31st August 2011
The week started off with levels at 1.1m on the Aasleagh Gauge. Levels dropped slowly until very heavy rains resulted in the river rising rapidly to 2.0m on the evening of the 23rd. Levels were recorded at 1.6m the following morning and the river was somewhat coloured for most of the first half of the day but started to clear in the afternoon. The rise in water levels brought more fresh fish into the river and it was spectacular to see so many salmon trying to jump Aasleagh Falls. Most anglers fishing the river during the week caught fish.
Patrick Kenny, Enfield caught 2 on a Shrimp fly in the Garden Pool & Sea Pool. Nicholas Nicholson, Co. Clare had 5 salmon for the week from the Washing Pool on Beat 4, Humps & Hollows, Black Banks on Beat 6 and the Middle & Lower Garden Pool on Beat 9 - all fish were taken on a fly named Flame, one of his own patterns. Brothers Jean & Jacques Calver from France, on a return visit to the Erriff, had a good week catching 10 salmon and 6 sea trout - all fish with the exception of one which was retained for smoking were sportingly released – best fish was estimated at 8-9lbs. Arthur Muckian, Dundalk had two fresh-run fish taken in the Gauge Pool and Sea Pool on Beat 9. Christopher Thornton, U.K. caught and released a fish of 6lbs taken on a Connemara Black in the Broken Bridge Pool on Beat 5. Young Christopher Forde, Oughterard very sportingly released his first salmon of the season - a fresh grilse of 5lbs taken in the Middle Garden Pool on a Cascade.
A Black Shrimp was successful for Niall Wickham, Drogheda who released a fish taken at the Twin Rocks on Beat 7. Donavin Brinklow returned a sea trout of 1.5lbs taken on a Black Shrimp fly in Black Banks on Beat 6. Nicholas Fenton, N.I. caught 2 fish on a Cascade. John McCullough retained one of 6lbs and released another 2 in addition to 7 sea trout. Aidan Crean landed 4 sea trout and 1 grilse taken in the Sea Pool on Beat 9. Gerry Dooley released one of 7-8lbs taken on a Shrimp Fly and lost another 3 at the Twin Rocks on Beat 7. Mary Harkin, daughter of Rory Harkin of Rory’s Fishing Tackle Shop in Temple Bar Dublin, fishing the Erriff for the first time caught 3 of which 2 were released.
Total catch for the week was 37 salmon and 22 Sea Trout, which keeps the season catch well above 2010, which was a good year too. With fresh fish continuing to run, September looks like it could be a good month again for salmon on the Erriff.