FALL IS FINALLY HERE!

The end of summer provided us with some beautiful weather here at home on Salmon River and it seemed as if the sun shone every day. I appreciate all that nice weather but we needed a good rain and it's on it's way as I write this. The forecast is for about 100-150 mm. of rain over the next four days. That's quite a dump of rain in a short period of time but I think it will put our rivers right back to a good level for the fall. This is going to provide salmon fishermen on the Cains River and the MSW Miramichi with some terrific fishing to end a very good year for returning salmon.
    I was thinking about the changing weather patterns and how many times, nowadays, we get large dumps of precipitation over a short period of time. After seeing the latest forecast, it really struck home how things are changing. This is a photo I took four years ago of the maples on Moon Island in all their splendor.

 That photo was taken a full five days earlier than this one I just took today which is the twenty-ninth. 

 That's a pretty drastic difference in color. Summer really did stay longer this year. The leaves have barely started to change this year. It makes me wonder if this is a trend or just a normal aspect of a bigger pattern of weather events.

    The pickerel bite stayed good right up until the first day of fall. That's the last day I fished before I hung up my spin-cast for the year. I did well each time I went out, catching at least a half dozen fish between 18-24 inches. This is a photo of the biggest pickerel I caught this year. It was twenty-four and one quarter inches. Not my personal best but still a trophy pickerel. Here are a couple of photos of this years fish.

I really like the plastic measuring board put out by Frabill. You can get quick, accurate measurements of your fish that will help to keep you honest and help get the fish back in the water quicker.

 These fish were hard fighters because the water stayed cool and conditions were perfect for this species. Here are some more photos of fish we caught.

 

 The average size of the pickerel we catch would be around twenty inches. They will readily take a lure and give a good fight with light tackle. It's a great species to start young fishermen out on because they will usually co-operate by giving a good bite. This is a photo of me with a fish I got while out by myself one evening.

 I caught several nice fish that night and that was the pattern for most of the late season on Salmon River. I think this fish was the best one I got that night at twenty-three and a half inches. 

    We will be finishing off the fishing season with trips to the Miramichi and Cains rivers for fall salmon and it looks like the last two weeks will have lots of water throughout the province. 

    The Canada goose season started with a bang for my neighbor across the river. His fields are looked after by the local dairy farmer and the geese are regular visitors there. They will feed in his fields all day and then fly out to the bar in the river to spend the night. Rodney has been setting up for geese each fall for several years now and they have a good system worked out. Last numbers I heard was around forty birds for him and his shooters. I'm sure their hunt this year compared well to other years because they have had consistent shooting all along.

    A couple of other hunters who were hunting fields south of here, further down the river had some good luck one day. Randy-Michael L. and Cora B. were set up and watching flocks around them but they were staying just out of range. They sat tight and in the meantime while they were waiting for a flock to come in range, out comes a flock of turkeys! 

 They said the turkeys didn't bother the geese any and although they didn't mingle, they all shared the same dinner table and chowed right down. After a short time the turkeys moved on and the geese started milling around the field again in small groups and Randy and Cora were able to score on a few geese including Cora's first!

This photo shows Randy picking up a goose during their early season field hut. 

 Duck season is just around the corner and it should be a good season because there seems to be lots of birds around.

   The 2015 moose hunt was just completed and by most accounts it was a very good season. Although the afternoons were quite warm, the nights cooled off nicely and temperatures were into single digits. Most hunters said the moose were calling well but many times they were frustrated because the bull wouldn't leave the cow. If this happens, moving closer while grunting like a bull and thrashing the brush will sometimes bring him charging. This can be a nerve racking experience but it's quite a thrill also, if it ends well. There were some trophy bulls taken again this year with the bulk of them from the northern half of the province. We registered around seventy moose at the cache here in Chipman and that compares closely to last years total. Here is a photo of the first page registered when I stopped in at the half way point. 

 C. Shirley of Chipman had one of the first bulls registered as well as one of the biggest at 789 lbs. M. Jardine of Chipman brought in a twenty-two pointer that was bigger later on in to the season. There were fifty-three moose registered at the half way point. My neighbors group had three tags and filled all three. Another group from Minto who work at the local saw mill filled both of their tags in Salmon River. Here is a photo of one of the great bulls taken up north this season.

 That's one happy hunter right there! This next photo shows another great bull taken in the northern part of the province this year.

 Just one look at the bulls in these photo tells you that New Brunswick has some trophy sized bull moose walking around out there.  This next photo shows another trophy taken on the last morning of the season. This tremendous bull has twenty-seven points.

 

    The final tally for moose killed this season was 3728. This is 45 more moose than was killed last year. The southern zones had a decrease of sixteen percent less moose killed. This was offset by a similar increase in the northern zones. Another great year for moose hunters in New Brunswick.

    We just had a rare celestial event occur in our skies a few days ago. The "blood" moon was very visible in the skies around home and folks took advantage of this fact by getting some good shots of the moon as it was eclipsing. This photo shows the moon before the eclipse.

 The next photo shows the moon in full eclipse and in its "blood" stage.

 Brenda D. of Minto took some great shots of the event and I want to thank her for letting me use her photo,

    Since duck season starts tomorrow, I thought I would show my readers a couple of prints I picked up recently. The first one is entitled "Mallards Jumping". This print is dated 1953.

 The next one is a Canada goose print entitled "Canada geese. After a Squall". This print is also dated 1953 by Henry Holt & company, inc.

    I want to take this opportunity to wish all hunters a safe and successful 2015 season and remember to take a beginner, if you can find a likely candidate.

    This is Dale Bauer saying "Happy Trails to You.....Until we Meet Again!"

SUMMER WINDS DOWN

    This past month the weather has been typical for this time of the year. Hot and muggy, the time of year referred to as the dog days of summer. Some years we don't have that extended hot weather that causes this uncomfortable condition but this year has held true to tradition. If you were fortunate enough to be on vacation then you probably thought the weather was great but for the poor unfortunates that had to work outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning, it was almost unbearable. Fortunately, we are getting a good rain as I write this. This rain will provide some relief for Atlantic salmon and other cold water species such as trout. Salmon and trout just can't take warm water and must take refuge in cold water pools and spots where springs are present. This puts stress on these species sometimes because of over crowding and because they are more vulnerable to predators. Fisheries managers of late have recognized this fact and implement angling bans for salmon during these periods. This is good news because Atlantic salmon are a species under constant threat these days. Salmon anglers have made sacrifices to the point that the sport is losing participants and that is not good for the salmon or the sport in the long term. It is human nature to make sacrifices for something you love and it is also part of our nature to abuse something because of greed. This is what is happening with the survival of Atlantic salmon. The lovers giving and the greedy taking. Such is the human condition. Until the money is taken out of wild Atlantic salmon we are doomed to be caught in this downward cycle. The older I get the more I have become convinced that greed will be the sin that ultimately destroys us. On a more positive note, one prominent salmon outfitter has hinted that there are talks going on between some players in the salmon fishery in New Brunswick and a new strategy is being looked at as a means of stabilizing and increasing participation in this sport. This idea has been bantered around for a while now and it must have merit or it would have died already. I hope this initiative works because all New Brunswickers will benefit from it. The number of fish returning this year is heading towards above average with a high percentage of grilse. This bodes well for the future of the Atlantic salmon fishery in New Brunswick. This photo shows me with a beautiful June salmon I landed a couple of years ago.

    The pickerel bite slowed down a bit during the worst of the heat wave these past few weeks but we still managed to get a few. Pickerel can tolerate higher water temperatures than our cold water species but the bite can slow down if it gets too high. I consider pickerel to be an underrated sport fish and it really does deserve more protection. Why would you need more than two fish a day? The current limit of ten a day is way too high and opens the door to abuse for those that choose to do so. It takes a few years for pickerel to reach their maximum size and they are relatively easy to catch . This combination of facts makes them vulnerable to overfishing. They are just too much fun to be only caught once. Hook and release works with big pickerel. If handled properly, they will live to fight another day. And another. And another. Through the years here at home on Salmon River the pickerel fishing has been quite consistent. Most of the people who fish in our area know each other and everyone endorses the same philosophy. Hook and release. This has really helped to stabilize the numbers and it's hard not to have a good day on the water. This photo shows me with a nice pickerel I got one evening He was 22 inches on the measuring board.

 I consider any pickerel over twenty inches as big and twenty-four inches is a trophy sized fish. These fish put up a great fight especially if the water stays cool. Pickerel are a rough and tough fish and you can have a lot of fun fishing them during the dog days of summer when the cold water species are suffering. I love taking beginners out fishing pickerel for the first time. These toothy predators of the lily pads rarely disappoint and it's a great fish to start kids out on because if they land one, they get pretty excited. We recently had a family from Fredericton staying with us and my son Curtis took them out one afternoon and as you can see from the smile on this little guys face, they did alright. Curtis told me that later that evening the pickerel were tearing up the surface of the cove they were fishing. Even the parents were amazed at the aggressive strike of the pickerel as they rocket themselves at the lure while it is being skittered across the surface . It never gets old when you are having action like that!

 I also had a chance to get out for an evening with my favorite fishing partner, Donna A. of Carrolls Corner near Doaktown. Donna and I have had many successful trips for pickerel on Salmon River and salmon and trout on the Cains and Miramichi Rivers. They say you are never too old to learn and Donna proved that to me during our last outing by outfishing me two to one just by having one small modification to her terminal tackle. The next photo shows me with one of the fish we caught that night.

 We both caught some nice fish that night but after I lost a huge one Donna saved the day by landing a nice twenty-three incher. This fish fought hard and I thought for sure she was going to loose it a couple of times but she prevailed and  we finally landed it. After a measurement and the obligatory photo, Donna slid the fish back in the water and we watched it lazily swim off. Here is the photo of that fish.

    I've noticed there is a touch of fall in the air as I write this bit of blog and the birds are starting to flock up. We had a good hatch of ducks this year and there are some good patches of duck oats around our area and I'm already seeing flocks dive bombing into the ponds in the evening. I expect we will have some good shooting this season. 

 Lots of feathers in this patch and I noticed a couple of black ducks hanging around. 

    The geese in our area have been feeding in the local fields and spending the night on Parkhills Bar at the head of Moon Island. This has become standard operating procedure for the flocks in our area ever since their numbers started increasing  after beings stocked with birds from Ontario. The local fields and large meadows provide good shooting for these big waterfowl, especially early in the season

    Moose season is coming right up and although we don't have any tags we will be there in spirit. The moose population is very good here in New Brunswick and a tag for any zone should provide shooting opportunities especially now with the season extension from three days to five.

    I continue to pick up outdoor related items during my travels and I was happy to find another copy of the great salmon fishing book " The Song of the Reel." This is one of several books by noted New Brunswick  author George Frederic Clarke. His books have been increasing in value as sportsmen the world over discover these relatively unknown gems of literary joy. I have read most of them and I buy every one I can find.

    Every once in a while I come across something that really thrills me upon discovering it and acquiring it for my collection. I happened to notice an advertisement for a weathervane made of wrought iron shaped as an Atlantic salmon laying over two traditional salmon flies. I was immediately interested and contacted the seller. What really sweetened the deal for me was that he would be willing to trade for an item that I had and was of no value to me. After we met and did our exchange, I was turning to walk away with a big grin on my face when the seller stops me up. He says " I forgot to mention it because I didn't know if you knew the man but that weathervane sat on the shed of the late Jack Fenety". My jaw dropped and you could have knocked me over with a feather. Yes, I knew of Jack Fenety. He was a luminary in the world of salmon angling and his chosen profession broadcasting. But it was his connection to salmon fishing and the Miramichi river and the conservation of the fish in those waters that I admired about him. After asking enough questions to at least partially verify the story, I called Jacks son and he verified that it was, indeed, his fathers weathervane. I think I will get it painted by some talented person and notarized on the base so future owners will know who originally owned it. It probably belongs in a museum somewhere. Here is a photo of that weathervane

 

    If anyone would like to spend some time in our area hunting fishing or just sight seeing, please don't hesitate to give us a shout. Until then, this is Dale Bauer saying "Happy Trails to You.....Until we Meet Again".

CAMPING, THE SUMMERTIME BITE AND VINTAGE OUTDOOR STUFF

    We have had some beautiful weather here at home on Salmon River this past month and most folks were happy to see it after the late, cold spring we had this year. We have been having a great time fishing, boating and camping around some of the beautiful spots close to home. Salmon River is a wonderful, diverse eco-system that empties into Grand Lake via Salmon Harbour. Ken and I are lucky to live on what we think is the nicest stretch of the river. We are located on the lower river and this is where the richest habitat is. This is because of the smaller tributaries that flow in creating broad, grassy meadows interspersed with small ponds. Many aquatic species call these spaces home. This is a photo taken from our shore looking over at Moon Island.

 There are lots of photo opportunities around and it pays to keep a camera close at hand to capture those special moments. This next photo was taken behind a large white pine and looking down river from our place.

 Ken and I, along with my son Curtis and Ken's nephews,  Dallas and Jamie have made some very nice camping spots over the years and family, friends and visitors all enjoy their time at these special spots. We set these campsites up with comfort in mind and we don't really think of it as "roughing it". I really like setting up a remote spot on a river or stream that doesn't get much traffic and taking in some of the splendor that is inherent in the old growth areas we prefer to use. This is what I think camping is all about. With the technology available to campers nowadays, there is no need in being uncomfortable. I always sleep like a baby in the woods. I remember a time many years ago when my Uncle Gowie and I were camping in the fall on the Pleasant Brook portage and he nearly scared me to death! We had settled in for the night and I quickly fell asleep. Uncle Gowie was sipping some beverage as a tonic to help him sleep and was also starting to doze off. All of a sudden Uncle Gowie grabbed me hard by the arm and bellowed '' What was that!'' I nearly came out of my skin and I asked him what was wrong. He said ''I felt something brush against the tent!'' I told him to calm down and listen and I thought I could hear something moving off. Uncle Gowie finally calmed down and I quickly went back to sleep. I don't think Uncle Gowie slept a wink that night and I discovered on that trip that poor, old Uncle Gowie was a little fearful sleeping out in the bush in a tent.

He must have been because he always had a good supply of tonic to calm his nerves at night and hopefully knock him out for a while. I still get a good chuckle whenever I think of that story.
    This next photo is one of my Grandson Jackson. We had a big feed and Jack was having a good time and we all had a good laugh

 Jack is well known and loved by all in the village and was recently crowned '' Little Mr. Minto 2015 '' during this years Festival Days. And yes, he's a camper too! He met Ol' Wes Hargrove on the path going down to the boat launch and Wes asked him if he liked it up here and he said he sure did and that he came up every year! Wes got quite a chuckle out of Jacks enthusiasm and told him there was no nicer place around. 

 

    There was a strong run of gaspereau and shad up Salmon River this year,  with a few nights in June where the water was churning as far up and down the river as one could see. The annual Monte Farrell Shad Tournament was held again this year at it's usual time and was well attended. I didn't get any first hand reports but I did hear that there weren't many fish caught. Again, not sure who won with the few fish that were caught.

    New Brunswick's salmon rivers are experiencing strong runs this year and that is good news after a couple of poor years in a row. There are lots of fish in the Miramichi system and although we just had a warm spell, much needed rain arrived to cool things off and get the fish moving again. There seems to be a good mix of both salmon and grilse and that bodes well for the overall health of the

Miramichi.

    I finally got some time to hit one of my favorite trout streams and it was a great trip with some great company. Donna A. of Doaktown is an avid fisherwoman and nature lover. I might also add at this point that she is in very good physical condition! I have fished this small stream from start to finish over the past forty years and the stretch we fished is one of the best. It's a mile of beautiful, small pools that hold lots of pan sized brook trout. This photo shows Donna making her way up the stream.

 This photo shows one of the small brookies Donna caught that day.

 Here is a shot of a couple of the panners we caught that day. It was a beautiful day and Donna was amazed at how rugged and scenic our surroundings were. Even today, this spot doesn't get fished much because of the cliffs that must be navigated to access this little gem of a spot. The next photo shows me using my little fly rod. As usual, a small muddler with a red tail was tied on the business end.

 I caught about twenty or so of these little brook trout and kept five of the best ones for supper.

 Donna was using spinning gear and caught about a dozen or so and she kept her five for supper also.

 The next photo shows Donna holding our alder bush with the trout done up old school.

 As I said earlier, this fish is not for the feint of heart. Rugged rock cliffs that aren't to far off of vertical going in and out but it makes for some great scenery at the same time. The next photo shows a large white pine growing out of one of the cliff faces.

 The next photo shows some beautiful wild flowers growing at the edge of the water.

 Even with the rugged terrain,  this was still a super day on the water and I don't think I'll wait too long before getting back in there.

 

    This time of year we like to turn our attention to pickerel fishing because when the cold water species are shutting down the fishing for these toothy critters is heating up. We have a couple of killer spots close to home and we usually concentrate on those ones but there is lots of habitat on the lower Salmon River. I got a chance to get out with Kenny one evening for a short fish and the bite was hot in the lily pads. I didn't keep count but we must have hooked 40-50 fish in a couple of hours time. That's great entertainment any day you are into fishing like that. Ken caught the first fish.

 It didn't take me long to catch up to him because as soon as the lure hit the water the pickerel were attacking it.

 We got a few nice ones between 20-23 inches and these fish fought hard for their size. All hook and release that night.

 When we were packing it in for the night Kenny remarked he had forgotten how much fun fishing for pickerel is when the bite is on. I have to agree with him. It's a lot of fun!

Ken likes to use a gold mepps with red feathers if he has one on hand. I prefer gold Hildebrandt's with a double tail jig on a weedless hook. Don't forget to use a leader or you could end up losing a lot of gear. The next photo shows my basic rig for fishing pickerel but I will use frogs and Top Props at times.

 

    I always have an eye out for outdoor related items and have amassed quite a collection over the years. For some reason I get great pleasure out of finding and acquiring a variety of items from books and prints to ornaments and folk art. Not all the stuff I collect is old. If I like something, I won't hesitate to buy it, if the price is right. If I don't think something is a low enough price to make a profit, it stays there. I'll find out how good my strategy was when I retire in a few years.

    One of the things I like the best that hangs on my wall is a paddle Kenny made for me. Ken said he wanted to try and make one so I said if it turned out I would buy it from him for a fair price. I went with him to the cabinet factory where we got birch,  maple and oak edgings. He selected and arranged these strips and laminated it into a board. After getting the rough board he planed it down to the thickness he wanted and cut out the rough shape of the paddle. After hours of hand work the paddle was carved and burned. He finished it off with six coats of varnish. The end result was a work of art and I will never use it or sell it. I asked Kenny why he never made another one and he said he couldn't get the money out of one to cover the labour that went into making one. He reminded me that the paddle is all hardwood which is much more difficult to work with. Here are some photo's of my paddle.

 Kenny is a talented wood worker who mostly makes things for family as gifts but once in a while he has something for sale. If you like what you see, feel free to leave feedback and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

 

    Until next time, this is Dale Bauer saying "Happy Trails to You....Until we Meet Again!"