After a few hours fishing for himself on Saturday, local angling guide Peter Cunningham was back on the River Boyne over the last couple of days with four French anglers, none of whom had ever fished for salmon before and all first time visitors to Ireland.
The water level has continued to drop in recent days but there is a lingering tinge of colour that is finding it very hard to clear. Armed with licences, permits and spinning, fly and shrimping tackle, Pascal Mellet, Lionel Fahy, Christophe Klein and Tom Lunt visited the Rossin, Slane and District Anglers waters just outside Drogheda on Monday 7th September. Prior to fishing on Day 1, Peter established each anglers fishing method of choice and explained the technical aspects of each of the techniques to be used to the group.
Then it was off to the river to try and catch one of the River Boyne’s hard fighting salmon. Within the first two hours of fishing Lionel was into a very nice fish on shrimp which made a number great runs but just as the net was being readied the fish took the line under a large rock and gained its freedom, much to the chagrin of all. Still, Lionel was extremely happy with having hooked into a big Boyne salmon at his first attempt.
Not long after this Christophe hooked into fish number two, this time on spinner but again the fish was lost after a number of powerful kicks on the surface. They say, third time lucky and so it was for Pascal Mellet who hooked into fish number three. A lovely fish, that made a number of powerful runs and jumps but despite a valliant attempt to win its freedom it was eventually taken to the net and landed. A quick weighing of the fish on a scales, by a helpful club member recorded a weight of 13lb 9oz. The fish was then returned quickly to the water and assisted to recuperate before being let off to continue its upstream journey.
As the day finished the lads were delighted with their experience and all were looking forward to Day 2.
For Day 2, Peter had decided that a change location would give the lads a better feel for the full fishery and fishing was focussed on a number of beats further upstream. The colour was still in the water but not long into the session Pascal was into his second fish of the trip and was again taken on shrimp. This fish was expertly played and landed by Pascal and weighed around 7lbs. Unfortunately, this was the only fish of the session but the group were not at all disappointed as the fishing had far surpassed any expectations that they had.
We hope to see the lads back soon and wish them well on their trip West!!
Peter Cunningham is one of the North East’s top angling guides. If you fancy a days guided fishing for salmon, sea trout, wild brown trout, pike or bass, then why not give him a call or drop into him for a chat in the Drogheda Angling Centre, Boyne Shopping Centre, Drogheda.
Peter can be contacted by Tel: 00 353 86 4682516 or by email: [email protected]
