There was plenty of water in the Owenea River this week due to the very wet weather. Every day saw a flood with the exception of Saturday which still gave fair water conditions (0.19 metres) and in fact the river was too high at times. The gauge average for the week was huge reading 0.41 metres!

The river fished very well over the week and there were some 50 odd salmon caught, mainly over the first four days of the week. Given here are some of the catches taken from the catch register.

On Monday, Patrick Scallon recorded a 5¾lb grilse caught on a fly from beat 8. David O’Donnell logged a 6lb grilse caught on a spinner from beat 6. Paul Brennan accounted for a 9lb salmon caught on a spinner from beat 8. Michael Boyle registered a 3lb grilse caught on a fly from beat 9 and Columba Campbell logged a 6lb grilse caught on a fly from beat 8.

On Tuesday, Gordon Young recorded a 5½lb grilse caught on worm from beat 9. Paul Brennan accounted for a 4½lb grilse caught on a spinner from beat 9. Jim McLean had a good day recording 3 fish caught on spinner from beat 8. The fish weighed 3½, 5½ & 7lb with 2 of these released again. Seamus Cooley accounted for 3 fish caught on fly from beat 8 weighing 4, 6½ and 8lb with 2 of these released again and Patrick Scallon registered a 4½lb grilse caught on fly from beat 8.

On Wednesday, Gordon Young recorded a 5½lb grilse caught on a spinner from beat 9. Frank Walker logged a 3lb grilse caught on worm from beat 8. I accounted for 2 grilse caught on a fly from beat 7 weighing 3½ & 5½lb with the smaller of these released. Kevin O’Neill logged a 7lb salmon caught on fly from beat 5. Paul Brennan accounted for an 8lb salmon caught on a spinner from beat 9. Thomas Corr registered a 5lb grilse caught from beat 7 on a spinner. Michael Boyle recorded a 6lb grilse caught on a fly from beat 9. Ray Robinson accounted for 3 grilse caught on a fly.  P.J. McNelis registered a 5lb grilse caught on a fly from beat 4. John Northridge recorded a 9lb salmon caught on a fly and Columba Campbell registered a 4lb grilse caught on a fly from beat 5.

On Thursday, John Northridge recorded a fine 15lb 2oz salmon caught on a fly from beat 7. Otmar Butz had a good day catching 4 grilse on the fly from beat 7. The fish weighed 5, 5, 5½ & 7lb with the three smaller fish released again. Michael Devine accounted for a 3½lb grilse caught on a fly from beat 3. Michael Doyle registered a 10lb salmon caught and released on a fly from beat 5 and Gerry McCafferty logged a 4lb grilse caught on a fly from beat 3.

On Friday, Kevin O’Neill recorded a 4lb grilse caught on the fly from beat 3.

The forecast for next week is for wet weather and so I would expect the river to have some nice water conditions throughout the week. Prospects look good once again.

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For info/bookings etc on the Owenea Fishery –

Tel: 074 9551141. (9am to 1pm April to May & 7am to 1pm June to Sept).