22nd April 2013 - The First Salmon of the Season

There was no angling on the Erriff until the weather changed at the weekend. Following heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday, the river had been in a spate at 2.5 meters, and the levels dropped to a fishable height at the weekend.

Conor O’Leary, from Dublin, who had been trying for the first salmon of the season for a number of years, finally succeeded and caught the first fish of the season in the Gauge Pool on Beat 9 on Saturday the 20th. The fish weighing 11.25lbs was caught on a Yellow & Black Shrimp pattern that Connor dressed himself. Another angler had hooked and lost a good fish on Beat 4 the previous day.

Donavin Brinklow caught 12 brown trout on wet fly in an afternoon session on Tawnyard Lough, and Delphi Rods accounted for 4 brown trout as well.

With the weather set to continue unsettled for the remainder of this week, water levels should keep the river in good condition for flyfishing, and prospects for a springer are good.

Richard Kelly from Dublin with his 16lbs beauty