I love fishing new places but I am terrible at doing it on my own because I tend to return to places I have fished before and had good luck. So it’s great that I am blessed with fishing buddies, like Casey and Jamie who like checking out new places and don’t mind taking me along.

The other day Casey had to go to Rothsay, New Brunswick to meet up with a guy interested in a boat motor Casey was selling. Casey thought it would be a great opportunity to try a new place and wondered if I was interested.

We were there early enough that we got to checkout a few places for fishing supplies where I bought a couple of new perch pattern lures. We finished shopping for the day and headed to Costco in Rothsay where Casey was to meet the buyer.

There was a lot of fog but even so we were able to see Costco perched up on the hill. We met up with the guy and even stayed and chatted with him for a while so as not to appear rude. However I am sure he knew we were going fishing as Casey had the boat and trailor on the back of his van, so the guy said he should let us get to it and we said our goodbyes adn hit the road.

We were on the water and ready to head out for a day of fishing Meenan Cove, before 11am I believe.

Casey's Ready To Go, Don't Leave Without Me!!

The fog had lifted so that it was well above our heads but was still so thick it almost made it appear like it was dusk, yet it wasn’t even noon yet. There was no one else on the water that we could see. Lots of boat but they were all secured and empty.

I was blown away by the shore line and how huge the cliffs were. I think I was spending more time taking pictures than actually fishing. I would have to say that Meenan Cove is the most beautiful place I have ever fished.

Here is a shot that reminded me of some Asian images I have seen of mountains and hills in the distance.

Meenans Cove Scenery

We didn’t catch a lot of fish even though we saw a lot on the fishfinder. They just didn’t seem interested in what we were offering them. I went with the expectations of a wild day of fishing as it usually is in the late summer, early fall. We have been to enough places this year and had good days and not so good days, in the same places.

For that reason I won’t cross this place off my list. The potential is definitely there and we saw so much great water and weed areas. Definitely have to return and give it another try.

My wife, Jenny, is not a fisher, although when we first met she gave it her best shot, she just doesn’t have the fishing gene I guess. Anyways when I got home and showed her all the pictures I took at Meenans Cove she wanted to go there, just for the scenery.

A Foggy Day of Fishing At Meenans Cove Today

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Well I’d say Casey is looking pretty pleased with himself after landing this huge 45”. 38 1/2 lbs striped bass on Sunday September 10, 2011. I would love to have been there with my video camera.

Congrats to Casey

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Casey and I had given the Oromocto river a try about a month ago and had no luck in the river. Nothing we happening after fishing for hours so we turned back to the main river. The summer has been a strange one as far as fishing goes.

But I received an email from Casey yesterday saying he had gone fishing with a fishing buddy, back to the Oromocto river and had a pretty good day.

Here’s his email:

—–

Fished the Oromocto river on Sunday with a buddy in his boat.

He caught 17 bass and lost 4 or 5 big ones that broke his line or got off tail walking. Several were in the 17 ” range and hardly any under 12′.

I caught 18 fish, 6 or 7 bass,  15″ was the biggest. Caught several pickeral, a few chubby chubs and a couple of perch.

Was using white spinnerbait and that yellow mepps spinner.

It was a great day compared to the week before when I got skunked.

The other 2 guys fishing with us had 40 some fish, not sure of types, but lots of big bass. They went a bit further up river than we did. All fish were caught casting to shore under trees and along weed lines.

———-

Glad Casey had a better trip than his last one. It always sucks to get skunked.

I like casting to the shoreline cover. Used to use a lot of jigs fishing the structure. I also have those days I get caught up a lot but you can get some of the biggest bass out of those spots.

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Image via Wikipedia

Barry, an old friend I haven’t heard from in years, since he moved away. Well he’s moved back and gave me a call to see what’s happening in my neck of the woods.

He didn’t even fish the last time I saw him but now he’s into a little less stress in his life, for health reasons and thought fishing would be a good way to get away from things that stress him.

He told me he has always loved a good feed of brook trout and thought that might be exactly what he wants to fish for.

We met before I was married and he knows I was out every day during fishing season, even had a part time job to support my habit yet still have loads of time off. That changed once I got married of course as it wouldn’t be fair to a non-fisher lady, would it.

Barry doesn’t know how to fly fish, yet, so I thought I would just share a few tips to help him produce better results.

Trout fishing was the first thing I did when I moved to New Brunswick, where I learned to fly fish, but most of the places I was fishing back then were tough to fly fish so I did a lot of spinner and worm fishing.

It’s sure great having a huge lawn as I can get enough worms for an entire day of fishing in about 15 minutes. I water the lawn just before dark and then come back after an hour or two, with a flash light, and start grabbing them.

Where To Locate Brook Trout

It’s not hard to locate trout here in New Brunswick but to find those bigger brookies one needs a little stealth or they will spook and be gone in a flash.

Obstacles That Hold Brookies

When I am fishing brooks and streams I look for under-cut banks, log jams, turns in the brook that create deeper holes and just about anything else that will give trout protection from above and predators around them in the water.

Areas With Different Water Speeds

I also watch how the water moves because the seems between water at different speeds is a real hot spot for feeding trout. They will sit right where they keep in the slower moving water but dart out into the faster water to pick up food.

How can you tell good spots? Well I personally like to sit for a few minutes before starting and watch what floats down stream. Watch how foam, bugs, leaves and other debris moves down stream because that’s the same path the trout’s food will come.

Brook Trout Fishing Gear

When I go brook trout fishing I take both a spinning rod and a fly rod, both light action of course as most of the brookies are small and even the larger ones don’t get much past 5 lbs in the places I fish.

I really prefer that fly rod but it’s good to cover yourself in case there is no room to use the fly rod. That’s when I get the spinning rod out.

I love using dry flies for brook trout but also have great fun fly fishing using leech patterns. The brookies will hit them hard. I fish flies anywhere from size 8 woolly buggers to size 16-18 for midges.

I carry a few small lures like Mepps and Red Devils when spinner fishing. Usually I will put an attractant on the hooks, maybe even a small worm if the fishing’s tough.

Wading The Stream

When I am wading the stream I try to move up stream to prevent spooking fish, however that’s not always an option so my suggestion is to try and be as stealthy as you can because brook trout are always nervous and will scatter easily.

Enjoy the sport, ease that stress and preserve our waters, never leave trash behind and always release the fish you don’t want unharmed.

How long should you hold a fish out of water? Trying holding your breath while you’re looking at and taking pictures, when you can’t hold it any longer that’s too long for the fish.

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Trout are cold blooded creatures and are directly affected by the change in water temperature, so the colder the water the slower their energy levels. To raise their energy they will stay close to the surface in the direct sunlight where it is stronger so they can warm up their body.

The quicker a predator can swim the more they can eat. Of course the faster their food source can swim the hungrier the predator will get so it’s important to get that first direct sunlight in order to be the fastest.

I’ve found once the water reaches a particular temp, generally late spring, they do not need to lay in the sunlight as long.

Sport Fishing Those Scorching Days of Summer

Early spring throughout the beginning summer months fish, large and small, are aiming to warm-up. However, when early spring changes into summer the temperatures coming from focused sunlight gets more extreme. Fish are likely to find shelter because of the bright rays of sunlight.

Fish tend to search for deeper, cooler water or practically any kind of obstacle that presents cover out of the sun.

It’s at these times sport fishing can become seriously exciting since fish could blow up on a lure from the security of lily pads.

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I love talking about how fishing turned my life around when I was just 8 years old. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like if it continued as it had from age 5 to 8. I was already depressed and had nothing to live for, well as an 8 year old I thought that way.

It’s Take A Kid Fishing Day this weekend in New Brunswick, not sure about every where else but I think it should be a global event.

The weather people obviously don’t fish or have kids because they are calling for rain all weekend.

When you take that kid fishing be sure to make it their day, give them all the attention they need and don’t over do things. When they say they have had enough, they have had enough.

I know each time I have taken a kid fishing my heart has come out of it in better shape than when I went into it. Making a kid a happy kid, even for a day, makes me happy for a long time.

Fly fishing for me has been a relaxing way to spend weekends for the past 30 or more years. I’ve always used fishing to clear my mind of the stressful things during the previous week. Works great. The only thing that messes me up on a weekend fishing trip, whether it’s fly fishing or spinner or bait fishing and that’s to forget something important.

I actually left once and forgot my wading boot, fortunately I was only a short distance from home when I clued in and went back. So I know it’s good to have a list of what’s important NOT to forget.

First Aid Kit

Things like a first aid kit can come in quite handy but I didn’t start carrying one until after an angry pickerel twisted in my hand sending my fingers right into his gill plate. I got off quite lucky that day but every time I cast my line after that the line would drag across my wounds and remind how smart it would have been to carry a first aid kit.

Well I now carry a first aid kit in my tackle bag.

Rain Gear Doesn’t Do Much Good In The Closet

Another time I went without my rain gear and had to buy a cheap poncho at a little country store on the way. It lasted about a half hour in the rain and wind. The wind was strong and literally ripped it off me and took it right up into the sky and out of my site.

My fishing buddies of course were all nice and dry. If the fishing that day wasn’t so good I am sure I would have spent most of the day in the truck keeping dry and warm. I am sure I shook all the way home and was so glad to see my nice warm bed.

Now I keep my rain gear with my tackle bag and rods. No more fishing in freezing rain.

Note: I always tease my wife for keeping the TV on the weather channel but I will tell you that she is prepared when she leaves home. I am sure she wanted to say something about the weather channel saying it was going to rain all day but she’s kinder than I am.

Sun Screen Saves The Day

I have been out fishing on days that started cloudy and wet only to clear up part way through the day. This usually ends in me getting a bad sunburn on my neck or arms. All it would have taken was to have a little sunscreen, well live and learn. Now I have sun screen in my tackle bag at all times.

I fish from my float tube a lot and I’m so close to the water I get the sun from above and below, so sun screen is vital to my health and comfort.

Bug Spray or Bug Mesh

I am sure you have been out fishing when the bugs drive you mad or nearly. I can’t stand bugs crawling on me so I always have bug spray and I use it. I don’t like things close to my face either so I have a hard time with those mesh tents you put over your head and body. My wife uses the mesh as she isn’t willing to put poison on her body like I am willing to do.

Either way, spray or mesh, you will have a much better day on the water without the bug bites.