Trip update part 1

Well, it's been a heck of a week (or so) on the rivers. Ended up with 2 crown reserve trips and some quality time spent at the Oxbow in between. UPPER OXBOW ADVENTURES

2260 Rte 420,
Sillikers,NB
Canada
E9E 1T3

GPS Coordinates
N 46°57.223'
W 065°51.644'

Mailing Address:
Box 291
Red Bank,NB
Canada
E9E 2P2

Phone: 1-888-227-6100
Fax: 1-506-622-7691
Email: adventures@upperoxbow.com
Again, I can't say enough about Dale & Debbie and the wonderful staff and guides at the Oxbow. Do yourself a favor and book an adventure - fishing, hunting, canoeing - they do it all!
This trip started out with a ton of planning, packing, tying and anticipation. The story of the summer has been drought and low fish numbers and our trip coincided with the tail end a beautiful raise in all rivers, but would we find fish??

Trip Preparations:

After a dramatic thunder shower on Saturday that threatened to delay my Wife and Son's departure for Winnipeg I was finally on the road.

Outside of Sussex on the old TCH:

After a quick night at the Den I was off to meet the Elsons at the Oxbow.

While there Paul and I were treated to some one on one time with a master spey caster named Walt. He is a Hardy/Airflo guy and he hails from Massachusetts. The few times I got to hang out with Walt I was able to figure out all the things i've been doing wrong -- and trust me, the list is LONG!!
Paul and Walt walking to the 'Home Pool'

After being spoiled at the Oxbow it was time to head to Squirrel Falls Crown reserve

If you've ever wondered what it's like to drive behind a 'Fishinnut' on a dirt road, you've come to the right place! The going joke is that all these fast driving, dirt road loving types have graduated from the Brett Silliker School of Driving -- I think Paul was one of his star pupils!

Random beauty (that stuff was everywhere!)

Finally arrived!

Jeff and Freddy hadn't arrived yet so Paul and I hit the river -- I mean what else are ya gonna do?
There were lots of these fellas around:

An unfinished panorama at the 'Squirrel Falls' Pool:

And that'll just about tie up part 1 ... time to step away from the PC for a bit but be sure to check tomorrow for part 2! Thanks for following my adventures, folks!

What a great first week this has been!

I can't believe how lucky I've been to be able to meet such fine people and spend some quality time with good friends in beautiful places.
A big thanks to Dale & Debbie at Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures for their absolutely wonderful place and being able to able to accommodate me on absolutely zero notice. If you need a place to get away from it all the guides and staff at the Oxbow will make it happen. For contact info. just google them for now but when I get a chance to do an update from a pc instead of an iPhone I'll be adding a link to this page. I can't recommend any place more than the Oxbow!
The fishing has been challenging by times but we're managing to hook and catch a few, so life is good! The water conditions are about perfect but with the warm temps I'm not sure how long before things get bad for fishing.
We spent our first days on crown reserve at Squirrel Falls and the fishing was tough but we managed 7 fish between the 4 of us including a couple salmon. Very few pictures as a lot of the time we fished solo but here's one of Fishinnut and a grilse at long pool. Paul has achieved his revenge on this pool after a 20 year wait!

I have lots more to share but it's time to go fishing!

Tying and packing...

I believe this is becoming obsessive... Been tying a couple flies, packing some gear, crossing things off the checklist and adding more items to the 'what if' list... I'm sure by the time 3 vehicles and a couple atv's arrive at squirrel falls on Sunday AM we'll have enough gear and supplies between us, but you never know!

Today began two weeks vacation for me and I'll be spending 90% of it on the Miramichi or one of her beautiful tribs! The only thing that would make it better is if my Dad and Son were along for the trip but it's not in the cards this time around. We'll be back at the Den together soon enough though.

Today, Paul managed to get us drawn for a live release crown reserve stretch for the 13th-15th - two trips in the same week is definitely going to spoil me!

Getting ready....

Crown water starts Sunday and after that the balance of my 2 weeks will be spent chasing silver around the Miramichi system... I'm tying up a few bread and butter patterns like the trusty Black Bear Green Butt....

Is there another word for anxious?? It doesn't seem quite strong enough!

Seeing a few fish at the camp...

... But the river is still some high. We fished the NW yesterday for a few hours. Everyone we spoke with didn't see any fish but I heard the Elson crew landed one on Thursday and hooked another on the NW while doing a canoe run. Today Billy and I went down to the rapids for a couple hours, no fish seen and the wading is dangerous. We are not what you would call 'fishing seriously'.

Oh yeah, If you need thermacell refills, get ahold of Syd Matchett at Trout Brook fly shop -- best prices in NB without a doubt.

A few pictures from the day..

Chances are there'll be no way to get close to a fish tomorrow on account of the high water but the scenery and the laughs will be second to none :)