24th July 2011
Water levels and angling conditions were excellent during the week beginning the 18th July with great cloud cover and strong winds. Water levels were recorded at 1.6 meters on the Aasleagh Gauge and with regular very heavy showers the river held up well for several days and fresh grilse entered the river on every tide. Stephen Ward, Tony Uttley, D. Bailey, all from the U.K. and fishing the Erriff for the first time had a good week catching 9 sparkling fresh grilse and 5 sea trout mainly on Cascades.
G. Garnier, France fishing the Erriff for 25 years had his best day ever on the river with 3 fish from Beat 1 in a morning session and 7 fish from Beat 9 in the afternoon – all fish were taken on Cascades and 8 were sportingly released, best fish 11.25lbs. Andrew Beattie continued his week beating last years personal best (11) having 13 grilse and 6 Sea Trout for the week – once again a Cascade was the most successful fly pattern – 10 grilse were sportingly released. A Red Shrimp fly was successful for Wilfred Foster, N.I. taking a fresh run grilse from the top Square Pool. A. Caffrey, Athy caught a grilse of almost 5lbs in the Falls Pool on a Willie Gunn and another of 7lbs in the Bridge Pool on Beat 9.
Andrew Beattie releasing one of his 13 grilse landed this week
Nigel Larke, Tipperary caught 2 grilse on Cascades on his first day salmon fishing – both fish were sportingly released. Dessie Edwards, N. Irl. had 3 fish –one from Kelly’s Bend on Beat 4 and two more from the Bridge Pool and the Falls Pool on Beat 9. Jimmy Keogh, Dublin had 4 fish from Poleen on Beat 4 and the Falls Pool on Beat 9 – best fish weighed 6lbs – Jimmy also released a 6lbs coloured fish taken in Poleen.
Gael Kerschbaumer, France had 2 from the Hawthorn Run on Beat 7 and the Sea Pool on Beat 9, and another fish from the Meadow Flats on beat 1 (released). Mike Carpino, U.K. had a sparkling fresh grilse fishing the Bridge Pool from the left bank. D. Byfield, U.K. fishing the Erriff for the first time had one from Deadman’s on Beat 2 and another from Joyce’s Sand Hill on Beat 5. Black Banks on Beat 6 produced a 6.75lbs fish for David Gaffney. Fergus Crawford released two grilse from the Garden Pool and Sea Pool on Beat 9.
A total of 48 salmon and 34 sea trout were taken during the week. At the time of writing the report water levels have dropped off to 0.7 meters and water temperatures have reached 18C. Grilse and sea trout can be seen splashing on the tide and fresh grilse are still entering the river.