Angling for Salmon on Ireland's Cork Blackwater
Blackwater Lodge in County Waterford
Voted Best Fly Fishing Guesthouse/Hotel in Today's Flyfisher Magazine Game-Tackle Awards 2006.

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Beat 16 - Killavullen

Distance by road from the Lodge: 23 miles.
Distance by river from the Lodge: Approx. 26 miles upstream of the Lodge
Beat situation: South side - Right bank
Beat Length: Approx. 1¼ mile.

Under Construction

Beat Map: (click here to view)

Description:
            The access to this beat is right down the boreen (Irish for lane !) to the parking place at the bottom.  From the parking place, follow the sign to the river – straight on – and enter the field over the stile on your left.  Proceed to the head of the beat which is three fields above the boreen.              The Top Boundary is marked by the stone wall just above some large trees on a high bank with a slow flat in front of the trees. This flat is good for spinning in high water, but has it's share of bad snags.  The very top is fished from up on the bank under the trees, but from about half way down this flat, between the upstream limit & the Vee, wading becomes very easy, in shallow water over a gravely bottom, casting out to deep water under the far bank.  This Flat is an excellent Spring lie when fish are running the upper river in high Spring water.
            The tail of the Flat just above the Vee is an excellent taking spot for the fly, with fish lying just off the rocks above the Vee under the far bank.  There are no obstructions for an overhead cast.  The mouth of the Vee itself can often produce a fish to worm fished with plenty of lead to hold the bait against the strong current.
           
From the Vee, the river breaks into a faster ripply run which is excellent fly water. This is best fished by making a long cast (again no obstructions for overhead casting) out under the far bank.  The worm is also extremely effective if you can survive the numerous rocks and boulders strewn over the bottom.  Spinning the shrimp can also be deadly here, & floating it is also very effective.
            From the Vee down the stream is easy wading.  About 50 yards below the Vee is a small Sunken Weir, which extends out about half-way across the river under the trees at the tail of the run. In low water, you can wade out along the weir & fish worm or floated shrimp through the gap beyond the weir & into the slower water just below. Fish often lie just outside & below the weir.  From below this weir, down to just above the Cliff, fish are more scattered as it is slow and wide, but can be picked up with the spinner in high water, or by wading down the flat & fishing the fly or floated shrimp in low water.
            There is a small croy above the Cliff, & the area opposite here, under the far bank is an excellent Spring lie in higher water. From just above the croy down to the tail of the Cliff Pool is also excellent for floated shrimp in low water summer conditions.  This is best fished by wading well out into the river to fish out under the far bank.
           
The tail of the Cliff Pool is another excellent Spring lie, & is also very productive with spinner in higher water in summer. 
            In low water, you can cross the river just below the head of the Island, & fish the run all the way down the left-hand curve of the river down to the trees at the head of the flat below. This is excellent fly & light spinning water when the river is low, & can be very productive when the grilse are running.

           
From the bottom of the boreen where you enter the beat, the fishing extends right down to the woods at the bottom of the very large field to your right. Much of the river is inaccessible on this side, and the run on the far side of the Island, and the one or two good fast runs below are best fished by crossing from the tail of the Cliff Pool.  You can also cross the river at the bend a couple of hundred yards downstream where the river swings into the long final flat.  From here you can go back upstream to the Cliff and fish back down past the Island.   The river then swings to the right into a long flat. Here, the river widens, & it is possible to wade out from our side & to fish out under the trees on the far side.  This can be an excellent spot in low water, particularly for the floated shrimp, & also for the worm.