Fishery manager David McEvoy is back with a round up of the 2025 season at Delphi.
The 2025 Salmon fishing season will certainly not go down in history as one of the greatest. Having said that it’s a pattern that was reflected in the majority of Fisheries around the country with a few limited exceptions that showed slight increases in numbers returning. This was the general consensus at the Annual Salmon Watch Conference in Athlone at the weekend. It’s well worth checking this out on the Salmon Watch Ireland Newsletter.
On a more positive note our Sea Trout numbers were up with 464 landed, the majority Finnock but all in excellent condition. This is normally a result of favourable conditions at time of migration, so hopefully this year’s salmon smolt run will be reflected in a good Grise Run next year. There were 103 landed for the year, which is the lowest in a long time, but these poor returns were reflected in the majority of fisheries countrywide. One of the main points from the Salmon Watch Conference was that Marine Survival has plummeted in recent years to just 7-8%, which is a decline of over 50% since 2008, with rising sea temperatures and estuarine predation identified as major stressors.
The last fish on my previous update was taken by Cormac Hartnett. Since then 9 salmon have been landed. August rainfall was 261.9mms(10.31”) but 155.5mms of this was in the last 7 days, with the river going to 90 on the 28th. There was 1 salmon taken on the 28th by Heinz and 1 on the 29th by Jurgen of approx. 8lbs and 7lbs respectively, both from the Turn Pool on a Willie Gunn and a Conehead. That brought our total salmon landed for the month to 6. Sea Trout were good to start and then the weather turned dry and warm with water temperatures exceeding 20 degrees and as a result the middle part of the month was difficult and even the great trout men from Corrib spearheaded by John Somerville only managed 3 for the day. With the changing weather towards the end of the month fishing picked up again and Dan O’Donovan and Denis Daly had s red letter day on Glencullin with 21sea trout landed to 4lbs. Best fly of the day was a Reverend Mother!! (Not a Joke). 150 was the total sea trout for August.
September, was the wettest month of the calendar year so far with 362.1mms(14.26”). Salmon fishing was difficult with 7 landed, all of which were off Finlough. Toby Gibbons had one of 5 and one of 4.5 on the 8th and 12th respectively on a Collie Dog and a Non Descript, both at Butlers Point. On the 13th Leo Settele from Germany landed his first ever, a fish of approx. 6lbs on a Delphi Collie from Sligo Bay. Barry Farrell had one of 4lbs12ozs from the Stream on the 19th and later in the day Liam Dunne landed his first fish of the year of approx. 4lbs. Finally on the 30th, we had a relatively quiet day with a few staff and some local children. Much to the dismay of her older brother Daniel, Nina Langan landed her first ever, a fish of approx. 6lbs from Salmon City. Nina is the 4th generation of the Heneghan family to fish at Delphi; her Great Grandfather Jimmy used to sell the day tickets on the river and her Grandfather Sheamus was as good an angler that ever graced the Bundorragha. The second of the day and last for the season was caught by local teenager Iarla Gavin ( whose father Liam also worked here and now for IFI), a fish of approx. 6lbs from Sligo Bay. September was a bit quieter for Sea Trout with 139 landed. Again, it was patchy, with some days good and some very slow. Bob Hadden and David Walmsley had 14 off Doolough on the 9th and Chris Meadows had a good day on the 21st with 10 to 2.5lbs off Doolough. Toby Gibbons finished off the year with 8 off Glencullin on the 30th. That brought our Sea trout total for the year to 464.
That’s the end of another season and I can only hope that next year we will all be fit and here again to try our luck. I’m not making predictions any more as I’d probably have a better chance of winning the Lotto. But thanks to everyone for their help, custom and support throughout what was a difficult season and all we can do is look forward to a better one next year.
Our thanks to David for his regular updates and communication throughout the season!
Go fishing…
At Delphi Lodge, with many years of experience with the timing of the best runs of fish, we have in place a price system that offers both great value fishing and lets our anglers know when they have the best chance to catch a fresh run spring salmon or a summer grilse or Delphi sea trout.
Delphi Fishery
Delphi Lodge, Leenane, Co. Galway.
Tel: +353 (0)95-42222 Email: info@delphilodge.ie
Web: www.delphilodge.ie
