Comment by Ian Powell on March 14, 2012 at 10:27pm

At Blackwater Lodge Salmon Fishery, it has been an outstanding start to the 2012 season, with plenty of fish running the river. Five springers caught  up to the 14^th., but none for the second half of the month.
This is the (joint) Best February Total since 2004 & the (joint) Second Best total since 1994.

The  five fish were caught for only 30 rod days for the 11 days from February 3^rd.  to 14^th.  The total rod days for the month were only 79.
There were plenty of reports of fish running in the first 2 weeks including one from Cappoquin of 22 seen going through in one day on the 6^th. February. 
In the second half of the month fish were still being seen, but proved elusive to catch.

Ian Powell caught the very first fish off the entire river on Friday, February 3^rd. with a 6.2 pounder on spinner on Lower Kilmurry, which would have been released
had it not been deeply hooked & bleeding.  He was the only rod out that day & only fished for an hour.
On Sunday, February 5^th. , one four rod party caught two springers - again on Lower Kilmurry -  & saw at least a dozen moving through.
Paul Howard caught his very first springer on his first day ever fishing the Blackwater - it weighed 8.5lb.
Later in the day, Ger McCarthy also landed a 5 pounder. Both fell to spinner.
Michael Sheridan was top rod for February with two springers, both of which he released. The first was a 4 pounder on Lower Kilmurry on the 8^th. & the second an 8 pounder from Kents on the 14^th.

March started very well too. There was just one rod out each day on the first weekend (March 3/4) & each of them landed a springer. 
Two fish for two rod days is indeed a remarkable result at this time of year!
On Saturday 3^rd. March, the Best Fish to be caught so far this season was taken. It was a very fresh fish of approx. It was also the first on the fly.

It was netted after being played for 20 mins. last Saturday (3^rd.) by Shane Kinsella (Wicklow), It was Shane's first on fly & his personal best as well.
On Sunday 4^th.  March., the Lodge's first fish from the upper river this year was caught. It was a very fresh 7 pounder on spinner for Tom Donovan
at the Junction Pool on Bridgetown Abbey.  There was also a reliable report of another fish taken on the beat above the day after.

Total for the season to date is now seven.
At the time of writing (March 13^th.) the river is approaching summer level – perfect fly conditions.

Comment