Fishing Reports
Salmon and trout angling | Coarse angling
Salmon and trout reports
Monday 23rd February to Sunday 1st March 2009
RIVER DROWSE
The weather remained fairly settled over the week with very little rainfall. The river continued to gradually fall with the lack of any meaningful precipitation. There were a small number of rods fishing over the week with a few more at the weekend. A number of fresh salmon of around 10lb were seen ascending the river. I have reports of two salmon caught to date for the week. On Wednesday, Sean McNeill recorded a 10½lb salmon caught on the fly from Briney’s Pool.
On Thursday, Jarlath Winters recorded a fine 16lb salmon caught on the fly, a Red Ally’s Shrimp, from the Blackwater.
At present, the Drowes is running at lower levels than would be preferred reading just under 4 on the gauge at Four Masters Bridge. The weather forecast this week is for temperatures to fall and for showers of rain & sleet. Though we do not relish the return of the wintery weather, the rainfall may raise the Drowes to more desirable levels.
For info/bookings etc on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin see www.drowessalmonfishery.com
LOUGH MELVIN
Conditions were fairly settled on Melvin over the week once again. There were a limited number of anglers fishing. Sean Higgins fishing with Jim Hoye midweek, recorded a 9lb salmon caught trolling. Keith Boyle fishing in the Rossinver Fishery caught and released two fine trout. The fish were caught on the fly and weighed 3 & 4lb.
Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd February 2009
RIVER DROWSE
The weather was settled over the week and we received some lovely mild days that had all the birds singing in the trees. The river continued to fall and was reading just over 5 on the gauge by the end of the week. With the mild conditions there were a few rods out fishing over the week. Despite the better attendance I only have confirmation of one salmon caught to date. This was a 7½lb salmon caught on Friday by Mark Killen, Carlow, on a Red Flying ‘C’ from the Old Sea Pool.
At the time of writing the river is running at just under 5 on the gauge. A little rain to raise the river to around 6 on the gauge would be desirable. The forecast is for some rainfall later in the week so this will hopefully keep the Drowes at desirable levels.
For info/bookings etc on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin see www.drowessalmonfishery.com
LOUGH MELVIN
Conditions were fairly settled on Melvin over the week and there were some lovely conditions for fishing. Despite this however, the fishery was fairly quiet with only a limited amount of anglers fishing during the week with a few more fishing over the weekend. There were a couple of salmon caught however. On Saturday, Darren Maguire recorded a sea liced 9½lb salmon caught trolling a Brown & Gold Devon Minnow from the Sunken Island at Garrison. On Sunday, Paul Fergusson landed a 5lb salmon trolling a Yellow Belly out from the Garrison Pier and reported seeing another caught of the same size ahead of them. I also have confirmation of an 8½lb salmon landed the previous Sunday by John Flanagan who caught the fish trolling. Richard Todd of the Rossinver club was out on Friday and hooked lost a very big salmon. He hooked the fish trolling and had the fish at the boat twice but could not manage to get the fish in the net despite the net being a salmon net! While playing the fish the boat was drifting onto rocks and Richard had to manoeuvre the boat. While doing this the fish broke the tip of the rod, the line and was gone! He’ll always remember this one!
Monday 09th February to Sunday 15th February 2009
RIVER DROWES
Paul McElhiney with his 7lb salmon caught from Lennox’s Bridge Pool
The weather settled somewhat over the week and by the weekend there was a feel of spring in the air with light south-westerly winds dominating with sunny spells and air temperatures reaching double figures at times. There were only a few rods fishing over the week with more interest at the weekend. On Wednesday, Paul McElhiney recorded a 7lb salmon caught from Lennox’s Bridge Pool on a Thunder & Lightening fly. I have heard of two salmon caught on the fly from the Mill Pool on Thursday but am awaiting confirmation of the details. On Saturday, Chris StClair recorded an 8lb salmon caught from Kelly’s High Bank on a shrimp.
At the time of writing, water levels are ideal with the river reading just under 6 on the gauge and air temperatures hovering around double figures. Prospects look promising for those rods fishing this week. The forecast is for the settled weather to break around Wednesday however and cooler, wetter conditions to prevail up to the weekend.
For info/bookings etc on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin see www.drowessalmonfishery.com
LOUGH MELVIN
The weather was a more settled this week and the weekend gave fair conditions with temperatures reaching double figures at the weekend. It felt like spring for the first time. There were only a limited number of anglers fishing over the week with a few more boats out at the weekend. On Sunday, Noel Johnston, Springfield, recorded a 6½lb salmon caught trolling from the Plantation Shore at Garrison.
Monday 2nd to Sunday 8th February 2009
RIVER DROWES
Last week was wintery with falls of snow and sleet in the mainly easterly winds. This all meant that only the hardier were out fishing and the angling effort was light. There were decent water levels in the river with the water mainly falling through the week due to the frosty weather. With a low angling effort there were not too many salmon to report. On Monday, John Gill caught a 10lb salmon and I have heard of two further salmon caught the same day and am awaiting details of the same.
At present the gauge is reading just under 7 and falling slowly. The forecast for the week is for frosty nights with only light sleet and rain showers so the river should continue to fall nicely. Prospects look good for those braving the cold now that there are a number of spring salmon in the fishery.
For info/bookings etc on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin see www.drowessalmonfishery.com
LOUGH MELVIN
With the cold, arctic like conditions over the week allied to the easterly winds there were very few anglers who ventured out on Lough Melvin. I have little to report at present. This week is forecast cold but a little more settled and some westerly winds are forecast so there may be more conducive conditions for salmon angling.
Coarse angling Report
no report