FISHING REPORTS
from some of the BEST PLACES TO FISH !
A 4 foot Flood should bring even
better Runs of Salmon!
Following a blank first week of July, fishing picked up considerably on
Monday, July 6th. as reported in the last newsletter on July 7th.
Since the 7th., the river has been rather coloured &
peat-stained, but fish have been caught every day since, albeit with few anglers
out on the river.
The water was very peaty, which meant fish weren’t taking so well and quite a
number of fish were lost, including several double–figure fish.
On some days (notably Wednesday) - good runs of fish were seen going through the
lower beats, consisting of both grilse and larger fish.
It is very encouraging to see these big fresh fish still running at this time, &
interesting to note that all of them were caught on the lower beats.
To summarise the week:
In the 6 days from the 6th. to the 11th., 15 fish were taken - including 5 in
the 10-12lb class, 6 in the 6-10lb class & 4 grilse.
As the rains fell yesterday, and the river started to rise slowly, one angler
caught & returned a coloured cock of ~12lb. on fly
and lost another silver fish estimated at ~16lb. after playing it for 15 mins -
again on fly.
Glenda - 10˝lb. Caught &
released on
the Island Stream - Lower Kilmurry (Beat 6)
|
Mark Dempsey - 11.1lb with sea-lice.
Taken on spinner at the Forge Flat
on Beat 3 - Ballinaroone.
|
Yesterday – Saturday – a
band of heavy rain swept right across the catchment. 23mm fell here in
Ballyduff.
There are more heavy showers forecast for tomorrow - Monday - & a few for
Tuesday, after which the weather should become drier.
The river is out of order today, but should improve as the week goes on. It has
already fallen considerably on the upper river,
having risen from 0.25m to 1.20m yesterday (11th.) & is now back to 0.50m to
15.00 today.
Here at Ballyduff on the lower river, the level peaked @ 1.60m @ 08.00am this
morning, but has already fallen to 1.30m @ 15.00.
Prospects
A good flood at this time of year should ensure great runs of fish once it
starts to fine off, so the prospects for the coming weeks look extremely good.
The pattern looks to be repeating what we have seen in the two previous summers
which both produced superb fishing from July to September.
Similar conditions in 2008 produced 117 salmon for July, 422 for August & 421
for September!
The rainfall & river height at Ballyduff for the last month.
Fish Caught vs: Rod Effort for the last month.
|
The Blackwater today at 10.00am.
Gauge peaking @ 1.60m @ 08.00am.
River Heights up- & down-stream in the last 5 days.
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Availability
We have availability of rods & accommodation
in the next couple of weeks.
There is limited availability for late summer and backend weeks, so contact us
quickly if you are thinking of fishing then.
Where to meet us
Glenda is fly-casting demonstrator at the Waterville Seatrout Festival at the
end of next week (July 18/19).
She'll be hosting sessions on both single- and double-handed casting techniques
on the world-famous Butlers Pool from 10.00 to 2.00pm both days.
Glenda is once again demonstrating fly-casting at the Irish Game & Country Fair
at Birr Castle in Co. Offaly on August 22/23. We will also have a stand at the
Fair.
She has a special show planned featuring a team selected from some of the 10-12
year old girls who have been on her Fishstart programme this year in the
Blackwater Valley.
Country Channel TV filmed at Shanes Castle fair last weekend & will also film at
Birr so watch out for Glenda on
http://www.countrychannel.tv/
Twice weekly training sessions for the girls team
in front of the Lodge.
Employment Opportunity
Glenda is looking for an enthusiastic person -
who is preferably interested in salmon fishing -
to join her lodge staff team from mid august until the 1 October.
If anyone is interested (and I know that most of you would love to, but just
can't give up your day job
or family commitments!) then please contact me at
[email protected]
Male or female. Main responsibilities - breakfast
cooking & house-keeping.
Best Regards & Tight Lines!
Ian Powell
Blackwater Lodge & Salmon Fishery
(Voted Best Fly Fishing Guesthouse/Hotel 2006 by the readers of the UK
magazine Today's Flyfisher!)
Upper Ballyduff
Co. Waterford
Ireland
Tel: 00 353 58 60235 Web:
http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net
