30th June 2013

Water levels on the river fell to 0.7m by the 21st of the month. Rain increased levels to 1.2m on the 22nd and 23rd - thereafter levels fell to 0.65m by the 28th. Rains increased levels to 1.08m by the end of the month. Michel Winthrop, France, caught a 5lbs grilse in the Coronation Pool on a Lady O’Hara on the 21st. The following day French angler Hubert Theotime, a member of Michel Winthrop’s party and fishing the Erriff for the first time, caught his first ever salmon of 8.5lbs, also on a Lady O‘Hara in the Colonel’s Run on Beat 6. It was also a first ever salmon for Tony Brown, Corby, Northants, UK, who caught a sparkling fresh grilse on a Willie Gunn in the Bridge Pool on Beat 9.

Raphael Amat, France had a brilliant week fishing with very lightly dressed low water Cascade fly patterns and caught a total of 6 salmon (5 fresh-run grilse) and 55 sea trout. All fish were sportingly released including one estimated at 10lbs caught on a Hairy Mary in the Broken Bridge Pool on Beat 5. Michel Winthrop returned to the Erriff with another group of French anglers and they hooked 17 salmon and 16 sea trout in 5 days fishing – unfortunately only 7 salmon were landed and 4 of these were returned to the river again.

Total catch for the month was 23 salmon and some 80 sea trout.

At the time of writing the report water levels are rising and fresh-run grilse together with some springers up to 15lbs have been seen passing through the fish counter.

We look forward to welcoming the participants to the fully subscribed Inland Fisheries Ireland Salmon Angling Tuition Course taking place at Aasleagh Lodge in the first week of July.

Raphael Amat from France releasing one of his salmon