Drowes Fishery manager Shane Gallagher reports on the last few days on the River…

09/09/2014 Today’s full moon is particularly bright and close to earth, a so called supermoon, bringing the highest tides of the year. The water level in the river has rarely been above 0.4 metres throughout what has been one of the most prolonged periods of low water in many years. The low water conditions have had a serious impact on grilse fishing, making what appears to be an already poor grilse run even more difficult for angling.

Lough Melvin at Lareen Bay. The water level has almost retreated beyond the water level gauge
Lough Melvin at Lareen Bay. The water level has almost retreated beyond the water level gauge

Even the fish that are present, and there are large numbers of fish in the lower stretches, have been exceptionally dour since arrival and are now even more so as they are growing quite coloured. Fishing effort has been very low for the past weeks as everyone awaits the rain that is so badly needed but proving so elusive as we enjoy an Indian summer, forecast to last until the middle of the month. There have been occasions for celebration amid the gloom of difficult conditions though, with a number of younger anglers recording their first ever salmon and some more seasoned hands recording their first on fly.

Kevin from France with his fish from the Eel Weir
Kevin from France with his fish from the Eel Weir

Shane Gallagher
Drowes Salmon Fishery
T: +353 (0) 71 98 41055
M: +353 (0) 87 8050806
http://www.drowessalmonfishery.ie/reports/

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