Three Great Reasons to be on the Miramichi, late June, 2018

If you've ever thought about making a trip to New Brunswick, Canada...and more specifically, to the Province's Miramichi River, there are several reasons to step up to the plate and make that trek in late June, 2018.  These reasons are especially compelling if you and yours enjoy the art and history of fly tying, as well as swinging said flies for fresh from the sea Atlantic salmon.  The reasons (in no particular order):

1. The Atlantic Salmon Fly International (ASFI) - from the ASFI's website (http://www.asfi-expo.com/canada/index.php):

In June 2018, Fly fishermen and Atlantic salmon fly tiers from all over the world will experience the third edition of the Atlantic Salmon Fly International (“ASFI”), a gathering that is like no other. The first two ASFI events were held in Seattle, Washington, USA in 2014 and 2016. ASFI 2018 will be held in the beautiful capital of Atlantic salmon country, the City of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada. Hosted by the Dieppe Fly Tying Club in partnership with Economic Development & Tourism Miramichi, the 2018 event will continue the celebration of the passion and art of the Atlantic salmon fly. ASFI 2018 will be exciting on multiple levels, not the least of which, given the popularity of ASFI I and II, it will be a three days event, to be held on June 22-24, 2018.

There will be at least 80 of the world's best Atlantic salmon fly tyers participating in the event, which is, of course, open to the public.  The organizers obviously loosened up on that "world's best" qualification, since they invited me to tie a few hairwings at the event.  I'm also pleased to have been asked to be the Master of Ceremony and auctioneer for the Saturday night banquet.  I'm even giving a presentation centered upon my experiences on the river over the last 20 years on Sunday at noon.

It will be a wonderful opportunity to put faces to the many names I've gotten to know via Facebook and a few different forums, for sure!

2.  The Atlantic Salmon Museum, Doaktown, NB (http://www.atlanticsalmonmuseum.com/) received an incredible collection of salmon fishing art and artifacts from the estate of a gentleman from British Columbia in 2017.  The collection, which features dozens of William Cushner fly framings, is valued at $500,000.  I took a few photos of some of the Cushner framings during a visit to the Museum (I'm proud to say I've been elected to the Museum's board of directors) last July.  Forgive the glares and reflections in the photos, please. Remember to click on the pics for larger images!

Art Flick and Ogden Pleissner:

Some of Bob Veverka's amazing work:

Simpson, DeFeo, Schwiebert and Fulsher are together in this framing:

Jim Pray's steelhead flies:

Charles DeFeo and Belarmino Martinez together:

DeFeo and Pleissner:

Walt Dette Dry Flies:

A few Lee Wulff flies:

A lot of Polly Rosborough's flies:

DeFeo, Atherton, Jennings and Wulff:

A wall full of my pal, Charlie Krom:

One of the coolest things about the Atlantic Salmon Museum is their Hall of Fame:

I am very proud to count as good friends two of the Hall of Fame inductees!

I've given you just the tip of the Museum's iceberg of goodies.  Serious fly people will want to spend the day!

3. Reason number three?  The opportunity to fish for fresh-from-the-sea Atlantic salmon!  Many experienced salmon anglers say that if they only one time to fish for Atlantics, it would be late June.  Dime bright and full of fight, June fish should be on everyone's bucket list!  The ASFI website (listed above in reason #1) has a list of outfitters that will be happy to help you find your way around the river and the fish.  And it's just a darn beautiful time to be on the river!

Hope to see you there!
Gary