Osgur Grieve reports on the fishing on the Erriff for the period august 6th – 12th. We have had another great week here on the Erriff with a total of 56 salmon recorded for the period. Some of the catches included Donal Chambers’s brace of salmon on Thursday 7th weighing 5lbs and 7lbs from Beat 6 using a shrimp fly and he went on to release a 3rd from the Gauge pool on Beat 9 using a Black shrimp. Albert Caffrey also had 3 salmon for the day releasing a 4lbs. grilse in the middle garden pool on a shrimp fly and 2 more on Beat 6 weighing 7lbs. and 5lbs. on an Ally’s shrimp and a Bann special. Friday 8th saw the return of regular visitors from Germany Martin and Wolfgang Sesselmann. Martin was into action before lunch on Friday releasing a 3.5lbs. grilse in the Coronation pool on Beat 8, also that day Glen Harmon returned a fine 10.5lbs. salmon from the Willow pool on Beat 6 using a Stinchar stoat. On Saturday 9th Neil Spellacy fished with Willy Parlan and John Maloney and were in contact with 11 salmon, landing and releasing 4 of them which weighed 6lbs., 4lbs., 6lbs. and 3lbs. These fish came from Joyce’s sands, Boat pool, Broken bridge pool on Beat 5 and Coronation pool on Beat 8. Fly’s included Arabell shrimp, Red Francis and Red ally’s shrimp. Paddy Donegan released a fine 8lbs. salmon from the Tawnyard potholes on Beat 3 using a Posh tosh and another 4lbs. grilse from the School house run also on Beat 3.
On Tuesday 12th Tom Hodgkin (Wales) released a 3lbs. grilse from the Glencally pool on Beat 5 using a Stoat’s tail. David Tucker released 3 grilse of 3lbs., 4.5lbs. and 5.5lbs. from the Coronation pool on Beat 8 and King’s pool on Beat 4 all on a Cascade. Martin Witort had another memorable day releasing 3 grilse of 4.5lbs., 2.25lbs. and 2lbs. on Beat 6 from the Colonel’s run and Altamot’s Dam using a shrimp fly.
A special mention of the regular fishing party of Albert Caffrey, Paddy Donegan, Mick Vincent and Paddy Donegan who finished up their weeks fishing on the 9th with a total of 26 salmon landed and released, well done lads and to all our anglers!.
There was a large variation in fly’s that seemed to be working this past week but the majority of salmon landed were on some sort of Shrimp pattern. Water levels were exceptionally good for the period fluctuating between 1.3m and 1.6m for the most part.
For the period 13th – 19th September we have had 20 salmon caught and released for the period. Wednesday 13th proved to be the highlight with 14 salmon caught and released for the day. Tom Spillane (USA) fished the morning session and released a fine 7lbs salmon from the Upper sally pool on Beat 7 using a Cascade. Jimmy Gannon and David Hutchinson fished with us for the day and released 5 grilse ranging in weight from 1.5lbs. – 3.5lbs from Beats 8 and 3. on a variety of flies such as Claret bumble, Hairy mary and Screebe badger. Regular visitor Martin Witort continued his successful season releasing 3 grilse for the day. 2 of which weighed 2lbs. and 6.5lbs.and came from Doyle’s and the Willow pool on Beat 6 and the other was 3.75lbs. from the Quarry pool on Beat 2. All 3 grilse came to a shrimp fly. Rene Koenigs, Kai Puscher and Domesch Weber (Germany) fished with us and released 2 grilse of 4lbs. each and a sea-trout of 2lbs. from Black banks, Altamot’s dam and Nee’s run all on Beat 6. Andrew Stephens fished with his Dad Roger and had a very impressive catch of 2 grilse from the Coronation Pool on the same cast!!! Andrew was fishing with 2 flys and managed to land both fish with the help of his Dad on the landing net. The grilse weighed 5lbs. and 6lbs. respectively. He also released a 7lbs. wild salmon from Beat 5 on a Red and gold shrimp pattern later that day.
On Thursday 14th it was David Tucker’s turn when he released a 3lbs wild grilse from the Cottage pool on Beat 4. using a Cascade. Kevin Cronin fished a half day with us and was rewarded with a fine 6.5lbs. wild grilse from the Coronation Pool on Beat 8 and was using a Red and yellow tube fly. Later that day Peter Unsworth was fishing the Falls pool on Beat 9 and released a 5.5lbs wild grilse using a Thunder & lightning. Rene Koenigs (Germany) returned and released a 2.5lbs. grilse from the Meadow pool on Beat 4. Andrew Stephens released a fine 8lbs coloured salmon from the Tawnyard potholes on Beat 3 using an Ally’s shrimp. On Saturday 16th visiting angler Jim Haughey released a 7.5lbs wild salmon in the Gauge pool on a Bann special. At the time of writing we have just had a rise in water levels now reading 1.46m on the gauge and running clear which should stir the fish up once more.
To book fishing, contact Osgur at 095 42382 or email erriff.fishery@fisheriesireland.ie
