The Gift of the Restigouche

About mid-November, I wasn’t just giving thought to Christmas gift giving already, but buying.  That was a first for me as I’m one of those last minute shoppers who loves the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping. I love the Christmas carols playing over the store speakers and enjoying the increasing excitement in anticipation of the almost-here holiday. It’s all just part and parcel of the Holiday Season for me.

But last year, I was already knowing well in advance what I was gifting my husband and 14 yr old daughter with at Christmas.

Jax Flies On The Restigouche

One of our daughter’s favorite teachers ever, whom the students lovingly referred to as “Mr. Denis”, (pronounced “Den-ee” in the French language) had recently started a fish fly-tying business naming it “JAX Flies”. Jax would be Mr. Denis’s middle-schooled age son and right hand man in the new business venture.

I was intrigued to learn of the new venture as the only other I had known personally to tie fishing flies, was my uncle, Emerson Underhill, of Blackville, NB. who was widely recognized in the craft. He was also well known for his original fly creations: the “Green Machine” and the “Shady Lady” in the world of salmon fishing in Miramichi and beyond.  And so skilled in the art of fly-tying in fact, that it saw his induction into the Atlantic Salmon Museum Hall of Fame in 2006.  And yes folks, there is a salmon museum! I had to know more.

JAX Flies tho, as well as tying beautiful and intricate flies and already making a name for themselves in the craft as well, would also be offering blocks of fishing outings and river tours on our beautiful Restigouche River here in northern New Brunswick. And in always being up for the encouragement and support of local artisans and small businesses much like my own, I thought “What an ideal father-daughter outing that would make for Joe and Eliza!”

I contacted Denis, e-transferred for the chosen 3 hr fishing option, booked their outing date and we arranged for me to pick up the vouchers.  I gift-wrapped the vouchers with a pretty red bow and placed them on the tree for Christmas morning.

Giving The Gift Of The Restigouche

Opening his gift, Joe, of course, was thrilled as being from Germany, he had yet to be on a boat in our region and had never fished – even as a child. So he was curious to know the experience.  Something some of us will take for granted in our region, is being surrounded by bodies of water and the opportunity to take advantage of the riches of resources. That’s not so much the case in Germany! Growing up around that was not the norm, unlike it is for us here in northern New Brunswick.

Eliza tho, upon opening hers, looking a little perplexed, responded “Fishing???” Now, there’s a reason for that!

This is a kid who, when first discovering that fish sticks were made of actual fish at the age of 5, cried – in her sadness for the fish. 

But, she adores “Mr. Denis”, loves the water and would certainly enjoy the outing with her favorite person in the entire world, her dad. So there was little doubt in my mind that she would enjoy the excursion. 

I couldn’t be sure however, how she would take to the fishing aspect of the outing. 

The Outing

Their session had been booked for Saturday afternoon this past August weekend, but after seeing the thunderstorm forecasted for afternoon, it was decided that they would go out on the water in the morning hours instead.

Joe and Eliza set their alarms for 7 am and drove to our municipal boating dock on our city’s waterfront. Denis and Jax were there to greet them, and invited them to board their boat while equipping them with life jackets.

A short time later and just after motoring under the monumental inter-provincial J. C. Van Horne Bridge shared with the neighboring Quebec, they anchored in hopes of finding a school of fish awaiting them.

I so wish I had been with them to experience their first-time – to note and photograph the details, but it was their time together and I wouldn’t have dreamed of intruding. So I had to wait for the details.

When Joe and Eliza arrived back home, they were eager to share their experience with me – and it went something like this…

A Fishing Story

Due to slightly windy conditions combined with just sheer bad luck, Joe didn’t catch a thing!

Whaaaa?? The “dog whisperer”, “cat whisperer”, “baby whisperer”?? Didn’t catch a fish!??

Eliza, on the other hand, found herself with a 26” bass on the end of her line at first cast! 

And she said she almost cried.  And knowing our tenderhearted girl (who still loves fish sticks but still now obvious, the fish themselves, more), I have no doubt that she did.

The bass was quickly released back into the water. But not without a quick photo first to prove her catch, as we all know how caught fish tend to grow in size over time without one!

Gifts Abound In Our Beautiful Restigouche Region

Upon returning, she and Joe grabbed a drive-thru breakfast and enjoyed it together at a picnic table in our beautiful Sugarloaf Provincial Park.

There, they talked and laughed of their experience together earlier in the day and planned the next of their father-daughter outings – a tour on the river with Jax Flies. Followed the next year with skydiving. 

Wait!!  What!!??

The Many Riches of the Restigouche Region

If you happen to visit our beautiful city of Campbellton, NB, nestled deep within the scenic range of the Appalachian Mountains, and enjoy being out on the water, JAX Flies will take you out for a wonderful experience and gorgeous view of both province’s shorelines.

Highly personable, bilingual and engaging, you would be hard-pressed to find a more enthusiastic fishing guide, host and ambassador to our region than Denis, along with his son, Jax! 

While you’re here, you can also take in our stunning Sugarloaf Park with its campground and renowned mountain bike trails. Or hike around our Sugarloaf Mountain on the provincially maintained 4km Terry Fox Trail.  Make the 45 minute climb to the top of the mountain for a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of our little city of Campbellton, of our world famous Restigouche River (said to be the world’s best Atlantic silver salmon river) and of the Quebec side’s mountain range.

Or pack a lunch and plan an afternoon on our tranquil and scenic waterfront followed by a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk – and simply enjoy the views!

With beaches, camping, glamping, cottages and Airbnb’s, guided or non-guided fishing, river tours, kayaking and bike rentals, you’ll find numerous ways to enjoy the great outdoors and the water on your stay as our area proudly offers.

A Gift Of All Gifts

As for Joe and Eliza, they had an absolutely fun-filled morning together!  Being out on the river and loving the water as much as she does, Eliza got to spend time in the company of her fave teacher and his son. She also got to bond with her dad in experiencing fishing together for their first times ever, in yet another memory made to last a lifetime for them both.

Next Year’s Gift Giving

As for my Christmas gift-giving next year, altho I have a sneaking suspicion that a fishing rod won’t be on Eliza’s wish list any time soon, I do think it may be on Joe’s. He’s just not one to give up easily!

For sure, they will enjoy the continued tradition of father-daughter time together with maybe a river tour next summer!  So my shopping for Christmas 2021 is already more than half done!

But the year after that? They’re on their own as they plan their falls from the sky. When she’s of legal age that is. 

You know, it’s hard for me to believe that she’s SO good with the idea of sky-diving, but squeamish to catch a fish??

But it’s probably safe to say, only providing there are no fish within harm’s way where she lands!

Happy Rest-Of-Summer guys! Be safe and squeeze out that last bit of summer fun while we have it! Connect with JAX Flies to book your excursion and enjoy all that our area has to offer.

The cold weather design and paint projects time will be here again soon enough!

And snow…lots of snow! Brrrrr!!!

Up next…an ode to childhood Christmases in the Maritimes in “A Barley Toy Christmas“