Fishery Report » Aasleagh Lodge & River Erriff Fishery
[ June 2012 ]
Angling Report week ending Sat 16th. June 2012.
[Photo: Catch & Release angler Raphael Amat, France releasing his Ist ever Erriff salmon]
Water levels on the Erriff were recorded at 0.7m on the Ist. of the month and increased to 1.7m on the 3rd and dropped to 0.85m on the 6th. Fishing the Erriff for the first time on the 4th. it was a first ever salmon for Deirdre Herbert, Dublin, Deirdre was also the first lady angler to catch a salmon on the river this season – the fish weighed 6lbs. 6ozs. and was taken on a shrimp fly in Doyle’s Pool on Beat 6. William Sullivan, Boston U.S.A. also fishing the river for the first time released a sea-liced grilse taken in the Upper Garden Pool on Beat 9.
Prolonged heavy rains resulted in a massive spate of 2.7 meters on the 8th which rendered the river unfishable but brought a run of both Springers and Grilse into the river. The following morning levels had dropped to 1.6 meters and angling conditions were good. A Yabbie was the successful fly for Dr. Eoin Bresnihan, Oughterard who caught a sparkling fresh fish of 9.25lbs in the Garden Pool on Beat 9. Mr. Robert Devriese, Belgium Ambassador to Ireland released a Grilse taken on a Hairy Mary in the Glenacally Pool at the top of Beat 5. Michael Parry, U.K. on his annual visit to the Lodge and Fishery had a red letter day on the Erriff catching 3 salmon in the one day - one each from the Top Square Pool and the Garden Pool on Beat 9 and another estimated at 9.5 lbs. which was released in Doyle’s Pool on Beat 6. A Red Shrimp Pattern produced 6 fish for the week for Selby Knox also a regular visitor to the Fishery from the U.K. Selby also caught 3 fish in the one day with water levels at 0.8 meters on the Aasleagh Guage on the 13th of the month.
Donal Chambers, Athy, Co Kildare took a 6.75lbs. fish from the Black Banks on a Cascade on the 14th. of the month. With heavy rain water levels reached 1.8 meters on the 15th. Terence Miley, Cong had 2 grilse from Nee’s run on a Vambeck. James Keogh, Dublin caught one of 8.75lbs. on a Cascade in the Twin Rocks. Urgan Mantle, Clonbur caught a fish of 8lbs. on a Shrimp Fly in the Broken Bridge Pool on Beat 5. John Lyons also from Clonbur, released a fish of 7lbs. taken on a Cascade in the Glenacally Pool on Beat 5. John Dardis, Kildare had a sea liced grilse of 5lbs. taken from the Bridge Pool and lost another estimated at 10lbs. in the Sea Pool. A Black Shrimp fly produced a fresh run fish of 9lbs. from the Garden Pool for Peter Hunt, Clonbur. The last fish of the week 10lbs. was caught in the Falls Pool on an Erriff Green & Gold.
At the time of writing this report another run of Spring Salmon and Grilse could be seen coming in on the tide and showing in the Garden Pool and Falls Pool before passing up through the fish counter. The commencement of the Sea Trout run were also observed in excellent condition passing through the fish counter. With good water levels these fish will be able to reach the higher Beats.
The total catch for the period was 22 and 10 Sea Trout.
Angling Report week ending Sat 23rd. June 2012
Water levels on the Erriff were perfect at 1.4 meters on Sunday 17th. The local angling Club held a Competition on the river - Peter Coyne came first with 2 fish which weighed in at 16.75lbs. which were caught on an Orange Shrimp and Collie Dog in the Falls Pool on Beat 9. Second was Brian Graham with one fish of 8.25lbs. which was caught in the Black Banks on Beat 6 on a Shrimp Fly. Several other fish were hooked and lost on the day.
Alain Metayer, France, a member of Michel Winthrop’s Party on his first day salmon fishing grassed a beautiful fresh run Springer of 12.75 – the fish was taken on a Lady Fallaci in the Garden Pool on Beat 9. Changing Beats in the afternoon Alain sportingly released a 10lbs. fish taken on the same fly in the Black Banks on Beat 6. Rene Boutonnet a member of the same Party caught a sea liced fish of 10.25lbs. which was taken on a Cascade in the Falls Pool from the right hand bank.
James Keogh, Dublin had one for 9.5lbs taken on a Cascade in the Boat Pool on Beat 5 and he also released another estimated at 8.5lbs. The following day he had a fresh run grilse of 4.75 lbs from the Sally Pool on Beat 7.
Heavy rains resulted in a huge spate of 2.2 meters on the morning of the 21st. which rendered the river unfishable for the rest of the day.
The river was in good order the following day - Stuart Woodhead, Scarborough U.K. had a grilse and 2 good sea trout taken in the Holly and Coronation Pools on Beat 9. Tom Harrington, Limerick had a fish of 5.75lbs. and released another of 5lbs. which were caught in Altamont’s Dam and Colonel’s Pool on Beat 6. The following day Tom caught another of 7.5lbs. in the Cottage Pool on Beat 4.
Bill Aston, Ballinrobe, released 2 fish estimated at 5lbs. each which were caught on a Orange Micro Tube in Toad’s Pool behind the island on Beat 4. Alan Hartnett, Dundalk released a fish estimated at 5.5 lbs and 2 good sea trout which was taken on a Cascade on Beat 6. Peter Hunt, Clonbur released a 6lbs fish taken on a Collie Dog in the Broken Bridge Pool on Beat 5.
Overnight rains increased levels to 1.5 meters on the 23rd. Stuart Price, Fishery Manager at Mount Falcon released a 9lbs fish taken on an Orange Shrimp in the Mering Pool on Beat 7 and also when on to catch fish of 5lbs. and 6lbs. in the Guage Pool on Beat 9
Total catch for the week was 18 salmon and 12 sea trout.
At the time of writing the report sea trout in excellent condition continue to enter the river and the grilse run is promising with the main run expected in July.
Angling Report week ending Sat 30th. June 2012.
Favorable water conditions prevailed on the Erriff for most of the week with water levels staying above 0.8 meters on the Aasleagh Guage. Levels were recorded at 1.5 meters on the 24th. The river fell gradually to 0.8 meters by the 27th. There were a further 3 small spates during the week with a big one of 1.6 meters on the last day of the month. The run of salmon and grilse continued on every spate. Sea trout also continued to return both in good numbers and also in excellent condition. However the sea trout did not feature to any great extent in the rod catches as the size of flies being fish were overall too large to attract the sea trout.
David Gaffney, Dublin caught a good grilse of 6lbs. in the School House on a Shrimp Fly. Jim Wilson, Mount Falcon caught a grilse at The Hill on Beat 5. Colin Edwards, U.K. released a grilse taken in the Garden Pool on a Cascade and lost another in the Bridge Pool also on Beat 9.
Fishing the Erriff for the first time Sue Clarke, London caught her first Irish Salmon in the Falls Pool on Beat on a Cascade. Tight lines continued for the following 2 days for Sue with 2 other good grilse of 5lbs. from the Garden Pool on Beat 9 and from Joyce’s Sand Hill on Beat 5 – all 3 fish were sportingly released. Raphael Amat, France also fishing the Erriff for the first time also caught and released grilse estimated at 5lbs. and 7 lbs. on Beat 9 and also returned 2 Sea Trout. David Kirk, Dublin caught a grilse of 4.5lbs in the Bridge Pool and released 2 good sea trout of 1.5lbs. each.
Alistair Thorley, U.K. on an annual visit to the Erriff caught 5 fish - with 3 in one day -Alistair retained one of 9.5lbs. taken in the Colonels Pool on Beat 6 and released the other two - all three fish were taken on a Pot Bellied Shrimp. Mark Helmore, Clare caught a grilse of 5 pounder on a Shrimp pattern in The Straight on Beat 5. Jim Barry, Dublin caught a grilse in the Guage Pool on Beat 9 and lost another two at the net – Jim’s son Kenneth, on a brief visit from London was unlucky to lose a good salmon in the Guage Pool on his first visit to the Erriff.
Overall angling pressure was light on the Fishery for most of the week with a total catch 16 salmon and 8 sea trout.
The overall catch for the month was 57 salmon and 30 sea trout which again was a big increase on the combined rod catch for previous 2 years. If the runs of salmon and sea trout which have as yet to peak continues it looks like another for another very good season on the Erriff.
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» Aasleagh Lodge & River Erriff Fishery member page.
