The jest stream express is in full flow over Ireland this week, steering in one Atlantic depression after another – on Monday we had the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which was a bit of a damp squib. Followed on Wednesday by Storm Ali, the first named storm of the winter season and a fierce start it was, with trees down in many places. Storm Bronagh affected the UK more on Thursday night, but brought heavy rain to Ireland during Thursday, and the weekend looks set for more of the same, with heavy rain and high winds in places and possibly Storm Callum if forecasts don’t improve.
The weather has resulted in a dearth of angling reports this week, with many anglers taking a break from the weather, but some intrepid anglers have taken advantage of windows in the storms and enjoyed some great fishing. The Killybegs Mariners club, in particular, have had some great fishing this week, including some nice bass, and the Catch of the Week – not for its size but its rarity – a Connemara Clingfish for Christopher Noctor.
Catch of the Week – A Connemara Clingfish
It has been a busy time for festivals also, with the Cork Small Boats and Daiwa Irish Pairs both dodging the weather this week, and reports to follow next week. The Rosslare Small Boats Fesival was won by ‘Screaming Reels’ for a record ninth time, and Declan Moran was top rod at the Newport Sea Angling Festival. Mark Gannon’s clients have also been enjoying good sport lately out of Courtmacsherry, with blue shark and other species providing busy sport, as well as some fine Common Skate.
A fine Common Skate
Trout fishing has been quiet the last few days with the weather, but there are great reports from Lough Corrib, Lough Mask, Lough Sheelin and the Midland Lakes, with trout feeding hard before leaving the lakes to spawn, and anglers taking advantage of the late season sport.
Marty Smith with a fine Lough Lene trout
The rain has been good for many rivers, and reports are trickling in of good fishing all around the country, from West Cork to Donegal and places in between. Rivers in West Cork are providing good sport at the moment, Lough Currane continues its recent good form, and the River Erriff in Mayo has also been producing good fishing for salmon and sea trout. Further north the Drowes is getting a late run of fresh grilse, while the Owenea produced a nice 10lbs fish for a French journalist fishing for salmon for the first time. I have also heard rumours of good fishing on the Munster Blackwater, and hope to have these reports for next week’s update.
Probably due to the weather, we have no pike or coarse fishing reports this week, but hope to have some updates next week.
And now the weather…
After a truly awful start to Autumn, with 2 and possibly 3 named storms this week and the remnants of a hurricane, the weekend looks wet and possibly very windy for some, but next week looks set to improve somewhat. Water levels in many rivers have improved, and salmon and trout anglers will hopefully get the right conditions for good sport in the last week of the season for most. In the meantime
Osgur Grieve reports on the latest from the Erriff Fishery.
13th – 19th September.
We have had 11 salmon during this period. On Thursday 13th Paddy Donegan had a 3.75lbs grilse from Wanklyn’s Dam on Beat 7 using a Red Butt Cascade. A short while later Donal Chambers released a 4lbs grilse from the Upper Sally pool on Beat 7 using a Black Pennell.
Friday 14th Stuart Woodhead fished Beat 3 in the morning and released a 4.5lbs grilse from Mike’s pools and lost another using a Willie Gunn. Paddy Donegan was back into action releasing 2 grilse of 4.5lbs and 6lbs from the Sally pool and Mickey’s Run on Beat 7 using a Posh Tosh conehead, and Donal Chambers released a 4lbs grilse also from Mickey’s Run on Beat 7 using a Collie Dog.
Saturday 15th saw Paddy Donegan into action again, this time releasing a 7lbs salmon from School House Run on Beat 3 using a Willie Gunn tube, this brought Paddy’s total for his week’s fishing to 4 salmon.
Regular angler Jasper Matthews returned on Sunday 16th to fish Beat 4 in the morning and had a 2lbs grilse from the Bog using a gold shrimp. Another regular Kevin Attride fished Beat 6 that morning and had a 2.5lbs grilse from Nee’s pool on a Foxford shrimp and lost another at the net.
Sam McMannamon fished on Tuesday 18th and released a 3lbs grilse from Glenacally on Beat 5 using a Cascade and regular visitor Gael Kerschbaumer released a 2lbs grilse from below Gowlaun on Beat 3 using a black and red shrimp. Wednesday 19th saw the arrival of Storm Ali, this brought with it a big dirty flood which made the river unfishable.
There were 17 sea trout caught and released during this period ranging in weight from 0.5lbs – 1.5lbs from Beat 1 down to 9, the flies that accounted for the most sea trout were the Collie Dog and Black Pennell. If you would like to book some fishing before the 2018 season comes to a close give the fishery office a call on (095) 42382 or email erriff.fishery@fisheriesireland.ie
A big flood on Beat 8 after Storm Ali
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.
Regular contributor and photographer Mick Flanagan writes from the Midlands again this week.
Royal Canal
The Royal Canal is now in a mess, with low water levels and pictures are floating around daily by local anglers and canal walkers and those who have pleasure boats on the Royal Canal. I posted a few pics that have really hit home, and over 12,000 people reacted to these shocking pictures of the canal at an all time low. We had a lot of comments with little or none from our local authorities, or local councillors. I am really not surprised, as I took time out before the schools reopened in September and walked a small stretch of the Canal with one local councillor. Highlighted were water levels, illegal dumping, and access to the Royal Canal where over hanging trees are causing problems. Needless to say the 5 black bags of rubbish still lies within sight of the banks of he Royal Canal, and the access point was not looked at. Fair enough pictures were taken that morning, and I was told it would be looked into.
The Royal Canal recently
Low water levels on the Royal Canal are a major problem
Coyne Brothers
Kevin and Michael Coyne of Kinnegad are really top class anglers, and Kevin regularly keeps us up to date on his angling adventures. This time around Kevin ventured to Lough Derg on the Shannon system in search of some trout. On board was his brother Michael who does not spend much time on the lakes, as he loves the river fishing. Mind you this might change now as the lads had a magical day on Derg with some huge wild brown trout over 4lbs in weight.
Kevin Coyne with a fine trout from Lough Derg
Michael Coyne with a beautiful Lough Derg trout
Sheelin and Lough Ree Trout
Last week Athlone angling pals Philip Cunningham and Steve Turner had a fantastic days fishing with Steve once again producing a Monster Ferox trout from this fantastic fishery. Steve has over the years proven himself as one of our top Ferox trout anglers, and his most recent catch weighed an incredible 13lbs 6oz.
A fine ferox trout from Lough Ree for Steve Turner
On Sheelin Christy Cox of Multyfarnham better known in the angling world as “Black Jack” had a whopper on the fly weighing 6.25lbs. Christy had 4 trout caught on Pearly Dabblers of the Hollywell Shore, and were tied by Bert Akins. Christy was also using a rod and reel given too him by his late pal Tommy Watson. Our thanks to Fergus Lynch Assistant Inspector with I.F.I. for this report and cracking photograph of Christy and his prized catch.
A lovely Sheelin trout for Christy Cox
Lene Trout & Aladin Flask
Our good pal Marty Smith and Lough Lene member was back over from England, and enjoyed a few days on his favorite lake in all of Ireland. We had some fantastic fishing on dry flies, and also some nice rainbows on wet flies. As you do we ventured into Madams Island for lunch one of the days, and left an Aladin Thermal flask on the lake shore. If possible will the anglers that ventured in after us, please hand the flask into club Chairman Tom Fagan or leave in the Angling Hut on Fagan’s Point.
Marty Smith with a fine Lough Lene trout
A nice brace from Lough Lene
Competition Scene
Now as we are drifting into late September the last few trout competition are coming on line. This Sunday the popular O’Malley Cup will be fished on Ennell. I was talking to Johnny O’Malley recently and he reported some nice trout were coming from Ennell. For more on this competition and some flies that will work on Ennell call into David O’Malley at his angling center at 33 Dominick Street or phone 044-93-48300. David is also Chairman of Lough Ennell Trout Preservation Association. On Sunday week we have a clash of competitions with the Christy Sleator Perpetual Cup on Ennell, and Lene anglers will host the Chairman’s pairs competition. Lene is celebrating its 60th year as an Angling Association this year. More on these events next week.
Midlands Angling provide a top class Guiding service covering many of the top coarse and game waters across the Midlands. Visiting fly anglers have landed some fine trout while out with Midland Angling Guides, pike anglers also recorded some net bursting catches including many pike over 20lbs. Top waters include Lough Ree, Ennell, Owel, Lene, Mount Dalton, and Glore Lake just to mention a few. Michael Flanagan Midland Angling
Pike and Trout angling guide.
Skipper Mark Gannon has been in touch with the latest fishing news from Courtmacsherry
Greetings from all at Courtmacsherry!
Fishing has been good except for brief interruptions in our nice weather which slowed it down a bit. The one occasion we ventured offshore we caught some Ling to 8 kg but commercial netting has made the long journey south less attractive. Shark fishing was producing some good sport but as the season went on, they got patchy enough, fish to 2.6m were tagged and released.
Pollack fishing on light gear is very popular with our anglers and we had fish to 11lbs in the bay with plenty in the 5 to 6lbs range. Cod were patchy enough and very few to double figures.
Skate fishing has been producing some good fish with a good few thornbacks as well, our best day we had 12 boated to 1.8m.
A fine Common Skate
The inshore fishing with the self-drives had good pollack, ray, dabs, plaice and in the estuary the bass fishing has been good with last week being exceptional – all mostly caught on live bait. The shore fishing is also producing some great bass fishing with the Gilthead Bream making an appearance from where they were first caught, with a fish of over 8lbs landed last week. Fishing today in poor conditions but have a few skate to 1.7m, conger, bull huss and dogs with mackerel plentiful.
Another nice skate for a group out with Mark
Make a booking
Courtmacsherry Sea Angling Centre is one of Irelands Premier Angling Centres based in the picturesque village of Courtmacsherry located only 30miles from Cork International Airport on the West Cork coast between the Old head of Kinsale and the Seven Heads peninsula. Our purpose built Sea angling and selfdrive boats offer the sea angler the ultimate in safety and comfort.Sea Angling in Courtmacsherry produces good results both for the offshore charter angler,the selfdrive angler for inshore fishing or the wreck enthusiast. Address: Woodpoint Guest House, Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork. Telephone: +353 (0)23 8846427 or +353 (0)86 8250905 Email:csal@iol.ieWeb:www.courtmacsherryangling.ie
There was decent rain over the week and the Owenea ran at nice levels on most days of the week. The gauge average for the week was good reading 0.22 metres. At this late stage of the season the fishery was fairly quiet however with only 17 visiting rods in attendance. There was however some good catches recorded.
On Friday, Brian Stark recorded 6 grilse, weighing from 3 to 6lb, caught & released on a spinner from beat 5. He also accounted for 5 sea trout caught & released weighing from ¾ to 2lb. Geoffray Beggard reported 4 grilse weighing from 3 to 5lb caught & released from beat 5 on fly. He also hooked and lost 3 more salmon weighing from 7 to 10lb and landed a 1lb sea trout.
On Saturday, Sam McMenamin reported a 15lb fresh salmon caught & released on fly from beat 5.
On Sunday, Sam recorded a further fresh salmon weighing 12lb caught & released on fly from beat 5 and Malcolm Hooper accounted for an 11lb salmon caught & released on fly from beat 5 and lost a grilse of about 3lb.
Make a booking
For info/bookings etc on the Owenea Fishery –
Tel: 074 9551141. (9am to 1pm April to May & 7am to 1pm June to Sept).
Water levels remained on the lowish side and fairly constant over the week with the gauge reading around 0.43 metres. The fishery was fairly quiet at this late stage in the season though there were a few grilse reported caught over the week.
Make a booking
River Drowes
The Drowes Fishery is one of Ireland’s premier spring salmon and grilse fisheries. The river is some 5 miles in length, with over 70 named pools, flowing from Lough Melvin at Lareen Bay and entering the sea at Tullaghan, just outside Bundoran. The Drowes has a wide variety of water suitable for all fishing methods, including several miles of good fly water and deeper slower moving pools suitable for spinning and bait fishing.
For information and bookings on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin see http://www.drowessalmonfishery.com Tel: 071 9841055 (8am to 12 noon). Mob: +353 (0) 87 8050806
For info/Guides/boat hire on Lough Melvin contact Sean Maguire’s Tackle Shop, Main Street, Garrison.Tel. (048) 686 58194
Lough Melvin, Rossinver Fishery: For info/Guides/boat hire/bookings etc. contact Sean Carty. Tel: 083 1197428.
There was decent rain over the week and the Owenea ran at nice levels on most days of the week. The gauge average for the week was good reading 0.22 metres. At this late stage of the season the fishery was fairly quiet however with only 17 visiting rods in attendance. There was however some good catches recorded.
On Friday, Brian Stark recorded 6 grilse, weighing from 3 to 6lb, caught & released on a spinner from beat 5. He also accounted for 5 sea trout caught & released weighing from ¾ to 2lb. Geoffray Beggard reported 4 grilse weighing from 3 to 5lb caught & released from beat 5 on fly. He also hooked and lost 3 more salmon weighing from 7 to 10lb and landed a 1lb sea trout.
On Saturday, Sam McMenamin reported a 15lb fresh salmon caught & released on fly from beat 5.
On Sunday, Sam recorded a further fresh salmon weighing 12lb caught & released on fly from beat 5 and Malcolm Hooper accounted for an 11lb salmon caught & released on fly from beat 5 and lost a grilse of about 3lb.
Make a booking
For info/bookings etc on the Owenea Fishery –
Tel: 074 9551141. (9am to 1pm April to May & 7am to 1pm June to Sept).
‘Screaming Reels’ wins the Rosslare Small Boats Festival for a record 9th time
In what turned out to be the most exciting and closest competition in 33 years the Irish boat ‘Screaming Reels’ has won the Rosslare Small Boats Festival for the ninth time. This is a record nine wins for the crew from Rescue R117 Waterford Angling Club who first started fishing the competition in 2008. They beat 37 boats from Britain and Ireland catching 28 different species of fish for 12.17 kilos. This prestigious competition generates in the region of €300,000 for the local economy, bringing jobs and employment to Wexford.
First place: The ‘Screaming Reels’ Team (from L-R) – Josie Mahon (Inland Fisheries Ireland), Stephen Donoghue, Martyn Rayner, Neville Murphy and John Belger (UK organiser of festival).
Sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Garmin, DAIWA and Saltwater Boat magazine, the 33rd festival attracted more than 112 anglers from Scotland, Wales, Isle of Wight, Ireland and many other parts of England including Manchester, Liverpool and Portsmouth. This prestigious competition continues to attract the best boat anglers in Great Britain and Ireland in what is now regarded as the most species rich fishing in the Irish Atlantic. There were four new boats to the competition this year from all over the UK.
Weather conditions were challenging early on with strong southerly winds delaying the start of the competition. Due to the expertise at forecasting weather and sea state, the Rosslare small boats festival committee enabled anglers to get afloat during short windows of weather. Changes of venues meant that on one of the days the boats were launched from Rosslare Safe harbour with the assistance of the local community. Weather conditions then improved enabling the other three days of the competition to be fished from Kilmore Quay.
The anglers fished hard and the fishing was tough, however this did not deter the competitors and the competition was neck and neck right until the end with three boats on the same number of species, with only small weights dividing them. In the end, Screaming Reels got to the finishing line catching 28 species beating the other two boats on the same number of species with a weight of 12.17kg.
The winning crew of ‘Screaming Reels’ consists of Martyn Rayner, Neville Murphy and Stephen Donoghue from Rescue R117 Waterford Angling Club with 28 species for 12.17 kilos. The boat ‘Nauti Lass’ from Yorkshire came second, consisting of Neil Spencer, James Spencer, Phil Armstrong and Stewart Atkinson who caught 28 species for 11.33 kilos. In third place was ‘Nirvana’ from the Wirral Sea Angling Club – Richie Stead, Keith Pemberton and Mark Phillips caught 28 species for 11.01 kilos. The heaviest fish was caught by Johnathan Davis on board the boat ‘2 JD’s’ from Bray Head Fishing and Social Club with a Bull Huss of 5.48 kgs and they received a cash prize and a perpetual trophy sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Boat 2 JD’s from Bray Head Social and Fishing Club who took home the Heaviest Fish title– John Belger (UK organiser), Josie Mahon (Inland Fisheries Ireland), David Frazer, Jonathan Davis, John Davis.
Many successful conservation initiatives for our marine species have been introduced in the last number of years and these were extended further this year with the vast majority of fish now being caught, photographed and released by anglers at sea. This proved to be very successful with many fish including species such as smoothound, black bream, conger, dab, gurnards, mackerel, mullet, pouting, ray and many mini species such as dragonet and gobies being measured on Inland Fisheries Ireland mats, photographed and returned alive. This also enabled anglers to target species such as bass and tope for the first time.
There were 44 different species caught including a topknot which was recorded for the first time in the history of the competition by the Irish boat ‘Fin Chaser’. Other unusual species recorded include black bream, garfish and streaked gurnard. Anglers fishing the festival have provided a historical map of the movement of our marine species over a 33 year period.
Inland Fisheries Ireland officiated at the photographic identification of fish species and a marine fish tank was also used for the purpose of displaying fish species that were caught during the competition. Staff from Inland Fisheries Ireland were on hand to educate the public about the fish species on offer from Kilmore Quay. The educational benefits of the marine tank and practising catch and release for marine species are hugely beneficial in terms of conservation and creating public awareness of Ireland’s marine resource. The public were able to view marine fish such as bull huss, ballan wrasse and plaice which were kept in the fish tank and released back into their marine habitat alive. This was hugely supported by Kilmore Quay harbour master and staff at Wexford County Council.
Daniel Parker from ‘Shy Torque’ in Liverpool won best junior of the competition with 25 species for 10.03 kilos. Sue Tait from ‘Predator 2’ in Cork won best female competitor with 26 species for 8.88 kilos. The ‘Ken Evason’ Memorial trophy for the biggest cod was won jointly by the boats ‘Highlander and Strongbow’ who each caught a cod of 2.90kilos and they donated the trophy to Ken Evason’s family. The Conningbeg Trophy for the longest bass of 60cm was won by Steve Mills aboard the boat ‘Samaki’ from Portsmouth.
Daniel Parker from Liverpool won the best junior of the festival on the boat ‘Shy Torque’ with a ballan wrasse
‘Coast Hotel, Rosslare Strand’ was the centre of the competition where competitors met each evening to discuss their catches and make plans for the following day. The prize giving night took place here where there were fantastic prizes worth in the region of €30,000 including fishing equipment, cash prizes and engraved trophies. Tim McPhearson one of the festival’s sponsors from ‘Saltwater Boat Angling’ said: ‘I would like to congratulate all competitors on their success at the 33rd Rosslare Small Boats festival. This is the first time I have participated in this competition and I would like to complement the organisers on their military precision in organising the competition from start to finish and on their wonderful prize table for this prestigious competition’.
Competitors at the fish tank where fish were held and later released back into the sea.
For futher information on The Rosslare Small Boats Festival 2019 contact John Belger, 98 Dunbar Road, Southport PR8 4RL, UK. Phone: 00441704566195 or email: jbandfirefly@aol.com or Ms. Josie Mahon, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Tel: 01 8842 600 or email josie.mahon@fisheriesireland.ie.
Eileen Carroll has been in touch with an update on catches from the West Cork rivers.
RIVER BANDON
There were 3 salmon reported last week. These are on Bandon Angling Association Waters. Two of these were fresh fish with lice. At the time of writing the river has risen by two feet so prospects are bright for the coming week.
RIVER LEE
No angling effort. Water levels rising very slowly.
INNISCARRA FISHERY
No catches reported
KILLARNEY LAKES AND RIVER LAUNE
No data.
KILLARNEY FLESK
No data.
RIVER ILEN
12 salmon landed for the week, best was 6lbs landed by a club angler on a fly.
Vincent Appleby reports on fishing from Waterville over the past week:
12/9/18 Straight to the North Shore and Waterville Boats and at watervilleboats@gmail.com and the Hampshire Hogs and their C&R Sea Trout fly department, Hampshire Hog, Mr. Nigel Henshaw and fishing out of www.cliffordbandb.com while Fishing with his Gillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy and at www.fishingwithdom.com caught 3 Sea Trout ranging from Junior class up to 3 lbs and considering the bright sunshine one would call it a class act, and staying with the Hampshire Hogs, Mr. Pete Ruffle fishing out of www.cliffordbandb.com while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Michael O’Sullivan and at watervilleboats@gmail.com caught 1 Junior, and last but not least Hampshire Hog, Mr. Trevor Dewberry, fishing out of www.cliffordbandb.com caught two Juniors with his Gillie and at watervilleboats@gmail.com just for the record the Hampshire Hogs caught 9 Salmon on their last trip in June and 3 Salmon this Trip and a good few Sea Trout and all I can say thanks for your great support for the Waterville Fishery and that goes for all anglers. Now we head for the Bungalow along the North Shore, UK Angler, Mr. Adren Francis, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea of oshealoughcurrane.com caught two trout. Now we head up stream to the world famous Butler Pool and at www.watervillegolflinks.ie Belgium Anglers, Jacques and his good friend Max, while fly-fishing, caught a grilse each on the fly, weighing in at 4 lbs. Wind WNW fresh and bright sunshine. Yesterdays weather, maximum air temperature 15.8 c.
13/9/18 The Currane anglers and Lough Currane wild Game Fish were keeping a low profile today after the Hampshire Hogs and their Gillie’s performance in the Fly and Lure departments in the past week. Wind SW fresh with reasonable cloud cover.Yesterdays weather, maximum air temperature 15.6 c.
14/9/18 The Currane anglers were drifting with their flies and Gillie’s were holding their clients boat so their flies were hitting the right spot but sadly Lough Currane’s Wild Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout ignored the temptations of being lured into an almighty battle and the same goes for My Noble Currane trollers. Wind West fresh with reasonable cloud cover with the odd shower, yesterdays weather, maximum air temperature 15.9 c.
15/9/18 It was a wild day for the Currane anglers, with a strong SW wind blowing down the Lake, so as you can imagine just the odd boat ventured out from the North Shore, mind you there could have been a few boats that ventured from the South side and if they did, going by my phone it was all quiet on the SW front. Wind as already stated and overcast with rain this evening. Yesterdays weather, maximum air temperature 16. 4 c.
16/9/18 There was some great action and a bit of history from the South side today. So we will begin in the hired out boat department of www.lakelandshouse.com Killarney Angler Mr. DJ Riordan, While fly-fishing on the drift, caught 15 Sea Trout, ranging from Juniors up to 1 ¾ lbs. Staying with www.lakelandshouse.com hired out boat department, anglers also reported nice catches of Juniors caught on the fly and were well satisfied with their days manipulations. Local Gillie Mr. Frank Donnelly of www.lakelandshouse.com reported that one boat was out there all day, signalled on his way home that he also caught a few Sea trout. Now Catch of the day goes to 5 year old Conor who celebrated his 5th Birthday today and got his first fishing rod and I can tell you it didn’t take Conor long to ask his Grandad Mr. Frank Donnelly of www.lakelandshouse.com would he take him fishing so he could catch a fish with his brand new fishing rod, well Grandad obliged and by jove Conor christened his new rod in style by catching his first ever Junior and may it be the first of many and by the looks of it a Gillie in the making. On a personal note on bealf of all the Currane anglers well done Conor and a very Happy Birthday to you. Now we head for the North side and the Bungalow, Mr. John Smith of Birr, Co. Offaly, caught 2 Sea Trout up 2 ½ lbs. While fishing with his Gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com and for the rest of the Currane anglers it was all quiet on the SW front. Wind SW calm to light with reasonable cloud cover. Yesterdays weather, maximum air temperature 16.7 c.
17/9/18 Lough Currane was like the wild West as you can imagine Currane anglers were left stranded all day at their Salmon and Sea Trout stations as the waves pounded the North Shore and in the words of one local and I quote, you could see the white horses ¾ of a mile away or put it this way the distance from Mace Supermarket to the Butler Pool. Wind S and strong and overcast with rain in the afternoon and this evening. Yesterdays weather, maximum air temperature 16.9 c.
18/9/18 We start today’s notes with yesterdays notes and for good reason, I failed miserably in my duties again and yes I’m guilty as charged for failing to check my email and if I had I would have seen an email telling me that Dr. Tim Gleason caught a fine 4 lbs. Grilse on the fly on the World Famous Butler Pool and at www.watervillegolflinks.ie again all I can say is my apologies to Tim and his Gillie. Now back to the present and today’s action or I should say lack of action, again today all Salmon Stations were at a standstill with a strong SW blowing across the lake and with Storm Ali to hit Kerry tomorrow you can forget it until late afternoon. Yesterdays weather, maximum air temperature 17.9 c.
The Trust report
Rod Robinson reports on the recent activities of the Waterville Lakes and Rivers Trust.
Last week we assisted Professor Ken Whelan with his survey of the prime spawning streams on Lough Currane, which proved to be a very interesting and productive week for the Trust!
Professor Whelan has worked on the Currane system on several previous occasions and he found this last week was a great opportunity to reacquaint himself with the streams and the topography of the Currane Catchment.
We had a chance to discuss in detail the objectives of the Trust’s programme, which is orientated towards selecting a number of key sea trout spawning tributaries to see what can be done to optimise the production from these pilot areas. As is now widely known, the runs of adult sea trout have dropped very significantly and it may well be that compaction issues with the gravels, as well as the need to supplement gravel in other areas, are a contributing factor.
Interestingly in many Irish lough systems the biology is such that sea trout spawning takes place in what are in essence spawning channels. The fry leave for the lake from the early feeding fry stage right through the following summer. The recruitment largely takes place in the loughs and stream habitat for sea trout parr is generally not a major consideration.
A sea trout spawning channel
What was clear on the survey was that virtually all the streams visited were devoid of fry, undoubtedly the result of the prolonged hot summer and the near drying out of these feeder streams. Some of the landowners commented to us that they had observed that there had been a period when the zone where the streams run into the lake had been ‘choked with fry in their millions’. The impact of this premature fry vacation of the streams has yet to be understood, but no doubt the brown trout in Currane had a feeding bonanza!
We selected some six streams to survey, based on the IFI stock survey of 2014 and our week was spent walking all of these streams and assessing their potential. We found that the selected streams on the south side of the Lough were in pristine order and apart from some issues relating to blockages etc. were considered to require no action. Those selected on the North side, however, were found to be largely silted and poaching by cattle and sheep was also an issue. The resultant compaction of gravels will need need some loosening of the gravel before the onset of the spawning season and quite a few areas of replacement gravel, where this has been removed by a series of severe winter floods, will be needed.
Professor Whelan will be returning in early October to assist with this work.
The Waterville Lakes & Rivers Trust, formed by concerned volunteers in 2016, is one of the new Rivers Trusts to be set up in Ireland and is currently aspiring to Charitable Status. Its remit is to protect the fresh and coastal waters of the Iveragh Peninsula.
The rivers and lakes of Waterville drain a large catchment and are regarded by many as the foremost Salmon and Sea-Trout fishery in the country. The lake system is well developed with access to boats and guides being readily available to the tourist angler. The Sea-Trout caught here are renowned for their size and quantity. For more details see
