Description
The Cains River is the largest tributary of the Southwest Miramichi. The fishing and history of The Cains and Miramichi Rivers is inseparably linked. In many ways it was the development of week-long Cains River float trips by outfitter W. Harry Allen and his extended family of Wades and Allens that started things off at the turn of the 20th century. This is true for not only the Cains, but also the Miramichi area around the famous Black Brook.
On the Cains is the story of the Cains River: its fish, fishing pools, camps and lodges, and the men who spent their lives fishing, guiding and outfitting on its waters. There is more too, chapters on how, when and where to fish the Cains, flies to use, and what modern day outfitters provide fishing opportunities on the Cains.
On the Cains is filled with historic material, and boasts approximately 400 different photographs and illustrations, most of which have never been published. You’ll even get an in depth look through the private camp logbook of Seabury Stanton, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, hard fisherman, and important friend to the local people. Stanton’s notes describing over 30 years of the river’s best fishing – 1938 to 1970 – are fascinating.
In addition to the fishing, On the Cains discusses the history of the river itself from its geological structure, use by the aboriginal populations, and settlement history by both the French and English. We trace the ownership of the principle salmon pools on the river from the original Crown grants down to the current day. Many of the pools are illustrated in the book with drone photography, and illustrations by NY artist John Rice depict the routes down the Cains used for over a hundred years by guides like Charlie Wade, John Brophy, and Gary Colford.
The author, Brad Burns, is well-known in both Atlantic salmon and striped bass fly fishing circles. In 1995 Brad wrote his first book, The LLBean Fly Fishing for Striped Bass Handbook. The book is still highly regarded by saltwater fly fishermen. On the Cains: Atlantic Salmon and Sea Run Brook Trout on the Miramichi’s Greatest Tributary will be Brad’s fourth book.
In 2014 Brad wrote the very well received book Closing the Season which is still available through this website. In many ways On the Cains takes up the story where Closing the Season left off. In this latest book you will find a more in depth history of many of the fishing pools, outfitters, and personalities that are also referenced in Closing the Season. Copies of Closing the Season can be purchased at a 50% discount if acquired at the same time as orders are placed for On the Cains.