Only accessable by motor boat In spring.

Lake Of The Day : St. John River

The St. John River is just one of New Brunswick’s amazing rivers. Each has its own unique personality and its own distinct fishing experience, from the wading spots of the Miramichi to the world-famous salmon fishing on the Restigouche River. The St. John River is known for its variety, and has terrific fishing for several great sport fish. Anglers will find bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, musky, sturgeon and brook trout, all within a few minutes from home. Gaynor Reed, fishing pro staff at the Canadian Tire in St. John East, says that both lures and flies will work well in the St. John River. “Trout, bass, flounder, even sturgeon are all in the river.” “I’ve had lots of luck with anything shiny,” he suggests, “also with spinners, especially Red Devils.” Gold and silver are other good colour choices. He also likes using minnow imitators, and Power Bait. Reed says that fly fishing can be awesome with Dragonfly and Mosquito patterns. “There are brown trout in the river, and they can be fighters,” he says. “Gold and silver spinners can work well for them. For speckled trout, silver seems to work best for me. “There are bass in the river, too, and they’ll eat just about anything,” he adds. Frogs seem to be a popular choice for bass anglers, Reed suggests. Another of Reed’s favourites is flounder. “They’re really tasty, and they’re fighters. They’re flat-bottomed, and hauling them out takes some effort,” he says. Chris Estey, from Canadian Tire Fredericton Smythe St., says that there are also sturgeon in the river, particularly below the Mactaquac Dam. He suggests using a heavy sinker and worms to target them. You’ll even find muskies in the St. John River. Muskies Canada St. John River Chapter says that, “Lures for Muskies are larger than those used for bass. In general, the earlier in the year, the smaller the bait. Most anglers have a variety of different baits to fish at different levels in the water. Trolling and casting can both work very well for Muskies, so many different types of lures can be effective at different times. For example, a large spinnerbait or shallow diver could be chosen to fish a grass line in 5 feet of water, while moving off of the grass line, into deeper water, the same lures may be chosen, but a deep diver may work better depending on the level of the fish. It is best to throw a variety of different presentations.” Check out the St. John River Chapter of Muskies Canada at muskiesnb.ca Estey notes that glide baits and large crankbaits can work really well for muskies. He suggests trolling those. If you’re fly fishing, go big. Again, larger sizes should be your first choice. As always, before fishing any river, please ensure you’re familiar with the regulations. Respect private property, and make sure you’ve got the proper gear for your outing. Reed and Estey note that some sections of the river can be closed at times, or are fly-fishing only. Stop by Canadian Tire in Fredericton and St. John before heading out! Chris Estey and Gaynor Reed have more great tips and all the right gear to get you set up for your trip.