Since 1953 the Miramichi Salmon Association (MSA) has worked toward the preservation of the wild Atlantic salmon and the enhancement of salmon habitat. At the MSA we are constantly striving to build and strengthen our membership, so we encourage you, if not already a member, to please join our ranks. 
Your monthly resource for MSA conservation updates, Miramichi Watershed Information, upcoming MSA Events and much much more.
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Vol. 42 January 2022
A Message from the MSA President -
Dr. Robyn McCallum
January 2022 Update

Happy New Year! This year promises to be a busy and successful year of salmon conservation thanks to supporters like you. We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and take guidance from public health as it relates to our in-person fundraising events.

Due to COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution for MSA members and supporters, the MSA US has decided to transition their in-person dinner originally scheduled to be held at the Portland Country Club to a virtual dinner and online auction at 6PM EST on Saturday evening, February 5th, 2022. We look forward to seeing you online at this important fundraiser in support of salmon conservation.

Our team is already planning field work for this spring, including our smolt estimate on the NW, and smolt collection on the SW Miramichi and Dungarvon Rivers for long-term fry stocking. Salmon eggs from our wild broodstock spawning in Autumn 2021 are safely incubating at our hatchery for release later this spring.

We are also working on our annual report and individual conservation project reports. Stay tuned to our website, social media pages, and the Leaper for more information.

Thank you for your ongoing support! Best wishes for a happy 2022.
MSA US to Host Livestream and Online Auction
Event Details

The MSA US Livestream and Online Auction is happening at 6PM EST on Saturday evening, February 5th, 2022. Due to issues related to Covid this will now be a virtual event via ZOOM.

The MSA US winter event has been held annually since the 1950s. Over the years this historic event was attended by Ted Williams, Charlie Wade, Seabury Stanton, Charlie Valentine, Kingsbury Browne, and many other important figures from the annals of Miramichi salmon fishing. Each year this gathering was the must-attend winter rendezvous of those who loved the sport, the place, and the fish, and we look forward to hosting it in a virtual capacity.

There will be great food – virtual attendees who purchase their tickets before January 15th will pick from a menu and have the gourmet meal delivered to their home. Optionally, and for late ticket purchases, you will receive a special, MSA engraved, Wheatley hybrid fly box. Additionally, if you prefer the MSA engraved Wheatley fly box to the meal option, please contact Vanessa directly at admin@miramichisalmon.ca

The evening will include a live auction for some terrific prizes including a Bogdan reel, Orvis Recon rod and reel outfit, fishing trips to Black Brook, Country Haven, Doctor’s Island and more to be announced. Later there will be a conservation paddle raise led by Colin “Rip” Cunningham. Virtual attendees will be able to text in their bids, and their hostess Caroline Marin will place their bids live with auctioneer Gary Tanner.

We hope for people all over the world who love the Miramichi and its salmon fishing to participate. The MSA dinner committee has put a lot of planning into the virtual program to make it an involved and enjoyable experience.
Set the date aside and plan to participate with your fellow salmon fishing addicts; you’ll have a great time that will help the rest of the winter fly by – pun intended.

Tickets and auction preview are available by
clicking the corresponding link below.
Online booking system "FishPal"
coming soon to the Miramichi
For the past few months, the MSA has been working to bring an online booking and information portal to the Miramichi called "FishPal". This popular online booking and information website for salmon fishing originated in Scotland and has become a hugely popular way to check fishing conditions, stay up to date on the latest catch information, and book individual rod days or full fishing trips. The MSA is excited to launch this new and helpful addition to the salmon fishing experience in the Miramichi.
 
The premise of this website seems to lend itself well to the Miramichi where there is often vacant and/or under utilized fishing water that could be sold to anglers on a daily basis. In addition to being able to book fishing directly, FishPal Miramichi will also provide anglers with a myriad of information including but not limited to fishing conditions, accommodations options, available fishing water, catch statistics, fishing reports, current water levels, weather information, future prospects and important MSA conservation activities in the Miramichi.
 
A number of commercial camps and private water owners in the Miramichi have signed on to list available fishing water on the FishPal Miramichi website. Although not fully functional yet, we wanted to share the 'soft launch' and news of this exciting new booking and information system with MSA members and supporters - we encourage you to have a sneak preview.
 
If you have fishing water that you would like to list on the FishPal site, or any questions about this system, please contact Butch at butch@miramichisalmon.ca


To check out the FishPal site please click the link below.
Staff Profile -Vanessa McLaughlin
Over the past year, MSA directors and staff alike have become familiar with Vanessa's thoughtful, caring, and creative nature. Since starting work at the MSA in February of 2021, Vanessa has excelled in her position as administrative assistant and member relations clerk.
As the days and months passed, we quickly learned that Vanessa also had exceptional graphic design, organizational and creative abilities - and we immediately put them to use! Vanessa has become a valuable member of our MSA team and we would like to extend our gratitude to her for the exceptional work and creative input she provides.
Thank you Vanessa for all that you do and for helping to make our MSA team stronger!
MSA 2nd Annual
Carleton County Christmas Auction
The MSA is please to announce that the 2nd Annual Carleton County Christmas Auction and Raffle was a huge success! With the help of auction donors, participants and sponsors the MSA Carleton County dinner committee was able to raise over $25k toward salmon conservation efforts in the Miramichi watershed - a new benchmark for annual fundraising efforts in Carleton County.

We would like to extend a huge thank-you to everyone who participated or donated to this fun auction - especially to our corporate sponsors including; Valley Equipment, McCain Fertilizer, Day and Ross and Mountain View Packers. We would also like to thank the Carleton County dinner committee for their efforts. A lot of hard work goes into making these auctions a success, and we truly appreciate everyone's participation and generosity.

The raffle portion of this fundraiser was also successful! MSA director Joe Palmer generously donated a 3 day/3 night trip to the Ledges Inn - thanks Joe! We are please to announce that Mr. Charlie LeBlanc was the lucky individual who won the draw. Congratulations Charlie and thank you for participating. We hope you enjoy your trip to the Ledges and wish you tight lines!
Save the Date!
MSA Science Symposium, Annual General Meeting, Icebreaker
In the spirit of optimism, we hope to be able to host our spring fundraising dinners, science symposium, and AGM as usual this spring - although we realize that we might have to adjust according to public health guidelines. Tentatively, we have set a date of April 29th for the MSA Science Symposium and April 30th for the AGM/Icebreaker dinner. Please mark these days in your calendar and look for updates in the Leaper, social media and the MSA website.

MSA Science Symposium - April 29, 2022
AGM - April 30, 2022
Icebreaker Dinner - April 30, 2022
Upcoming MSA Executive and Board of Directors meetings
The first MSA Executive Committee members meeting of 2022 is scheduled for February 1st and will be held at the Fredericton Inn or via zoom. Executive committee member will receive their email reminder and meeting package in the next week or two. We look forward to seeing everyone! To attend in person or via zoom, please RSVP with Vanessa by clicking the link below.

The MSA Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for February 5th at 10 am AST. A Zoom link will be circulated, and an in-person location in Fredericton will be announced shortly.
Canadian Rivers Institute
Celebrates 20th Anniversary
The MSA would like to congratulate the Canadian Rivers Institute (CRI) on their 20th anniversary. To highlight this important milestone, CRI created an informative video featuring CRI founding science fellows Dr. Rick Cunjak, Dr. Allen Curry, Dr. Deborah MacLatchy and Dr. Kelly Munkittrick. In this video (link below) the founding fellows talk about the history and beginnings of CRI along with the success and growth they experienced along the way. They also address some of the challenges they have overcome and look ahead to what the future may bring. The MSA is honoured to have both Dr. Rick Cunjak and Dr. Allen Curry on our Board of Directors. They bring an immense body of knowledge and perspective to our organization. If you would like to check out the CRI video, please click the link below.
In Memory of Donald Curry
The MSA would like to acknowledge the passing of Memorial Life Member Donald Curry of Falmouth, Maine. Since his passing on November 29th, 2021 the MSA has received a number of donations in Don's memory and we would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the many people who knew and loved him.

Don was a passionate fisherman and often travelled to the Miramichi to fish at Black Brook Salmon Club - in September of 2018 he had the pleasure of landing a 38lb salmon - certainly a highlight of his fishing career! Don will be missed by many.

Thank you to the Curry family for choosing the MSA as the recipient of donations in memory of Don.

Don's obituary can be viewed by clicking the link below.
Question Corner - with Dr. Rick Cunjak
Do you have a question about Atlantic salmon, fish biology, river science or ecosystem management that you would like answered? Have you ever wondered what salmon do in the winter, under the ice or what frazil and anchor ice is and how is it different from surface ice?

The question this month came from someone who asked to remain anonymous. They asked: How do DFO biologists estimate adult salmon returns to the Miramichi River using information from trap nets?
Dr. Richard Cunjak is a retired professor at University of New Brunswick where he held a joint appointment in the Department of Biology and the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Management. Rick has more than 35 years experience working on the behavioural ecology of riverine fishes. To date, he has published over 140 scientific papers, reports and book chapters in three languages. 
Upcoming MSA Events
  • MSA Executive Committee ---- February 1st at the Fredericton Inn or via Zoom - (link to follow via email)

  • MSA Board of Directors ---- February 5th @ 10am at TDB location in Fredericton or via Zoom (link to follow via email)

  • MSA US Livestream ---- February 5th via Zoom @ 6pm EST

  • MSA US Online Fundraising Auction ---- launching January 28th and running until February 13th

  • MSA Science Symposium ---- April 29th (tentative)

  • MSA Annual General Meeting ---- April 30th (tentative)

  • MSA Icebreaker Fundraising Dinner ---- April 30th (tentative)

Still not a member of the Miramichi Salmon Association?
 Membership in the MSA is the perfect way to express your passion and support for the Miramichi River, for the Atlantic salmon who make it their home, and for the vital work being done by the MSA to protect and conserve both for today and tomorrow!
Miramichi Salmon Association | 506-622-4000 | |www.miramichisalmon.ca