would like to learn the art of Fly Fishing Mastery, then try visiting Fly Fishing Tips.