Blackwater Lodge Salmon Fishery

Where will you be fishing in 2013 ?

The Blackwater Lodge Salmon Fishery is with out doubt the preeminent salmon fishery in the country. Comprising 11 fantastic beats from a few  kilometres above the tidal limit to 45 kilometres upstream.

The Blackwater Lodge is now leading the way as a fishery in this country offering not some but the best value fishing. They have slashed prices for 2013 starting at €15 per rod per day in February. There is no  where else that you can search for a springer at that price.

The possibility to be able to search for fish depending on water height and temperature in the Spring months is a big bonus with Springers holding back in the lower beats in cold lower water conditions or running through to the middle/upper beats if we have a milder Springer with higher water levels.

A full days fishing during peak periods will not cost more than €80 for 2013.

To fish such hallowed beats as Upper & Lower Killmurry, Kents and many more at that time of year at these prices is not just a bargain but an opportunity not to be missed.

Looking upstream towards the Wood Pool on Ballyhooly

I am not someone to blatantly push anything onto others, however I can say with all honesty that The Munster Blackwater is one of the great rivers of Ireland and the Blackwater Lodge one of the Great Fisheries. I know where I'll be fishing in 2013,  where will you be ?

New Guideline LXI Rods

New Guideline LXI Rod

I had a chance today to try one of Guideline’s new LXI rods  at the Clonanav Flyfishing Centre.

These rods are replacing the LeCie range so had a lot to live up to, I can happily say that they do this and much much more.

Being a big fan of the LeCie rods I was really looking forward to trying this rod. The LeCie 13’7”  10/11 F is one of my all time favourite fishing rods especially when fishing fast sinking heads and large flies early in the season. This rod always gave me the performance of a 15’ rod in a compact easy to use package. A 10/11 3D line cut back to 41 grams always flew as afar as I ever needed and is my go to combo in high water and nasty conditions.

It was for this reason that I was delighted that the demo LXI rod was the 13’ 9” 10/11.

Straight away the quality of the cork handle was apparent,  one of the best I have seen a long time with little or no filler and some practical & tasteful composite in the right places. This made for a very comfortable feel in the hand.

The black down locking reel seat was solid, not fussy and practical.

The guides were all correctly aligned and the varnish was perfect with no blemishes or excess around the guides/rings. And while the noise from the rings on the LeCies with a dry line never bothered me many people will be happy to know that the LXI rings are completely silent.

The rod is rated for a 40 – 43 gram shooting head and a 660 grain skagit head. So this is indeed a powerful rod and it’s slightly deeper flex will allow this power to be easlily tapped into.

The Blank has a very solid & smooth feel to it when flexed/loaded.

I used a 10/11 3D F/H/I cut back to 41 grams (this is the line I use on the LeCie) for the test and while for my taste I would prefer 43 grams, the rod performed impeccably. The slightly deeper flex and lighening quick recovery made for some very nice casts with staggering line speed requiring very little effort on behalf of the caster. This rod has certainly got a power boost over it predecessor, but its power that’s easy to use.

I can’t  wait to try this rod with a heavier head, a 43 gram I/2/4  would be my choice for the spring. A 660 skagit will will definitly be  agood combo and you’ll be able to cast half a rabbit with it.

I was mightly impressed with this rod and look forward to trying some of the lighter line models also.

No to Fish Farm

The proposed Salmon farm of the Galway coasts will have devastating effect on Salmon & Seatrout stocks.  

This farm is going to be the largest of its kind and will have a serious effect on both returning adult fish but particularly on smolts heading out to sea.

Our Salmon 7 seatrout stocks have Enough to be dealing with as  it is with mortality at sea and draft netting already causing major problems. We certainly don't need mega fish farms dotted around the coast. And yes if this goes ahead and is deemed a success by those who have their own political agendas and no interest in protecting our wild stocks you can be sure be sure that this farm will  be the first of many.

So sign the petitions and make a submission to 

mailto:aquaculturelicensing@agriculture.gov.ie

simon.coveney@oir.ie

http://www.nosalmonfarmsatsea.com/how-you-can-help/petition/

Difficult Fishing But

there are still fish to be caught.
Despite good numbers of fish in the Blackwater conditions have been difficult of late with fish reluctant to take.
I fished Kilavullen this morning a failed to interest anything with the small flies conditions were calling for, however after changing to a 5 inch monkey sunray varient I promptly caught fish of about 5lbs and rose 2 more fishing square and fast.
I dropped down to the lower river this afternoon fishing Ballinaroone. There were a few fresh fish on the lies but showed no interest. A pod a fresh fish went through about 6pm moving fast of which I managed to hook one though unfortunatley we parted ways after a brief tussle.
Will try again tomorrow .
K.

Munster Blackwater

One of three fish caught on Kents beat , Blackwater Lodge on recent days fishing.
The Blackwater is having a great run of fish this Summer with great fishing between floods with fish up to 20lbs being caught.
As another flood is dropping things are only going to get better as the run seems to be increasing in numbers.
Definitely the Place to be fishing.
K.

Great Fishing

With Contineously high water levels over the past month there has been some great runs off fish in the Blackwater.

Even in the High coloured watef fish are still being caught on the spinner. I have even managed a few on the Fly using sinking shooting heads and large tube flies.

There has also been some larger Salmon caught in the Draft nets on the Lee over the last week and it seems all the high water has allowed some to get through to the Inniscarra beats, fish up to 20lbs have been seen. Paul Hanley having caught a 15lbs sealiced fish yesterday spinning in very high water.

Hope to get couple myself over the next few days.

Sent from my Nokia phone

A Good Start to June

The last week of May has seen good runs of fish entering both the Lee and Blackwater.
There have been good reports of fish being caught of the Blackwater over the last week with Fresh fish being caught from Mallow down to Ballyduff.
The run of fish in the Lee is really picking up with a large pod of up to 50 fish coming of the tide on Monday evening and similar numbers entering daily all week.
There has been water released most days from the dam sometime levels are going up a down twice in one day which is pulling the fish right through to the inniscarra beats and up into the lakes.
Good numbers of fish both Grilse and Salmon are being caught spinning in the high water and again on fly and shrimp when levels fall back though again it's unfortunate that once generating stops levels are being maintained at extremely low levels.
Still there are plenty of fish about and providing good sport. I even managed a sealiced 6lbs fish late yesterday evening which was good fun on a 9' 5 weight single handed rod.
Though in the low levels try floating lines, tapered fluoro leaders and small flies, The fish I caught last night was on a size 15 cascade.

A Hard Day

Today I fished three different beats on the Blackwater (Blackwater Lodge). Starting this morning on Ballygally the lowest beat all was quiet with nothing seen or met.

After lunch I went to Kents a few kilometers upstream of Ballyduff and while I failed to catch anything  I did see one very fresh fish. Not quite sure if it was a small Springer or an early Grilse. The fish was about 4lbs.

Lower Kilmurry this evening looking upstream to the Island, great water for the fly.

I then went to Kilmurry after 6pm for the final few hours. Trying both the Hut pool on Upper and the Island stream on Lower with F/I/S2 head and a 4cm Silver Grey tube, A good setup for searching out the faster water in lower levels though to no avail on this occasion.

I decided to rest the Island Stream before giving it a final run and swapped over to a F/H/I head and a 10cm black/green Samurai. This is a fly that works best casted more squarely and stripped back across the current.

Getting back in at the head of the Island stream I quickly contacted a fish though it was a tentative affair and failed to hook up, still the method worked where 15 min before the standard tactics had moved nothing.

I fished on down the stream getting a good take opposite the bench, just where you'd expect however after a brief fight it turned out to be a Seatrout, unexpected though not unwelcome after along day on the  river.

The Seatrout that fancied a 10cm Samurai

While water levels are very low for the time of year, there are still a few fish coming into the river and while  a good flood is definitely needed, it's still worth a cast on the lower beats. Hopefully I might get out for a few hours tomorrow evening.

There is a great stretch to the evenings now, despite a lot of very dark clouds about this evening it was 9pm before  I stopped fishing.

A Great Morning

The Hut Pool on Upper Kilmurry early this morning.

Encouraged after seeing a few fish on Ballinaroone Beat on Sunday I returned to the Blackwater today fishing the Kilmurry beats (Blackwater Lodge).

First fishing the Hut pool on Upper with out any sign of a fish, I went down to Lower and Started fishing the Island Stream.

After a couple of casts in the top third of the run I had a light pluck on the fly which turned into a savage pull and a screaming reel.  Five minutes later a solid sealiced Blackwater Springer of about 8lbs was safely returned.

After resting the pool for a few minutes,  covering the same lie I quickly connected with a second fish. Another cracking fish which I retained.

Several more fish were showing in the pool, but did not seem interested. Despite fishing on for the rest of the day no further fish were met. Mind you two Springers for a mornings fishing in low water levels can only be considered a great    days fishing.

One of  a brace

Small Silver Grey Temple Dog which accounted for both fish.

It's very encouraging to see a few fish  coming into the river even in these low water conditions. A good flood now would really get things going. Lets hope the rain forecast for next week will be sufficient to give a decent rose in water levels.

Still there are enough fish about that I'll be out again at the weekend.

Tighlines. K.

Munster Blackwater

Despite low water levels on the Blackwater, there a certainly fish present in the lower beats.

I fished Ballinaroone Beat late yesterday afternoon for a few yours and despite not contacting any fish I did see several fish which seemed to be holding in the beat, one of which was certainly mid teens.

Summer water levels and water temps at 11 degrees certainly call for summer tactics with medium to small flies and sinktip lines.

I saw enough activity today to make me go back on Tuesday and give it a full day and while I'm suer the fishing will not be easy as long as fish are present there's a chance.

On a side not here are some Silver Greys tied on tubes with Discs and Cones. The smallest being about  4 cm wing and no body. The movement from theses small tubes with no body and flying hook has to be seen to be believed. I find myself using flies tied on hooks less and less. Though getting really small patterns converted to a tube could be interesting.

The Silver Grey makes for a great pattern in clear water in all levels and is a fly I wouldn't be without on either the Blackwater or the Laune.

River Lee, 21st March

There was some great water on the river today, with levels up about 18 inches, perfect for the Fly and one or two fish about also.

Normally good fishing can be had from Patrick's day onwards.
Water levels have been very good over the last week with generating taking place from lunch time onwards, which certainly seems to be drawing fish up from the lower and middle river.
I walked the four beats today taking a few still shots and some video footage as I couldn't fish and saw two fine Fresh Springers on Beat 1.

Heres a short clip of the conditions today, Perfect !

Yellow Green TD Turbo Disc

A Yellow Green TD incorporating a small turbo disc allowing for great movement of the soft materials even in the fastest of flows.

Here's a short clip of the same fly in action notice how the very slim profile in the above picture flares out once in the water due to turbulence created by the disc giving that classic tear drop profile.

Rusty Nasty TD

A great fly for both peaty and clear water