Blackwater Lodge updates us:

The quiet spell had ended (as I reported in the last newsletter) on Sunday April 22nd. which was the Best Day of the Season so far, & also produced the Biggest Fish of the Season.

We then had a very good week, with a total of 12 fish caught in just 8 days giving the best total for the month since 2008.

April 21:  Dave Walsh from Mallow  had two fish on Killavullen. His very first ever springer with one of 6lb.,
followed in quick succession by a 9-9½ pounder released – both on spinner.
John McNulty had a 15 pounder on spinner on Woodstream.  This was the Biggest of the Season.


John McNulty - 15lb. Showing off his fish at Upper Kilmurry to the participants of the Open Weekend
John McNulty - 15lb. Showing off his fish at Upper Kilmurry to the participants of the Open Weekend

April 23:  A 13½ pounder for Barry Kendellan on Bridgetown & one ~8lb. lost on Kilmurry.
April 24: Two 7-8 pounders from the same beat on the upper river. One on fly & one on spinner.
April 25:  A 10 pounder reported by midday from Bridgetown on the upper river.
An 8.6lb with sea-lice taken later at Ballyhooly. Both on spinner.
April 26:  One very large fish (15-20lb) on one of our upper beats.
April 27:  A 7 pounder released on spinner from one of our upper beats.

April 28:  The First Grilse was caught, plus two 7 & 11 pounders – all taken on the lower river.

 

 

Daniel Kolomanski - 7.8lb. sea-liced. Taken on spinner on Woodstream
Daniel Kolomanski - 7.8lb. sea-liced. Taken on spinner on Woodstream

 

Prospects
With the forecast now mainly dry through the coming weekend, except for some light rain on Friday. Prospects of sport are looking superb as there is now obviously a good head of springers in the system & the river is coming into superb condition. Clarity is 3½ – 4 feet & the height on the Ballyduff gauge is now only 0.51m. It is at perfect fly height on both the upper & lower river.

 

Kieran Conlon's 7lb fish released
Kieran Conlon's 7lb fish released

Open Weekend April 21/22

 

Please see my Facebook Photo Album of this outrageously successful weekend attended by 46 particpants who were treated firstly to presentations on fly lines (Glenda) & followed by welded loops (Conor Arnold). Thereafter, it was off to the river for an afternoon of presentations & clinics on fly casting. It was so successful & booked up so quickly that a second has been arranged for May 4 which is also fully booked.

Ian Powell
Blackwater Lodge

Make a booking

Blackwater Lodge & Salmon Fishery
Upper Ballyduff, Co. Waterford.
Tel: 00 353 58 60235     From UK: 0871 474 0135  (10p/min any time!)
Mobile: 00 353 87 235 21 20
E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net