[B]February: 5 fish caught in total,[/B] all between February 3-14 for only 30 rod days.
[B]Joint Best February total[/B] since 2004 & joint [B]Second Best total[/B] since 1994.
We took four fish for March for a total of just 43 rod days, which was a remarkable achievement as for most of the month the river was at summer level & we were basking in unseasonally bright sunshine.
[B][U]April gets off to a Great Start![/U][/B]
Despite extremely low water in the first week of April, four springers were landed in 3 days for only 7 rod days in total.
We have had just one day so far this season when two springers were landed - by two different anglers
- which was February 5th. Yesterday (April 3) was the first day this year where one angler has landed
two fish in one day - and they were both on fly on two consecutive casts!
Kieran Conlon (Cork) managed to get away for only his second day fishing so far this season,
& I sent him to Lower Kilmurry on a cold blustery day with a NW wind & air temps from 7-10ºC.
Just before lunchtime he caught and released a lovely sea-liced fish on a Silver Grey tube fly
right up at the head of the Island Stream in the fast water - no surprise as water temp is now just above 52ºF.
This was his first springer of the 2012 season.
More surprising was the fact that he went back into the water & the very next cast caught
a second sea-liced fish from the very same spot. Both fish were like peas in a pod.
The second fish (above) was weighed in later at the Lodge at 8.3lb.
Kieran saw a number of other fish throughout the day.
John Lalor (Cahir) caught this 6lb sea-liced fish on fly on April 4th. This was his first fish for 2012.
Joe Tynan (Kildare) caught this 8.4lb. very fresh fish on spinner on April 5th. It was his First Ever Salmon!
It didn't have sea-lice but they had only just fallen off it.
It is one of the earliest ever recorded First Fish on the fishery!
[B]The First Grilse of the 2012 Season is Caught! [/B]
APGAI_Ireland casting instructor Ken Stewart came down to visit the Lodge today (9th.)
& went out to the river about lunchtime for a cast on the Kilmurry beats.
About 4.00pm Glenda went down to meet him & she arrived at the Hut Pool to see Ken playing a fish.
She hopped out of the jeep, rolled up her trousers (no time to don the waders) & hopped into the water
to net a beautiful sea-liced 4 pound grilse that had taken Ken's tube fly.
This is probably the earliest grilse that has ever been taken on the fishery.
Biggest Fish of the Season so far!!!!!!!
[B][I]Jim Shanahan from Castletownroche was fishing an upper beat & phoned me to ask if he could switch to another upstream beat.
I suggested he come down as I heard it was quiet above. He arrived on Ballinaroone with his 11 yr old son James & within 15 minutes
James hooked & lost a fish on a Toby. Jim caught the Biggest Fish of the Season a few moments later - 12.4lb on Flying C at the Road Pool.[/I][/B]
This lovely sea-liced 7.3lb. fish was caught by Terry O'Keeffe (Midleton, Co. Cork) on Lower Kilmurry yesterday.
The river continues to fine off today & was at 0.25m at 16.00.
Another very fresh fish was caught today on spinner – only our second from the upper river.
The total for the Lodge fishery is now 8 fish for April to date for only 37 rod days.
This is the river below Blackwater Lodge at 16.00 today.
Gauge height 0.25m. Clarity ~4-5 feet
[B][U]Prospects[/U][/B]
There is more rain coming through the week, with storm conditions for tomorrow (Tuesday).
[B][U]Availability[/U][/B]
There's no problem for availability of fishing at present.
If you'd like to be kept up to date with what's happening, email me on
info@ireland-salmon-fishing.net
& I'll add you to our Newsletter circulation.
[URL="http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net"]Ireland Salmon Fishing[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net"]Blackwater Lodge[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm"]Daily Salmon Fishing Report[/URL]
Blackwater Lodge: [url]http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net[/url]
Daily Salmon Fishing Report: [url]http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm[/url]