Salmon and trout angling | Coarse angling
By Lindsey Clarke
Monday 17th to Sunday 23rd September 2007
The Drowes received few day visitors and was fairly quiet. There were a number of rods renting the Fishery Cottages however. A French party of 5 anglers had a great week with 21 grilse caught weighing from 4 to 6lb. Most of these were caught on the fly with the remainder on the spinner. All but two were released. The river is rising at present after the heavy rain of Monday and prospects look good for the coming week.
Trout fishing was fairly poor this week but with few anglers fishing over the week there was never going to be large catches. Kinlough & District Anglers ran their end of season competition on Saturday with the usual after event Barbecue and all proceeds going to charity. The competition was won by Gareth Foley, Kinlough with three fish caught. In 2nd place was Andres Ferreira, in 3rd place Jackie Mahon and in 4th place Paul Lambe. The Derryvarra Anglers held their club competition in the Rossinver bay area during which John Waters caught a fine 6lb trout on the fly.
After the huge flood of 2.80 metres on Sunday 16th, the river was still running at 0.66 metres on Monday morning. This gave nice water for the start of the week and we received another big flood of 1.76 metres on Wednesday which meant there were good water levels on Thursday. The river then dropped for the rest of the week which gave low levels for the weekend. The gauge average for the week read 0.59 metres. The week was busy with 76 visiting rods fishing for the week, mostly over the first four days of the week.
There were large numbers of salmon caught this week mainly over the first four days of the week. On Monday, Malcolm Fitzell recorded a 10lb salmon caught on the fly from the Luggies. Isidro Ortega accounted for 2 grilse weighing 3 & 3½lb caught on the fly releasing one of these. John O’Donnell caught 3 grilse to 5lb on the spinner releasing 2 of these. Marcus Leslie, Gerry O’Neill, John McCrossan, Jose Garcia, Patsy McHugh, Serge Fillipuzzi, Peter McClarence and David Murphy all recorded single grilse from 4 to 5lb caught on fly and spinner with 4 of these released. On Tuesday, Michael McLoughlin recorded a fine 16lb salmon caught on the fly from the Devlin Pool. Father John McLoone caught a 7lb grilse from the Fish Counter Pools on the fly. George Friel recorded 3 grilse weighing 3, 3½ & 7lb caught from above and below Ballymacahill Bridge on spinner & worm releasing 2 of these. Serge Fillipuzzi accounted for a 4lb grilse caught on spinner. On Wednesday, Isidro Ortega caught and released 4 grilse to 6lb on the fly losing another larger fish. Malcolm Fitzell recorded a 7lb grilse caught on fly from the Luggies. John O’Donnell had a good day with 6 grilse caught on fly and spinner weighing from 3 to 8lb releasing 5 of these. On Thursday I caught 2 grilse weighing 4 & 7½lb on the fly releasing both of these. Isidro Ortego caught and released 3 grilse weighing 5, 5 & 11lb on the fly. Michael McLoughlin recorded grilse of 5½ & 7lb (released) caught on the fly and Pauric Henry accounted for a 4lb grilse caught on the fly from the Devlin. On Saturday, Kevin Anderson recorded a 13lb salmon caught on the spinner from The Luggies.
There were good floods on Monday (0.42m) and Wednesday (0.60m) which ensured good water right up to Friday with the river still at fair levels at the weekend. The gauge average for the week read 0.32 metres. 52 visiting rods fished for the week spread over the week.
There were good numbers of fish recorded during the earlier part of the week. On Monday, Michael Wilson recorded a grilse and a fine salmon weighing 6 and 14lb caught on the fly & spinner. Both fish were released. Bill Murray recorded 3 salmon caught on the fly from beat 6. The fish weighed weighing 10lb, 6lb (both released) and 5lb. William Foster accounted for a 3lb grilse caught from beat 6 on the spinner. Vincent Hatton recorded a 4½lb grilse caught on the fly from beat 5. On Tuesday, William Foster recorded a 4lb grilse caught on the fly from beat 5. John Lennon accounted for a 3lb grilse caught on the fly from beat 5.
26/09/07
The annual Cootehill Angling Festival is taking place this week. All five venues are fishing well with Annaghmakerrig producing bags of 12/14kgs. A lot of Pike is being caught at this venue.
Barnagrove is giving 14/15kgs with some nice Bream, also Perch, Roach and Skimmer Bream.
Church Lake 15/16kg mixed bags.
Bairds Shore/Lisgillon is giving some lovely Tench up to 2 kilo and some nice Bream. Bags up to 17/20kgs are being recorded at this venue.
Mullinary is giving good bags of fish with Skimmer Bream and Roach, bags weighing in at 12/14kgs.
The Northern Regional Fisheries Board presents this web site as a useful guide to salmon, trout and coarse fishing in Donegal, Leitrim and Cavan.