Fishery Report » Aasleagh Lodge & River Erriff Fishery
[ August 2008 ]
Jim Stafford reports that there were several good spates on the river over the course of the summer and fish runs through the Counter varied accordingly. The main run of grilse was late again this season but peaked on 30th. July with 238 fish recorded through the Counter. The first day of July produced three fish for Mr. Peter Huggard, U.K.on his first visit to the Erriff - the best of which was 8.5 lbs. taken in the Falls Pool on Beat 9. The Colonel’s Pool on Beat 9 produced a fish of 9 1/4lbs taken on a Thunder & Lightening for Mr. Mr. H. Everett, U.K. Mr. M. Connery, Irl. had three fish best 7 1/4lbs. taken on the Black Banks on Beat 6. Mr. F. Crawford, Irl. had two best 9lbs. from the Quarry Pool Beat 2. Mr. M. Coyne, Leenane took a 9.75lbs. fish on a Shrimp Fly on the same day from Beat 2. Mr. T. Stern, Austria caught a sea liced 8.25lb. fish in the Falls Pool Beat 9. Mr. A. Thorley, U.K. caught a sea liced 5lbs fish also on Beat 9 on a Shrimp pattern. Mr. G. Garnier, France caught four fish best a 12lbs. fish from the Dog Pool on Beat 2 which was returned to the water. It was a first-ever salmon on 11th. July for Mr. J. Casanova, France caught in the Falls Pool on a Cascade. Mr. J. Lanagan O’Keeffe Irl. released a fish estimated at 11lbs. on Beat 5. Mr. N. Fenton, N. Irl. took a 5.25lbs. fish from the Black Banks on a Stoats Tail. Mr. P. Sheehan, Irl. caught a fish of 5.75lbs. from the Otter Pool Beat 7 on a Black/Yellow Fly on the 22nd. of the month. Mr. R. Daly, Irl. had 2 fish both from Broken Bridge Beat 5. Mr. K. Glynn had two from the Sea Pool on Beat 9. Dr. P. Masterson took a fresh run fish from the Upper Garden Pool. Mr. L. Flaherty, Irl. had a grilse from the Holly Pool. Mr. A. Beattie, U.K. took 3 all from the Falls Pool and Sea Pool on a Cascade. Mr. D. Harrison, U.K. caught 3 fish on a Cascade on the 30th July. Mr. A. Sutherland had 1 from the Coronation Pool on an Alley Shrimp. Mr. L. Gilsenan, Irl. had two fish - best 13.5lbs. caught on a Blue Badger from Beat 5. The total catch for July was 44 salmon and 57 Sea Trout.
There was much more rain during August that the previous month and weather conditions were much more suitable for fresh fish entering the river in addition to angling. Mr. M. Odin, Fr. took an 8.25lbs. on a Cascade from Beat 7. Mr. P. Roberts, Wales caught two sea liced fish of 4.5lbs. & 5.5lbs. on a Black Pennell and Cascade from the Washing Pool on Beat 4 and the Garden Pool on Beat 9. Mr. M. Broughton, U.K. had three fish best 7lbs. and 9lbs. on a Hairy Mary and a T. & L. both on Beat 5 and Mrs. M. Broughton released a fish taken in the Coronation Pool on Beat 8. Mr. E. Murphy, Irl. had three fish best 5.25lbs. taken in Jenkins Pool on Beat 5. It was a first ever salmon for Mr. C. Fitzgerald, Irl. on 9th. Aug. – the fish was caught on a Shrimp Fly on Mickey’s Run Beat 7 - a second fish followed the same day Mr. J. Weait and Mrs. M. Commander, U.K. had 4 and 2 fish respectively - best 6lbs. taken in the Holly Pool Beat 8. Mr. B. Holloway and Mr. J. Makinson had 5 and 4 fish respectively – best fish 9lbs. taken on an Alley Shrimp on Yellow Banks Beat 5. Mr. G. Thurlow, U.K. caught a fish on Doyle’s Pool Beat 6 and his son Oscar caught his first ever two salmon of 4.75lbs. and 7.25lbs. from the Falls Pool and Sally Pool on Beats 9 and 7. Mr. A. Kyd, U.K. caught six fish for the week best 5.25lbs. from School House Beat 3 on a Shrimp Fly.
Mr. E. Murphy, Irl. had 3 fish best 5.25lbs. taken in Jenkin’s on a Cascade. A Shrimp pattern was successful for Mr. J. Barry, Irl. who caught four fish and returned two of them on Yellow Banks and Broken Bridge on Beat 5. Mr. K. Wickham and Mr. N. Wickham had two fish on a Collie Dog from the Holly Pool on Beat 8. Mr. A. Muckian and son James had 5 fish including a sea liced 5.5lbs. fish taken in the Falls Pool on a Willie Gunn. and also returned a 9lb. hen fish taken in the Willow Pool on Beat 6. Mr. N. Delaney, Irl. took a fish of 4.5lbs. from Altamont’s Dam Beat 6. Sophie Moore, Irl. caught a fish of 10.25lbs. from the top Square Pool on Beat 9 on the 14th. August. Mr. J. McCullough and Mr. A. Holden had 8 fish for the week ending the 20th. August. Darragh Jones and his sister Emma had two fish taken on the Broken Bridge Pool on the 18th. Local anglers D. Brinklow, S. Flemming and M. Wade had 2 fish each all on Shrimp Fly and Willie Gunn. Mr. T. Stafford had two sea liced fish in two casts in the Bridge Pool Beat 9 and released a fish taken on the third cast on a Willie Gunn with the water level reading 1.6 meters on the Aasleagh Guage on 26th. August.
Catch of the Month must go to Mr. Betram Cotton, N. Irl. who in his 91st year caught three salmon and released four good sea trout . Fish of the month goes to Rachel Moore aged 9 although accompanied by her Dad but without assistance caught a sparkling fresh sea liced fish of 8.25lb. in a 1.7 meter spate just below the Falls Pool on Beat 9.
The total catch for the month was 87 salmon and 40 Sea Trout making it one of the best months for August in many years. At the time of writing fresh fish are continuing to pass through the Counter which is encouraging for September.
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