Sunday, July 25th.
Mossy McElligott (Tralee) caught the Best Fish of the Season with a 12.4lb on fly on Ballinaroone
& his fishing partner Tim Quinlivan also had two on fly of 11.9 & 9.1lb.
Tim's largest was also the second heaviest weighed fish this year.
Current Situation
The lower river rose until nightfall on Thursday(22nd. & held overnight at 0.62m Friday morning.
This was rather odd as the upper river was falling steadily during the day.
It is good to see that rate of fall of the level is slower than it was before now the groundwater
is building up with the recent rains.
On Friday 24th., the level fell from 0.62 to 0.50m by evening.
Clarity was poor at only 1-1½ feet so spinning was the order of the day.
In spite of the conditions, 11 fish were taken including a 10.7 pounder for Martin Ceillier
from Dublin on his birthday – and it was only his second ever salmon.
His wife Barbara also hooked a huge silver fish at the Jole above the island on Lower Kilmurry
which jumped as soon as it was hooked then turned & headed for the sea,
emptying her reel in its one & only run & broke her. Glenda estimated it at 18-20lb.
On Saturday 24th., the river was still very peaty with clarity 2- 2½ feet, but fined off a bit & fell slowly to 0.50m by nightfall.
Sixteen fish were taken for 11 rod days, including a 12lb. released by Gavin Wishart (N. Ireland)
– who had 4 for the day – and a 10.8 pounder for Karen Murphy from Cahir.
Both Kieran Conlon & Terry O’Keeffe had 3 fish each (5 on fly).
Kieran played a fish on fly for a good while which he reckoned was close to 20lb. & a bar of silver.
On Sunday 25th., the level fell from 0.32 in the morning to 0.30m by evening & the clarity was improving to 3 feet.
11 fish were taken for only 6 rod days – 7 on fly.
The total for the season to date is 187.
The July total to the 25th. is an impressive 146 for only 145 rod days,
which is already the highest recorded since 2003 when 162 were taken.
Most of the grilse caught in the last week have been much better fish – mainly in the 4-6lb. class.
136 have been taken in the last 17 days for 134 rod days, of which 63 came to 39 rod days in the last 6 days.
Prospects
With predominantly dry weather for the coming week, the river will be fining off nicely.
There are plenty of fish running - hefty grilse, some good fish in the 10-12lb. class caught
and three fish in the last week which were reckoned to be
in the 18-20lb. class lost – so the prospects of sport for the coming week look superb.
Just had a report today - Monday 26th. - of a fish around 20lb. lost yet again on Beat 11.
Gauge height this morning was 0.28m.
Where to meet us
Glenda is fly-casting demonstrator at the Irish Game & Country Fair at Birr Castle in Co. Offaly on August 28 & 29th.
We will also have a stand at the Fair.
Availability
We have availability of rods & accommodation in the next couple of weeks.
Late summer and backend weeks are now filling up fast, so contact us quickly if you are thinking of fishing later in the season.