Colin Folan of Lough Inagh Lodge was on share the news of a special catch…
Seamus Mallon with his salmon
A regular Lough Inagh visitor Seamus Mallon (Armagh) landed a beautiful fresh salmon from the lake. The fish took a size 10 Connemara Black. Happiness is not the word for this. This is total bliss. Well done Seamus!
Loughs Derryclare and Inagh lie in the lovely Inagh Valley with the Twelve Pins (Bens) of Connemara rising steeply to the west, and the Maumturk Mountain range to the east. There are two short connecting rivers, which contain four river beats. The fishery has spring salmon, grilse, sea trout and large indigenous brown trout. In recent years the fishery has seen a resurgence of fish numbers, and in 2010 – 2012, the fishery has produced Salmon to 15lbs, Sea Trout to 5lbs and Brown Trout to 12lbs.
Towards the end of last week there was a bit of action on the Munster Blackwater, but since then the fishing has slowed again as levels dropped away…
Ferdinand had great fishing on June 14th catching salmon and sea trout. All released #CPRsavesfish
Jason Corcoran from Ballyduff Bridge reports that the total catch for June at the fishery to date is 15 salmon. There has been an increasing number of fish being seen running, and a significant number of fish has been lost including a number of double-figure fish. Most of the better fishing was enjoyed last week.
Since then it has been dry, and the level has fallen steadily. With few rods out, only three salmon have been landed since the 14th, but again a fair number met and lost, and running fish continuing to be seen. The level is currently around 0.13m at Ballyduff.
Over on the Blackwater Salmon Fishery it was a similar story with 3 salmon caught on June 14th. One of these was caught by junior angler Liam, who persevered with the fly rod and eventually met a fine salmon which gave him the thrill of his life. The fish was released after a quick photo. A great example to anglers young and old.
It’s going to a busy day tomorrow on the Blackwater Salmon Fishery as more junior anglers will descend on the river to learn about fly fishing, river biodiversity, conservation catch and release, and hopefully catch a fish or two. It’s all part of Glenda Powell’s commitment to International Year of the Salmon.
The Met Eireann 7 day forecast is showing plenty of rain for southern Ireland on Saturday 22nd June and Sunday 23rd – not clear yet how much might fall on the Blackwater catchment. – we all live in hope.
Go Fishing…
Blackwater Salmon Fishery
Blackwater Salmon Fishery has 3 beats downstream of the weir and 2 upstream of the weir. Blackwater Salmon Fishery offers fishing on approximately 5 miles of the river Blackwater. The fishing is spread throughout the middle section of the river to offer good sport throughout the fishing season. Due to the location of the beats, fishing can still usually be offered in low or high water. Contact Glenda Powell: Lismore, Co Waterford, Email:[email protected] Mobile: +353 (0) 872351260 Telephone: +353 (0) 5853929 Web: www.blackwatersalmonfishery.com
Ballyduff Bridge Salmon Fishery
Ballyduff Bridge fisheries control a number of beats of the Munster Blackwater. The Ballyduff Bridge beat is almost a mile long offering a huge variety of water and is particularly suited to fly fishing. Upstream near the village of Ballyhooley (a few miles outside the town of Fermoy, Cork) we have two beats. The Ballincurrig Beat is one of the most beautiful locations along the river and has an excellent piece of fly water flowing into a deep pool. Just downstream on the opposite bank we have a short but productive beat, called Magners. This beat fishes also well in high water.
Fortwilliam Fishery offers two miles of double bank salmon and trout fishing over five beats on the river Blackwater.
Our salmon include – Springers, May Salmon, Grilse, Back End Salmon, and in Summer sea trout.
Our beats provide a wide variety of water, suitable for both beginners and the more experienced fishermen.
Fortwilliam Fishery, Glencairn, Lismore, Co. Waterford, Ireland Web: www.fortwilliamfishing.ieEmail: [email protected] Tel: (00353) 87 8292077 or 058 75299
The following is the angling report for the Erriff 13/6/19 – 19/6/19. We have had a very good week here on the Erriff with 23 salmon landed and more hooked and lost. Some of the catches were as follows: on Thursday 13th regular visitor David Dugdale finished his 3 day visit in style releasing a wild salmon of 8lbs from the Middle Garden Pool using a Cascade and a 3lbs grilse from the Gauge Pool, also on a Cascade. Later that afternoon regular anglers Sean McManmon fished with Pat Erritty and both were into action – Sean landed 2 ranched grilse of 4.27lbs and 5lbs on a Green Butt Cascade in the Sea Pool and Pat released a wild grilse of 2.5lbs also in the Sea Pool using a Green Butt Cascade.
On the evening of Saturday 15th Seamus O’Neill released 2 wild grilse of 3lbs on a Delphi Collie from the Falls and Middle Garden Pool. On Father’s day Sunday 16th the former fishery manager James Stafford and son Trevor returned and had a great afternoon and evening landing 6 salmon between them, 3 of which were wild and released, all caught on a Green and Black fly of Trevor’s own tying. Local angling club chairman James O’Neill fished on the evening of Monday 17th and landed 2 grilse of which 1 was wild and released, weighing 4.25lbs and 5lbs, James was using a Cascade in the Bridge Pool and Middle Garden Pool.
New anglers to the fishery Kieran McDonnell and Jules Bradbury landed 2 ranched grilse of 3lbs and 4.75lbs from the Middle Garden Pool on Cascade and Cascade variant. Sam McManmon returned on Wednesday 19th and released a 4lbs wild grilse from the Glenanane Stones on Beat 7 using a size 10 blue and silver fly of his own tying proving you don’t always have to use a Cascade to catch a salmon here!
The rain we got during the past week have brought more grilse into the system which is good to see and provided we get another drop of water over the next few days the good fishing should continue.
Go Fishing
The Erriff is a spate river draining beautiful mountain scenery and entering the sea at Killary Harbour, near Leenane. The river is split into 9 beats, and is flyfishing only for the most part. The river provides quality fishing for salmon and sea trout in spectacular surroundings. There is also lake fishing available on Tawnyard Lough, on one of the tributaries, providing sea trout fishing from July to September.
If you wish to book fishing please call the fishery office on (095) 42382 or email us at [email protected]
Inshore fishing for Pollack and Cod has been good on most days with ling showing on wrecks. Mackerel have been very patchy with either box fulls or none at all. Hopefully the forecast warmer weather next week will improve their reliability. West Cork Charters had some great publicity last month when I was lucky enough to get a shot of a Killer Whale chasing Common Dolphins offshore so who knows what could be next appearing in our catches?
John Dillon with his Blue Shark
We took a run out on Tuesday sharking and had 4 reasonable Blues to the boat but the undoubted highlight of the day was Connor O’Reilly’s big Porbeagle, a little over 7 feet long and around 300lb makes it much larger than the Porgies of recent years in West Cork and was brilliant to see. The shots aren’t great as they were from up on the flybridge but the six of us onboard Silver Dawn were amazed to see such a beautiful fish close up. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.
Connor O’Reilly’s big Porbeagle
David Edwards, West Cork Charters
Go fishing…
West Cork Charters operates the Silver Dawn, a 41′ Rodman 1250 with twin 430 HP Engines out of Courtmacsherry. The range of fishing found within close range of Courtmacsherry is superb, with trips producing anything between 6 and 15 different species as a norm and in excess of 20 is possible if anglers are prepared to change methods and use different baits and lures throughout their trip. As a rule mackerel, pollock, cod and ling are usually encountered but several species of wrasse along with whiting, pouting, coalfish, bull huss, conger and many more are often added to the catch.
If you do choose to head offshore to sample the superb shark fishing available within 10 miles of Courtmacsherry, there is a very strong chance of encountering blue sharks and an increasing chance of bringing a porbeagle shark to the boat.
Dan O’Neill reports from Mount Juliet on the River Nore…
It was a very eventful weekend for trout anglers on the river. There were some great trout feeding and it seems to be going from strength to strength as the days pass. Dry dropper and euro nymphing were the techniques used. As reported before the trout are in superb condition. Trout from 12cm right up to 35cm were caught this weekend. I also managed to get out myself this weekend also and had some nice trout on some new patterns.
There are 2 places left for the nymphing master class. If interested call me on 0857652751 or email [email protected]
Mount Juliet House is set on a large estate, which offers private fishing on 2.5 miles of the middle to lower reaches of the River Nore. Mount Juliet Estate offers fishing of the highest quality, just a short stroll away from the Manor House. There is a fishing room on site in the Manor House for your convenience i.e. for storage and drying of fishing equipment. Mount Juliet Estate can also provide the necessary equipment on site if needed.
Dan O’Neill reports from Mount Juliet on the River Nore…
Water levels have been hitting perfect on the fishery over the past few days. We’ve had some windy conditions but after what was a long wait this season salmon anglers on the fishery tried the various pools.
Paul with his salmon #CPRsavesfish
Ghillie/guide Paul had some beautiful bars of silver on the fly around the middle reaches of fishery. His fishing buddy Craig had an absolutely beautiful salmon just touching 18lbs which is one pound bigger than last years biggest salmon of 17lb.
Ger’s salmon was made 18lbs
Some other salmon were caught also between 8 and 11lb. A very well done to Craig and Paul on their catches.
Mount Juliet House is set on a large estate, which offers private fishing on 2.5 miles of the middle to lower reaches of the River Nore. Mount Juliet Estate offers fishing of the highest quality, just a short stroll away from the Manor House. There is a fishing room on site in the Manor House for your convenience i.e. for storage and drying of fishing equipment. Mount Juliet Estate can also provide the necessary equipment on site if needed.
A small number of salmon are returning to Irish rivers with signs of bleeding and skin ulceration, according to Inland Fisheries Ireland. This follows reports of salmon also returning to Norway and Scotland with a red rash skin disease in recent months. Anglers and fishery owners are asked to report incidences of salmon with rash like symptom to Inland Fisheries Ireland to help determine the scale of the problem nationally.
Salmon first began appearing in Irish rivers with these symptoms in early June and by mid-June, there were reports of fish with ulceration in at least six rivers, both on the east and west coast of Ireland. The salmon who are affected show signs of bleeding, ulceration and haemorrhaging mainly along the area on the belly of the fish and on the head and the tail. Secondary fungal infection normally sets in and may result in death of the salmon.
A salmon from the River Corrib showing early signs of the diseaseSalmon from the River Boyne showing signs of red skin disease
Inland Fisheries Ireland is working with the Fish Health Unit in the Marine Institute to sample live salmon in affected rivers to determine the cause of the skin disease. Until the cause of the disease has been determined and the risk of spreading the disease established, affected salmon should not be removed from the water. Any anglers who capture salmon with these symptoms are advised to follow normal biosecurity procedures and disinfect tackle, waders and equipment.
Dr Paddy Gargan, Senior Research Officer at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “It is unclear at this time what is causing these symptoms. There is some evidence that the disease may become less frequent with rising water temperatures and the problem has been worst in multi-sea-winter fish entering rivers early in the year in Norway and Sweden. There is also a suggestion that the disease is related to a change in salmon diet but this has not yet been established. We are asking anglers and fishery owners to report any catches of salmon with these symptoms to us as soon as possible”.
Anglers are asked to forward any reports and/or photographs to [email protected] or by calling Inland Fisheries Ireland’s 24 hour confidential hotline number on 0818 34 74 24 or 0818 FISH 24.
17 June: The fishing here has been excellent since my last update, with thirty fish landed. Conditions have been good for angling with water levels varying from 44 to 20 and after the heavy showers in the last 24 hours, the river is running at 45. The only downside at times, was, where the opportunity arose the midges appeared in force and made their presence felt. Having said it wouldn’t be fishing in the West of Ireland in June without the odd midge!!
On his first ever trip salmon fishing Bas landed six in five days
Bas, who landed his first ever salmon on Sunday morning, continued his amazing run of form. On his first ever trip salmon fishing he landed six in five days. The second of these was on the afternoon of the 9th, when he had a nice fish of approx. 4lbs in the Schoolhouse on a Collie Dog. The 10thwas quieter with Luke Drea landing the only one of the day, a fresh fish of 6lbs12ozs in the Rock Pool on a Shrimp Fly. There were six landed on the 11th, with Bas’s run of good form seeing him land two in 30 minutes in the Rock Pool of 4lbs7ozs and 4lbs12ozs, both on a Collie Dog. Luke Drea also had two, one from the Waterfall of 4lbs on a Sunrae and the second in the Bridge Pool of 3lbs4.5ozs on a Beaded Nymph. Teddy Coulter had a nice fish of 6lbs from the Grilse Pool on a Kinermoney Killer and Bas finished off a momentous day for himself when he landed his third fish of the day from Boat Point on Finlough of 3lbs7ozs.
Bas got the 12thoff the mark when he landed the sixth fish of his trip, once again from the Rock Pool of 3lbs5ozs on a Collie Dog. The Moran brothers from Derry also landed fish. Peter had one of 3lbs7ozs from Boat point on Finlough, on a Silver Stoat and John had a fresh fish of 10lbs6ozs from the Quarry on a Red Francis. Finally, Jonathan Durkan on a visit from Melbourne had a fish of approx. 5lbs from Wrens Point on Finlough on a Delphi Collie.
It was young Jonathan Durkan that stole the limelight on the 13th, with five fish landed, three off the river and two off Finlough. First was from the Deadman’s of approx. 4lbs on a Collie Dog, the second, from the Quarry of approx. 4lbs on a Cascade and the third, again from the Quarry of 4lbs1oz on a Collie Dog. Peter Moran also had a cracking fish of 12lbs from the Turn Pool on a Silver Stoat. Finlough also produced four fish with Peter Eaton landing one of 4lbs5ozs from Boat Point on a Non Descript. Jonathan Durkan had two from Boat Point, one on a Collie Dog and the other on a Cascade, weighing in at 4lbs2ozs and 4lbs8ozs respectively and Peter Moran also had one of 3lbs7ozs from Sligo Bay on a Silver Stoat.
The 14thsaw four being landed, with Alfred Amenda having two, including his first ever, a fish of 6lbs2ozs from the Whin Pool on a Sunrae Shadow. His second was from the Waterfall of 4lbs1oz, again on a Sunrae. Robin Clifford had one from Paddy’s Point on Doolough of approx. 4.5lbs and Peter Eaton also had one from the Sunk Rock of 3lbs1oz. The 15thwas slower with two landed. Mark Benson landed his first ever, a fish of 3lbs11ozs from the Rock Pool on a Willie Gunn. Robin Clifford had another off Doolough of 7lbs5.5ozs. Yesterday, Sebastian Amenda, Alfred’s son also managed to land his first ever salmon, a fish of 4lbs5ozs from the Whin Pool on a Sunrae Shadow. Siobhan Buchanan-Johnston, also had one from the Meadow Pool of 3lbs10ozs and Robin Clifford had one from the Stream on Finlough of 3lbs3ozs on a Cascade. Finally Alexander Mills finished off the day with a fish of approx. 5lbs from the Holly Pool on a Willie Gunn.
Conditions should be excellent for the next few days, so hopefully the good fishing will continue.
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.
16 June: The wind finally went southwest on Saturday after weeks of northerlies. One of the regular fishermen went on the White Lake for an hour and a half. He had over 10 juniors and lost a great trout because the line wrapped around the oar.
Today the wind changed to west southwest which is not good on the lake. There were two men on the White Lake. They fished it hard for a couple of hours but the wind got too strong and they had to come off it. We have southwesterly winds until Tuesday evening and then its forecast to go northwest again.
There are approximately five miles of fly fishing along the main part of the Owenmore River in Kerry, with 33 named pools and an additional 180 acres of lake fishing in this Kerry beauty spot. The salmon, grilse and sea trout begin to run in April. The runs continue through spring and summer into early October.
Fishery manager Brian Curran was in touch to report on fishing at Costello and Fermoyle.
It has been a good week on the Costello & Fermoyle Fishery with good water levels and many running fish – both salmon and sea trout.
A number of salmon were hooked last weekend with Hugh Maguire, Sean Bolistrim and Martin Griffin all losing fish. It took the knowledgeable and very experienced local angler, Geoffrey Fitzjohn and his fishing partner on the day, Sean Kelly to land and return 2 grilse from Beat 3. Local angler Jason Folan also had a nice 5lbs grilse on Wednesday.
Neil Spellacy released a fish of 5lb and rose another one in the upper beats.
The water level is slowly fining down but still remains at a good level to allow both salmon and sea trout to make their way up through the river system and into the many loughs higher up.
We await a bit of rain next week to top up the system but the last flood came at the right time for both the fish and the anglers.
Booking can be made through the web site, irelandwestangling.ie and fishery manager, Brian Curan (tel. +353 87 2509722), will be happy to give up to date information on conditions.
Go fishing…
Costello & Fermoyle Fishery
Costello & Fermoyle is a jewel in Connemara’s crown, with a short, productive river draining a chain of lakes, all providing quality salmon and sea trout fishing. Salmon run the system from April, with the grilse run peaking in June, while sea trout start in May, with the most prolific runs in June and July. Fishing can be excellent right through September.
Bookings can be done through the web site, irelandwestangling.ie, or contact Brian at Telephone: +353 (0)91 572196 or 087 2399988 E-mail: [email protected]
