Find it Ireland

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David Moore (AAPGAI, Loop Pro Team & designer of the new Loop Opti Balance reel seat) is a regular visitor to the Lodge bringing guided parties from the UK. He arrived late last night with a 4 rod party & they went out to the Kilmurrys this morning. By 10.30, Fred Bibby from Lancashire had landed his first ever salmon on spinner at the Hut Pool on Upper Kilmurry. It weighed around 8lb.

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Final tally for the day was two sea-liced fish for the Moore party
- the 8.6 pounder on spinner (reported this morning) was a first ever salmon for Fred Bibby
which he caught after about 10 casts while the rest of the party
were still putting their waders on at the Hut Pool on Upper Kilmurry.
The other was the biggest fish of the season on fly so far.
It weighed 11.2lb & was caught on the Island Stream on Lower Kilmurry.
For the latest info: Fishing report page http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm

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A total of 15mm rain fell in the last 36 hours at Ballyduff.

The upper river rose 28cm at Millstreet & peaked in the early hours of the morning.
It rose 38cm at Kanturk & has peaked at 9.00am. The river is "quite dirty" at Mallow.
At Ballyduff, clarity is about 2-3 feet & there is quite a lot of loosened algae floating down.
Hopefully this small fresh will encourage fish to move from the tidal reaches
into the lower beats as far as Clondulane weir.
Interestingly, I also heard that there were a few very fresh grilse caught
as far upriver as Lombardstown on the weekend.


There has been very little movement of fish on our lower beats in the last week,
but yesterday Joe Lonergan caught this sea-liced 10 pounder on spinner on Beat 3.

Keep up to date with the latest info on our Fishing Report page: http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm

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Flood moves fish from tidal water!

This is the water level situation at Ballyduff in the last few days.
The small flood on Tuesday put the river out of order for a couple of days as it became very coloured.
By Friday it was improving and 3 fish were lost on the Lodge beats.
Yesterday (Saturday), four fish were caught - 3 on spinner & one on fly.
The best (~12lb) was caught & released by Ray Burns on Upper Kilmurry on spinner.
Today, there were 3 grilse taken on the fly. Clarity is now a good 3 feet.
Seven fish in total for 14 rod days in the last two days.
There has been a significant increase in the number of fish moving through the lower beats since the flood.
I'm also hearing about some grilse & salmon being caught up in the Mallow area.
For the latest info: Fishing report page http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm

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Best Day of the Season So Far
including
Best Catch by One Angler in One Day



The Best Day of the Season mark set on Sunday lasted only two days.
Yesterday, June 15th., it was beaten not withstanding the fact that there were only 3 rods fishing for the day.
Six grilse were caught in total - all on the fly.

In the late morning, Ray Burns caught one on Island Stream on Lower Kilmurry.
Portugese trapeze artist Pedro Granadiero from Dublin had a red letter day on Kents
when he landed five grilse of which he released four. All the fish were
caught from 2pm onwards on a fly he tied himself.
Having caught three, he had a siesta on the bank for an hour & then went back and caught another two,
only returning to the Lodge to report in at 10.00pm. . Four of the five fish were released.

Prospects
The river is down to 0.19 on the gauge & the clarity has improved to 4-5 feet since the last fresh we had last Tuesday.
This has brought more fish into the lower beats, so the prospects for the week are looking better.

For the latest info: Fishing report page http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm

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Released this lovely sea-liced fish about 8lb on Lower Kilmurry yesterday.
There were no rods booked for the day, so a couple of us went out for a couple of hours in the afternoon.
Saw about a dozen fish running through, including a couple well into the teens of pounds.

The river is steady at 0.19m on the Ballyduff gauge with excellent clarity.

For the latest info: Fishing report page http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm

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Not many fish seen yesterday (Thursday), but three more sea-liced grilse taken (all released) - all on fly.
There were also two good fish (~10lb.) lost on fly as well.


Playing a grilse on the Island Stream on Lower Kilmurry.


Great little fighting fish, mostly in the 2-3lb class. This one was released.

The river is holding its level @ 0.19m with excellent clarity.

For the latest info: Fishing report page http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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Rain in the upper catchment produced a reasonable flood which already peaked yesterday evening.
The water is pretty dirty today above Mallow - not really fishable.


The flood today peaked @ 0.53m this morning @ Ballyduff & is already down to 0.45m by 15.00.
Clarity is 1 to 1 1/2 feet, & there are good runs of fish coming thru'.
One beat has already reported 5 fish landed including a very fresh 12 pounder.
Another has produced a sea-liced 6lb First Ever Salmon after just a few casts!


This latest flood is slightly higher than the one that produced such good fishing last week,
when 91 fish were caught for 93 rod days.
Even more remarkably, no less than 11 of these fish were First Ever Salmon!
From Sept. 7 to 12, the daily catches were 13, 24, 23, 15, 8 & 8.
Best fish was 12.5lb & there were 5 double figure fish in total.
Last Wednesday John Grey's party (N. Ireland) landed 13 fish all on fly for the day, & released them all.
They caught 23 fish in total on fly for their week.

With this rather higher flood, the fishing for the rest of this week should be awesome.