31st July 2012
Water levels were recorded at 0.7 metres on Sunday 22nd on the Aasleagh Gauge. Heavy rain increased levels to 1.55 meters by midday on the 23rd. Levels dropped to 1.1 meters on the 24th and increased to 1.4 meters on the 25th. Levels then dropped slowly to 0.75 meters by the 28th of the month.
Alan Shatter, Clifden, caught one of 4.75lbs on a Bibio in Jenkin’s Pool on Beat 5. James Keogh, Dublin released a grilse in the School House Pool on Beat 3, taken on a Cascade. Robert Devriese, Dublin, had 2 grilse taken on Cascades in the Bridge Pool and Garden Pool on Beat 9. Margie Crawford, N.I. caught one of 9lbs in the Falls Pool on a Cascade. Mark and Mandy Broughton, UK, caught 4 on Beat 6 and Beat 9 – all fish were taken on Shrimp patterns.
Hervé Rodrigue, France, released a 5lbs grilse taken on a Hairy Mary in the Black River Run on Beat 1, and another taken on the same fly in the Coronation Pool on Beat 8. UK visitor Will Masterson caught 3 - with one from the Straight on Beat 5, another from Beat 6 and one from Beat 9. David Williams, UK, caught and released 5 sea trout and his brother Christopher Williams from Hong Kong, fishing the Erriff for the first time, caught his first 3 fly-caught salmon and 4 sea trout and returned all to the water again - all fish were taken on Cascades.
Kevin Attridge, originally from Achill but home on holidays from the Netherlands, had 3 in one day on Shrimp patterns. Ian Keating, Partry, released a grilse taken in the Wall Pool at the top of Beat 1. Trevor Champ, Dublin, caught one in the Quarry Pool on Beat 2 and another in Coronation Pool on Beat 8. Local angler Brian Graham caught one in the Black Banks on Beat 6 on a Shrimp Pattern. Annie and Robert Rusby, UK, had one each form Black Banks and Coronation Pool on a Purple Shrimp Fly and Gold Willie Gunn.
Gael Kerschbaumer, France released a fish estimated at 11lbs, taken on a GP in the School House Pool on Beat 3. Gerard Garnier and Paul Fariney both from France finished their second week on the Erriff with an additional 10 fish between them.
Fish of the Week goes to Will Masterson, with a fish of 12lbs caught on a Cascade in the Falls Pool on Beat 9.
Total catch for the week was 37 salmon and 15 Sea trout – 25 salmon and all 15 sea trout were released again.
Margie Crawford and John Nelson with a 9lbs summer salmon taken by Margie