Paul Whelan, Fishery Manager at Fort William Estate on the Munster Blackwater report:
1/10/12 As the main fishing season has come to an end I must say it was the most difficult season I have ever experienced. We certainly had enough rain which caused a lot of flooding and as a result the fish were just going straight through the fishery. We still had some fun and some beautiful fish were landed and released safely.
Memorable catches: Tommy Bell who is 10 years old landed a cracking 10lb fish. Tim Keane had a 14lb fish off the Ellis beat. John Brock from the U.K. landed a beautiful 16lb fish off the Bishops beat. Ciaran Ward had a 7lb fish off the Castle beat , Tim James U.K. had a fish of 10lbs off the Castle beat. Fish of the season goes to Fergus Crawford from Dublin who landed and released a cracking fish of 18lbs on spinner off the Ellis beat. This is Fergus personal best fish so we are delighted that he has his heaviest fish here in Fort William.
As today was the first day of the extension we had our first hen fish of 7lbs landed and released safely on the Castle beat by U.K. angler John Brock.
An extension has been granted for October 1st – 12th of October strictly C&R, “Fly Only”, single barbless hook.
A day,s fishing in Fort William for October is €70.
Paul Whelan,
Fort William Estate,
Glencairn, Lismore,
Co. Waterford
Tel: (00353) 87 8292077