15th July 2012

Water levels on the Erriff were still above average for the week. Levels were recorded at 0.76 meters on the 8th. Heavy showers increased levelsto 1.1 meters on the 9th and 1.2 meters on the 10th. With no further rain of any significance levels fell to .72 meters by the 14th of the week. Overall angling pressure on the river was light during the week.

Fishing a Cascade in the Falls Pool on Beat 9, Barbara Ceillier, Dublin, caught a fresh-run grilse of 5lbs. Alexander Mills & Gareth Beattie from Co. Tyrone had 3 fish from the School House Pool on Beat 3 and the Sea Pool and Upper Garden Pool on Beat 9 – best fish weighed 5lbs. Arthur Muckian and his son James had one each in the Falls Pool on a Red Shrimp and Orange Cascade.Bill Bullick caught one of 6lbs in the Colonel’s Run on Beat 6 on a Curry’s Red Shrimp, and Jim Wilson, Mount Falcon,released a grilse taken on a Coolraw Killer in the General’s Reach on Beat 8.

Brian Stark, N. Irl., fishing the Erriff for the first time, caught a grilse in the Garden Pool on a Cascade and lost another. Hazel Clarke, U.K., caught one on a Stoat’s Tail in the Garden Pool on Beat 9. Anthony Holden landed one in the Bridge Pool on Beat 9 on a Cascade. Andrew Beattie, U.K., caught 2 in the Falls and Sea Pools on a Curry’s Red Shrimp. Annual French visiting angler Gerard Garnier caught 3 fish all on Beat 9 on a Cascade and released all fish to the water again.Total catch for the week was 15 salmon and 8 sea trout.

At the time of writing the report heavy overnight rain on the 16th has increased levels to 1.6 meters on the Aasleagh Guage – so prospects look good for the coming week.

Lady Hazel Clarke with a nice Erriff grilse taken on Beat 9 late in the evening