Fishery Report » Aasleagh Lodge & River Erriff Fishery
[ July 2012 ]
The month of July was one of the wettest on record and the heavy rains favored spate rivers and the Erriff was certainly one of them. With ideal water conditions both Salmon and sea trout continued to enter the river through the month. Over 500 salmon were recorded at the counter with a huge run of sea trout with almost 2,300 recorded. The sea trout were in exceptional good condition – the best we have seen for years – however angling pressure for sea trout was light with anglers concentrating on salmon. The following are the weekly angling reports for the month………
Angling Report week ending Sat 7th. July 2012.
Weather conditions and clear water levels at 1.3 meters were very favorable on Sunday Ist. July – the levels then fell slowly to 0.75 meters by the end of the week. High water conditions combined with spring tides of 4.7 meters brought a run of salmon and sea trout into the river.
Michel Winthrop, France caught a grilse of 5lbs. on a Lady Fallacia in the School House Pool on Beat 3. The following day Michel Le Paire caught a sea-liced fish of 7.75 lbs. in the Sea Pool on a Shrimp Fly. John Lyons, Clonbur, caught a grilse of 5lbs. in the Sea Pool on a Cascade. A Willie Gunn was very successful for Urgan Mantle, Clonbur who caught and released 3 sea-liced fish - two of 5lbs. and the other estimated at 6lbs. – the fish were caught in the Garden Pool, Guage Pool and the Sea Pool on Beat 9.
Dr. John Casey, Clifden, released a sea trout of 2.5lbs. taken on a Silver Doctor in the Quarry Pool on Beat 2 and also a grilse of 5lbs. caught in the Garden Pool. The Cattle Pass on Beat 1 produced a 6lbs. fish for Philip Clesham – a few days later Philip caught another 7lbs. fish on a G.P. in the Dog Pool on Beat 2. Mick Brown, Dublin released a fish of 7lbs. taken on a Yellow Shrimp Fly on Beat 7. Dermot Seymour released a fish of 4.5lbs. taken on a Cascade in the Cottage Pool on Beat 4 and lost another 2.
Michael Wade, Manager of Delphi Lodge caught 3 fish on Beat 5 on a Collie Dog – best fish 8lbs. Alan Hartnett, Dundalk fishing for Sea Trout on Beat 2 caught and released 6 sea trout for 5lbs. and landed a salmon of 7lbs. in the dark at 11-30pm – all fish came to a Bibio.
Fish of the week a sparkling fresh run fish of 10.5lbs. was caught by Frank Hughes, Dublin on a Cascade in the Quarry Pool on Beat 2.
Derrintin & Tawnyard Loughs produced some 20 Brown Trout up to 1lb. for Donavin Brinklow in 2 afternoon fishing trips. The best fish was estimated at 1lb. – all were caught on a Bibio & Daddy Long Legs and all were sportingly released.
Although water levels have dropped off a good run of sea trout all in excellent condition continue to enter the river and salmon can be seen coming in on every tide.
Total catch for the week was 16 Salmon, 17 Sea Trout and 22 Brown Trout.
Angling Report week ending Sat. 14th. July. 2012.
Water levels on the Erriff were still above average for the week. Levels were recorded at 0.76 meters on the 8th. Heavy showers increased levels to 1.1 meters on the 9th. and 1.2 meters on the 10th. With no further rain of any significance levels fell to .72 meters by the 14th. of the week. Overall angling pressure on the river was light during the week.
Fishing a Cascade in the Falls Pool on Beat 9 Barbara Ceillier, Dublin caught a fresh run grilse of 5lbs. Alexander Mills & Gareth Beattie Co. Tyrone had 3 fish from School House Pool on Beat 3 and the Sea Pool and Upper Garden on Beat 9 – Best fish weighed 5lbs. Arthur Muckian and his son James had one each in the Falls Pool on a Red Shrimp and Orange Cascade.
Bill Bullick caught one of 6lbs. in the Colonel’s Run on Beat 6 on a Curry’s Red Shrimp and Jim Wilson, Mount Falcon released a grilse taken on a Coolraw Killer in the General’s Reach on Beat 8. Brian Stark, N. Irl. fishing the Erriff for the first time caught a grilse in the Garden Pool on a Cascade and lost another.
Hazel Clarke, U.K. caught one on a Stoat’s Tail in the Garden Pool on Beat 9. Anthony Holden caught one in the Bridge Pool on Beat 9 on a Cascade. Andrew Beattie, U.K. caught 2 in the Falls and Sea Pool on a Curry’s Red Shrimp. Annual French visiting angler on the Erriff Gerard Garnier, caught 3 fish all on Beat 9 on a Cascade and released all fish to the water again.
Total catch for the week was 15 salmon and 8 sea trout.
Angling Report Week ending Sat 21st. July.
Water levels on the Erriff were recorded at 0.86 meters on the 15th. & 16th. of the month.
Heavy rains increase water levels to 1.9 meters on the 17th. Thereafter levels fell slowly to 0.7 meters by the 21st of the month. With ideal water conditions fresh run salmon and sea trout continued to enter the river.
Enda O’ Connell, Newcastle upon Tyne grassed 3 fish in the one day - best fish 7lbs. Enda was unlucky to loose 2 bigger fish – all fish were taken on a Cascade of his own tying. Andrew Beattie, on an Annual weekly visit to the Fishery had 8 salmon and 6 sea trout – all were returned to the river – Andrew also lost another 8 fish - most fish were taken on Cascades of various sizes. Stephen Ward’s Party all from the U.K. also on an annual visit to Aasleagh Cottage and the Erriff had 13 salmon and 13 sea trout including fish for Stephen, Tony Uttley, and Fred Mitchenson, with best fish going to Derek Bailey at 7.5lbs. Hervé Rodrigue, France caught 3 fish - best fish 7 lbs. was caught in the Cottage Pool on Beat 4. Desmond Edwards, Lisburn, N.I. caught one in the Holly Poll and lost another in the General’s Reach at the top of Beat 8. Mount Falcon rods also had 2 salmon from the Island Rock and Coronation Pool Beat 8.
The Coronation Pool on Beat 8 produced a salmon of 7.75lbs. for Michael Adamson, Dublin – his first Erriff Salmon. Fishing with Michael, Rory McCullagh, Dublin caught his first ever salmon of 5lbs. in the Black Banks on Beat 6 on a Willie Gunn tube fly. It was another successful annual visit to the Erriff for Gerard Garnier and Paul Fariney both from France. Their combined catch was 17 for their first of two weeks fishing on the Erriff – this was Paul’s first time salmon fishing and he accounted for 7 fish. Gael Kerschbaumer also from France had 4 fish for his first week – catching 3 fish on the one day on a Cascade on Beat 9.
Fish of the week a fresh run 12.25 pounder was caught on a Cascade in Poleen on Beat 4 by Ian Keating, Partry, Co, Mayo who having weighed the fish sportingly released it again.
Total catch for the week was 51 salmon and 40 Sea Trout – ALL fish were taken on fly. A total of 34 salmon and all sea trout were sportingly released back in the river - several of the salmon retained were identifiable as part of a smolt release into the lower section of the river during April 2011.
Angling Report week ending Sat 28th. July, 2012
Water levels were recorded at 0.7 metres on Sunday 22nd. on the Aasleagh Guage. Heavy rains increased levels to 1.55 meters by mid-day on the 23rd. Levels dropped to 1.1 meters on the 24th and increased to 1.4 meters on the 25th. Levels then dropped slowly to 0.75 meters by the 28th. of the month.
Alan Shatter, Clifden caught one of 4.75lbs. on a Bibio in Jenkin’s Pool on Beat 5. James Keogh, Dublin released a grilse in School House Pool on Beat 3 taken on a Cascade. Robert Devriese, Dublin had 2 grilse taken on Cascades in the Bridge Pool and Garden Pool on Beat 9. Margie Crawford, N.I. caught one of 9lbs. in the Falls Poll on a Cascade. Mark and Mandy Broughton, U.K. caught 4 on Beat 6 and Beat 9 – all fish were taken on Shrimp patterns.
Hervé Rodrigue, France released a 5lbs. grilse taken on an a Hairy Mary in the Black River Run on Beat 1 and another taken on the same fly in the Coronation Pool on Beat 8. Will Masterson U.K. caught 3 - with one from the Straight on Beat 5, another 2 from Beat 6 and one from Beat 9. David Williams, U.K. caught and released 5 sea trout and his brother Christopher Williams from Hong Cong fishing the Erriff for the first time caught his first ever 3 fly-caught salmon and 4 sea trout and returned all to the water again - all fish were taken on Cascades.
Kevin Attridge, originally from Achill but on holidays from The Netherlands had 3 in one day on Shrimp Patterns. Ian Keating, Partry, released a grilse taken in the Wall Pool at the top of Beat 1. Trevor Champ, Dublin caught one in the Quarry Pool on Beat 2 and another in Coronation Pool on Beat 8. Local angler Brian Graham caught one in the Black Banks on Beat 6 on a Shrimp Pattern. Annie and Robert Rusby UK. had one each form Black Banks and Coronation Pool on a Purple Shrimp Fly and Gold Willie Gunn.
Gael Kerschbaumer, France released a fish estimated at 11lbs. taken on a GP. in School House Pool on Beat 3. Gerard Garnier and Paul Fariney both from France finished their second week on the Erriff with an additional 10 fish between them.
Fish of the Week goes to Will Masterson, with a fish of 12lbs caught on a Cascade in the Falls Pool on Beat 9.
Total catch for the week was 37 salmon and 15 Sea trout – 25 salmon and all 15 sea trout were released again.
The total catch from the 1st. to the 28th. of the month was 119 salmon and 80 sea trout.
For bookings and further information, please visit:
» Aasleagh Lodge & River Erriff Fishery member page.
