Spate · Mixed · New Brunswick (Miramichi system), CA

Little Southwest Miramichi

1986 Lower N Branch LSW Miramichi2

The Little Southwest Miramichi joins the Northwest Miramichi at Red Bank — smaller, clearer water than the main Miramichi, running through mature spruce forest in the New Brunswick interior.

Poor · Atlantic Salmon
Bomber · size 4–8
Closed season
Out of season. Try elsewhere.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.
What moved it
  • Level1.16 mLast reading 49 min ago
  • Water temp7.2°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Bomber
Bombersize 4–8
The Little Southwest Miramichi is classic Bomber water. Skating a Bomber through the named pools from late June through September is the standard approach; fish move freely to the surface in warm stable weather.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
1.16 m
Last reading 49 min ago
Water temp7.2°C
ClarityClear
Weather8°C
WindN 21 km/h
Pressure1025 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.0 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Cool — slow
7°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Likely species
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 10am

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 5 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Supporters see the full sub-surface read.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

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Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence

Based on species-occurrence records, not local invertebrate surveys.

Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
1
Early Black StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Eastern Golden StoneHatch
2
2
Slate Drake / IsonychiaHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Provincial licence + Miramichi system protocols.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. 1986 Lower N Branch LSW Miramichi2
    Little Southwest Miramichi
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Little Southwest Miramichi joins the Northwest Miramichi at Red Bank — smaller, clearer water than the main Miramichi, running through mature spruce forest in the New Brunswick interior. In low-water summer conditions, when the main river becomes difficult, the Little Southwest continues to fish because its narrower channel concentrates fish into definable lies. Mid-summer grilse are the primary quarry, with fresh fish throughout July and August. The upper reaches are remote and see relatively few rods, which is the most important thing about them. Atlantic salmon are managed under DFO conservation rules — mandatory catch-and-release of large (multi-sea-winter) salmon applies in most areas, with any grilse retention strictly limited by zone; check current regulations before fishing.

  • Mixed
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature3930% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time9015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 June → 15 October
  • Brook trout 15 April → 15 September

    New Brunswick brook trout (speckled trout) general season April 15 – September 15. This is primarily an Atlantic salmon river — brook trout are a secondary quarry, present throughout, especially in smaller tributaries and headwaters. NB fishing licence required. Check current NB Inland Fisheries regulations for zone-specific dates and limits.

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Booking & contacts