MUSKY
NBFG offers Musky trips to guests of all ages and experience levels.
Our guides not only help put you in the right place at the right time but ensure you will learn and benefit from their years of experience on the water. New Brunswick’s Saint John River Musky fishery has been making waves in the fishing world for over a decade now and has proven time and time again it merits the designation “world class” Only 3 bodies of water lay claim to producing a 60lb Muskellunge and “the Johnny” as the locals refer to it, is the most recent addition on that short list.
From late May through December anglers can expect to encounter exceptional numbers and size of the largest fish that swim in freshwater. Over the years our guide’s average catch rate has been steady at around 1.5-2 fish landed per day over the course of a full season. A great day of Musky fishing would be considered 3-10 fish landed. While Muskies in the 50”+ range are rare here, NB fish are famous for their girths. Often referred to as the “fattest Muskies in world”. 45 inch fish and above regularly carry weights of 30-40lbs at anytime of the year. Muskies exist in only one of NB’s rivers, but the Saint John waterway is so vast it provides a unique variety of opportunities for anglers to pursue their trophy catch. Our guides are equipped to offer trips for those that wish to troll the deep open water, cast or jig hard and soft baits, as well as fly fish for Muskies in a variety of settings including shallow fast moving waters from a jet/drift boat.
We recommend having a discussion with your guide before booking to ensure your trip is planned according to what your ideal experience entails. While we offer trips ranging from as little as 4 hours, it is recommended that multiple days are booked for those that want the full Musky experience we have to offer. Skunks do happen in Musky fishing but are rare to occur on back to back outings. Anglers can choose to focus on a particular type of fishing or opt to set their trip up for multiple experiences.
Some general information about the seasons and locations are as follows:
Late May through mid June
- waters are warming and Muskies are fresh off the spawn
- weather conditions range from 60f (15c) to 85f (30c) and there is always a chance for cloudy/rainy spring conditions or bright sunny days
- some of the best casting opportunities of the season for both traditional tackle and Fly anglers
- locations: Nackawic, Woodstock, Hartland, Perth
Mid June through late August
- Muskies are set up in their summer patterns and we have a a wide variety of options
- weather conditions range from 70f (20c) to 95f (35c) and there is always a chance for cloudy/rainy fronts that usually really turn on the fishing
- trolling the open waters is a very productive tactic
- casting and jigging traditional tackle is proven effective
- some fantastic opportunities to cast flys in fast moving shallow water
- locations: Oromocto, Fredericton, Nackawic, Woodstock, Hartland, Perth
September through October
- the fall season is traditionally some of the best Musky fishing of the year offering cooler comfortable temperatures and stunning views of the leaves changing to bright beautiful colours
- weather conditions range from 50f (10c) to 85g (30c) are usually the most comfortable “hoodie days” of the year
- while cold fronts and winds require anglers to dress up in appropriate gear, they typically act as a dinner bell for Muskies!
- trolling the open waters is a very productive tactic
- casting and jigging traditional tackle is proven effective
- as we approach late October fly anglers are in for a treat targeting roaming fish in open waters and on expansive flats
- locations: Oromocto, Fredericton, Nackawic, Woodstock
November/December
- weather conditions range from 32f (0c) to 70f (20c) so dressing for the weather is critical to ensure a comfortable day on the water. We promise the action from the fish will keep any angler warm!
- fly anglers do extremely well this time of the year often putting up the best numbers and size
- casting rubber baits, jigging trolling has produced some of the largest fish on record in NB
- locations: Oromocto, Fredericton, Nackawic, Woodstock