River Report for June

The river level for June has probably been the lowest for about 50 years, which means that most fish are holding in the tidal reaches rather than running into the main river.
The table below shows the average height for the month for the last four years – since the start of the drift net ban.
This year it was 0.18m compared to the average for 2007-9 of 0.41m.
In fact it was only above 0.30m (which we would normally regard as summer low level) for 2 days during the whole month. There have also been few rods out fishing for the month.

Statistics for the Month of June for 2007 - 2010

-----------------------Year------2007------2008------2009------2010

Number of Fish Caught--------- 44---------21----------51---------24
---------Catch/Rod Day--------0.25-------0.09--------0.30-------0.30
-Average River Height--------0.35-------0.39--------0.48-------0.18

We can see from the Table that – whilst the catch number for the month was not high at 24 – in fact the catch/rod day was 0.30, exactly the same as that for 2009 when there was far more water in the river.

In fact, 22 of the fish were caught for only 24 rod days in the week from June 12 – an average of 0.9 fish per rod day, which was extremely good. One angler caught 5 in one afternoon – all on fly & 4 were released. Best fish of the month was a 12 pounder released on Upper Kilmurry.

July has started off well after a small fresh in the river on the 2nd. Seven grilse have been caught for 6 rod days in the three days from July 2-4.

For all the very latest information please see the Blackwater Lodge Fishing Report page on :
http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/F ... report.htm

Prospects
Even although the river is very low, the clarity is good and runs of larger grilse (4-5lb.) are coming in.
There is more rain forecast during the week, so the prospects of sport for the coming week are quite good.
Very small flies, light worming & spun shrimp are working best, though fish are also being met on spinner.

Where to meet us
Glenda is fly-casting demonstrator at the Irish Game & Country Fair at Birr Castle in Co. Offaly on August 28 & 29th. We will also have a stand at the Fair.

The rain that came across Ireland on the weekend seems to have missed the Blackwater catchment altogether.
The river is still at 0.08m at Ballyduff and there has been no rise at all on the upper river.
On a brighter note, the Metcheck forecast for Cork is giving 13mm rain on Thursday & 17mm on Friday night.
This seems to be borne out by the Bbc.co.uk forecast as well.

There were three grilse caught for 1½ rod days yesterday, which makes a total of 10 fish for 8½ rod days
in the last 4 days which is superb in the current conditions.

For all the very latest information please see the Blackwater Lodge Fishing Report page on :
Blackwater Lodge Salmon Fishery - Daily Updated Salmon Fishing Report page

Best Day of the Season so far - plus Best Catch from One Beat in One Day

The river dropped to a lovely height on July 13.
In the morning it was 0.23 & fell to 0.20m by nightfall. Clarity 2-2½ feet.

There was an excellent run of fish coming through the entire system right though to the top beats.

A total of 20 fish were caught for 11 rod days for the day.

Beat 3 (1 mile up from the Lodge): 4 caught. 1 on fly. Best 9.7 & 11lb.
Beat 7 (5 miles up from the Lodge): 4 caught. All on fly. Best 6.5lb.
Beat 8 (15 miles up from the Lodge): 1 caught. 4lb.
Beat 9 (20 miles up from the Lodge): 8 caught. 6 on fly & all released. Best 6lb.
Beat 16 (26 miles up from the Lodge): 3 caught. 1 on fly. Best 6lb.

Two rods caught eight fish today at Bridgetown Abbey.
- mostly grilse around the 3lb. mark.
Six were caught on fly & two on spinner.
All eight fish were released alive.
Mick Kennedy caught 5 (best ~6lb.) & Billy Jewitt caught three.
Seven of the fish were caught in a 2 hour "moment of madness".

Prospects looking very good with fresh fish being taken right through to the top of the fishery.
Still more rain coming in the next 2 days which should top up the height.

For all the very latest information please see the Blackwater Lodge Fishing Report page on :
Blackwater Lodge Salmon Fishery - Daily Updated Salmon Fishing Report page

Here's the latest picture on river levels at 18.30 this evening (Sunday 17th.).

The river is dropping quite quickly. On the lower river the clarity is extremely poor - virtually unfishable.
It is clearing down quite well from the top of the river & fish were caught today
on a couple of our beats on the upper river between Castletownroche and Mallow.
Connie gillied two guests on our very top beat and the party had 5 fish for the day including fish of 11, 5, 5, 4 & 3lb.
Only a couple the grilse were kept - the other 3, including the 11 pounder were released.
All were taken on spinner, but Connie reckoned it would be have been fly-fishable at the end of the day.
Two were sea-liced and the beat is 28 miles upstream of the Lodge!
One other grilse reported so far from the middle of the upper river as well.

For all the very latest information please see the Blackwater Lodge Fishing Report page on :
http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm

The Best Ever July Catch
in terms of Fish Caught per Rod Day


On Sunday, July 25th., Mossy McElligott (Tralee) caught the Best Fish of the Season with a 12.4lb on fly on Ballinaroone & his fishing partner Tim Quinlivan also had two on fly of 11.9 & 9.1lb.
Tim's largest was also the second heaviest weighed fish this year.

The month of July produced 169 salmon for a total of only 183 rod days.
This is the sixth best total for the month since I took over the Lodge at the beginning of 1986.
It is the best catch for the month since the year 2000, when 263 were caught for 750 rod days.
It also includes the two Best Fish of the Season which were both caught on fly on the same day
on Beat 3 - Ballinaroone by Mossy McElligott (12.4lb) & Tim Quinlivan (11.9lb).
There have also been at least four very large fish lost in the second half of the month.

The table below shows the figures for the six best months of July.
Only the all-time record year of 1992 (when 1511 fish were taken) has a comparable catch per rod day!



Total catch for the season to date is 212.


Take me home, Mum! Our seven year old son Ian heads away
after an afternoon on the river with his famous mum Glenda on July 18!

Current Situation
The river is still fining off slowly from the small floods on July 19 & 23.
It is now @ 0.18m on the gauge with ~5 feet clarity.

Once again there is a huge buildup of fresh fish in the tidal reaches & a good number are running into the main river.
Some of the lower beat - in particular Kents & Lower Kilmurry - are hold a good head of fish.

Prospects
With predominantly dry weather for the coming week, the river remain at summer level.
There are plenty of fish running - both hefty grilse & larger summer salmon.

For all the very latest information please see the Blackwater Lodge Fishing Report page on :
http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm

Biggest Fish of 2010 caught on Saturday, August 7th. - on fly!

Gavin Wishart (Newcastle, Co. Down) caught a slightly coloured May fish
on a small gold shrimp pattern on the Lug Pool on Lower Kilmurry gillied by Connie Corcoran.
Connie estimated the fish @ 14-15lb. and it was quickly released.
Gavin & Connie caught five fish for the day, releasing four.

There were eleven fish caught for 10 rod days yesterday - the best day so far for August.
Martin Heffer (UK) caught his first ever salmon and it was on fly on a guided day with Glenda.

Total for the month is 31 fish for 41 rod days.
Gauge height is 0.15m & clarity around 5 feet.
Plenty of fish showing in the pools on the lower river and some fish running every day.

Since the very good day we had last Saturday, fishing has been moderately good & quite consistent.
In the last 6 days we have had 25 fish caught - between 3-5 per day with no blanks days.
An average of just over 6 rods/day have been fishing.
Fishing is quite hard, with catches below what one would expect for the number of fresh & resident fish being seen.
As someone said "The only thing they're taking is no notice!"
Persistence is the name of the game. Most successful method was fly,
but very small flies & very long leaders are the name of the game.
Total for August to the 13th. is 56 for 106 rod days.
Total for the season is 266 for 719 rod days.
The river is once again very low, but some fresh fish are still running in.
With the huge numbers of fish waiting in the estuary & out at sea, the first flood we get should produce spectacular results for the river.