David McEvoy reports from Delphi:
It’s hard to believe that we are already half-way through our 8-month season. We have landed 41 fish to date, which is actually well ahead of 2024 and 2025 catches which were 25 and 19 respectively, so thankfully some cause for optimism! There were 13 landed in May despite some challenging conditions. Rainfall amounted to 124mms (4.88”), so relatively low for here. As a result the river was low, with the exception of week 21 and the first half of week 22. It’s 14 on the gauge today, but there is water forecast this week, which should bring the levels up again. Temperatures were all over the place with some bitterly cold days and then some very hot weather last week, with a high at the Doolough automatic station of 26.9 degrees C. As regards water temperature we seem to be very lucky with the highest being 15.3 degrees on Thursday afternoon. Some fisheries around the country have again bridged the 20 degrees and closing as a result.
Urs had the first fish of the month on the 1st off Finlough of approx. 12lbs on a Red Francis. Daniel Rosenbauer followed this up on the 2nd with a fish of approx. 7.5lbs, again off Finlough and again on a Red Francis. There was a bit of a lull then till the 7th when Morgan O’Brien Jnr and Snr landed a fish each. Junior his first ever of approx. 8lbs from the Bridge Pool on a Black Pennell Nymph and Senior had his off Finlough of approx. 9lbs on a Delphi Collie. The dynamic duo of Peter Donnelly and Oliver Ross had 4 for their stay, between the 11th and the 15th, all off Finlough, Peter landing 3, of approx. 15, 13 and 8 and Oliver having another of about 6lbs. Graham Fielden had a great fish of about 12, on the 15th as well, off Finlough after a monumental battle. A knot at the joint between fly line and backing caused a little panic, but a much more memorable occasion as a result and will be recounted at dinner tables far and wide. Week 21 saw a nice drop of water, with the river rising to 60. There were fish seen but they were hard to tempt. Steve Jones and Mick Stuart did have success, both landing fish of about 8 on Collie Dogs off Finlough and Morrisons respectively. The final 2 fish of the month were both landed by Andrew Lyall off Finlough of approx. 12 and 10lbs on a Red Francis. The hot weather of the past week proved a little more difficult, with plenty being seen but none co-operating.
If we get some water this week we could expect to see the first Grilse showing up. It will be interesting to see what the run is like as conditions at the time of migration last year were excellent, so hopefully it bodes well for the Grilse run.
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: [email protected]
Web: www.delphilodge.ie
