Twenty Years On The Miramichi: Fly Fishing, Camps, And Friendship

Send us Fan MailA river can remake its banks overnight—and remake us over decades. We sit down with the Crawford Crew, four friends who’ve spent twenty years chasing Atlantic salmon on New Brunswick’s Crown Reserve, to explore why fly fishing is as much about people and place as it is about fish. From the world-famous Miramichi to the fast water of the Restigouche, this story blends hard-won technique, camp traditions, and a deep respect for a species that still bends hooks and hearts.We get tactical without losing the magic: how to read a pool that shifted after a flash flood, why presentation beats pattern even when you swear by the Green Machine, and when a ragged deer-hair bomber outperforms a perfect tie. The crew unpacks leaders, line colors, and the “two is one, one is none” gear ethos. You’ll hear about reels screaming to backing, a guide yelling to throw the rod and chase, and the difference between a grilse’s punch and a twenty-pounder’s chaos. We also take a clear-eyed look at salmon decline—warming water, seals, historic pressure, and habitat change—and the hope built on careful catch-and-release, stocking work, and river stewardship.But the camp is the heartbeat: guitars at 3 a.m., jokes that never get old, bears splashing across, moose at first light, and that quiet moment when someone slips out early to “beat the pool.” The Crown Reserve’s 48-hour stretches gift solitude you can’t fake, logbooks full of local intel, and room for a crew to share water fairly—first fish to the angler still waiting, then it’s game on. Whether you’re a fly-curious listener, a Miramichi regular, or someone craving a reset off-grid, this is a love letter to moving water and the friendships it keeps.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a fishing buddy, and leave a quick review. It helps more river people find us—and keeps the stories flowing.Check us out on Facebook  Hunts On Outfitting, or myself Ken Marr. Reach out and  Tell your hunting buddies about the podcast if you like it, Thanks!