Monday 29 September 2014

Satrting to look promising weather-wise for the coming weekend............



Current Situation & Prospects: Monday, September 29 @ 21.00


Weather: 

Continuing dry up to Thursday/Friday. Looking broken for much of next week.
LThis is the Magic Seaweed forecast for 15.00 on Friday next.

And this is the Met Eireann forecast for 12.00 on Friday next.


River Height:    

 
This is the Ballyduff gauge height @ 19.00 this evening.

  Millstreet:  Down to 0.41m @ 20.00 & steady.

Killavullen:  Down to 1.01m @ 19.00 & steady.  

   Ballyduff:  Up 1cm to 0.07m @ 19.00 & steady.  

Colour/Clarity:  

It is about 7-8 feet throughout.
 
Temperatures:  

Water @    Ballyduff:    13.2ºC      55.8ºF.
 Water @ Killavullen:    14.3 -  15.8ºC.
     Air @    Ballyduff:     17ºC  @ 17.00  today.

Run of Fish: 

There are no fresh fish moving on the lower river.
Even the resident fish are being very dour.
                        
Catches:  

Forty-six fish to 13lb. for the week to last Saturday.
No fish caught in the last two days.
Prospects: 
Challenging until we get a rise in water
which look well possible for the coming weekend.
Availability: 
Is OK for both B&B accommodation & fishing up to the close on Sunday, October 12th.

Monday 22 September 2014

The Frenchmen do it again!

The 3 rod Bonnet party caught seven fish today on the upper river
including two 12 pounders & a 13 pounder.
All were taken on the prawn & all were released alive.

Best Day's Catch Ever Recorded for One Party

Best Day's Catch Ever Recorded for One Party
September 21, 2014


The three rod French party from Britanny comprising regular visitors
Gerard Bonnet, Louis Cadiou & Florent Franckaert caught twenty-two fish
to 12lb. yesterday from two of our beats on the upper river.

Eleven were caught in two hours in the morning on our topmost beat Ballygarrett and they then moved to Bridgetown where they caught
another eleven between 16.00 and 18.00.
Florent caught ten fish to 9lb., Gerard eight fish to 9lb. and Louis four to 12lb.
All the fish were taken on the prawn and every single one was released alive.

The previous best total for one party in one day dates back to 
June 9th., 1988, when three rods caught a total of 21 fish for the day 
on spinner during a massive grilse run after a flood.
Coincidentally, one of the party from that day is fishing here this week!
Louis Cadiou with the best fish of the day - a comparatively clean 12lb.
This achievement is all the more remarkable when you consider
that the river is approaching it's lowest recorded level.
The last even moderate flood we had was on June 10th.,
when the level rose to a mere 1.04 metres.


Availability
Fishing is fully booked for the latter part of the week,
but reasonable from the 27th. to the 30th.
There is plenty of availability for the Fly only C&R extension to October 12th.

.

Wednesday 10 September 2014

32 Days Fishing Left............................!


Current Situation & Prospects: Wednesday, September 10 @ 12.00


Weather: 

Bright sunny day again today.

River Height:    

 
  Millstreet:  Down to 0.42m @ 12.00 & steady.
 
Killavullen:  Down to 1.02m @ 12.00 & steady.  


                        The river below the Lodge at 11.00 today.

Ballyduff:
  Down to 0.08m @ 12.00 & steady.  

Colour/Clarity:  

It is about 6 feet throughout.
 
Temperatures:  

Water @    Ballyduff:    12.5ºC to 12.9 ºC    54.5 to 55.2ºF.
 Water @ Killavullen:    13.0 -  14.9ºC.
     Air @    Ballyduff:     17ºC  @ 12.00  today.

Run of Fish: 

The odd fresh fish moving on the lower river.
The tidal reaches below Lismore are reported to be full of fish
but they are not taking there either.
There are high tides today & tomorrow which may help to move fish into the main river
                        
Catches:  

Sixteen fish to 13lb. for 54 rod days for the five days to yesterday.


                          A cracking 10 pounder for Rob Green (UK).
                         One of three fish he released on Kents beat
                       on the lower river on Sunday September 11th.

                      A First Ever Salmon for Yohan Nicolet (Switzerland)
                                           on Tuesday September 9.


       Andrew Green with his Second Ever Salmon released on Kents beat
                      on the lower river on Sunday September 11th.


Methods:   

OK for all methods at the moment albeit at a low level.

Prospects: 
Fish seem to be coming on the take better than before,
& it is very encouraging to see fish starting to be taken on the fly.

Availability: 
Is OK for both B&B accommodation & fishing for the coming weeks.
Both B&B & Self-catering are now filling up for the second half of September.


Sunday 7 September 2014

Some fish caught despite very low water ............................




Current Situation & Prospects: Sunday, September 7 @ 23.00

Fish are being caught in spite of very challenging conditions,

Weather: 

Continuing dry & sunny for the coming days

River Height:    

 
   Ballyduff:  Down to 0.09m @ & steady.  

Colour/Clarity:  

It is about 6 feet throughout.
 
Temperatures:  

Water @    Ballyduff:    13.0ºC    55.6ºF.
 
Run of Fish: 

The odd fresh fish moving on the lower river.
The tidal reaches below Lismore are reported to be full of fish
but they are not taking there either.
There are high tides of 4.1m peaking mid-week.
                        
Catches:  

12 fish to 13lb. in the last 3 days for 35 rod days which is remarkable
given the low water conditions.

Methods:   

Prawn is the most productive at the moment.

Prospects: 
It is encouraging to see fish starting to be taken on the prawn.
High  tides in the coming week may encourage fish to move & take.
Availability: 
Is OK for both B&B accommodation & fishing for the coming weeks.
Both B&B & Self-catering are now filling up for September.


Tuesday 2 September 2014

Blackwater Lodge Newsletter - September 2, 2014

Just Forty Days Fishing Left...........................

All too soon the season will be over, and so far it has not been a great one.

Extremely high water in February & March made for challenging conditions.

Late May & June saw good fishing with some very nice fish being caught.
Most were in the 10-15lb. class & almost all sea-liced.
There were also some very big fish lost with a couple in the 30-35lb. class.

The last proper flood we have had was on the 10th. June when the gauge height at Ballyduff reached 1.04 metres. Since then we have had very low water & few rods fishing.
It has been quite incredible throughout July & August to see bands of heavy rain
sweeping in towards Ireland only to miraculously leave the Blackwater catchment high & dry.

The tidal reaches of the Blackwater below Lismore are full of fish just waiting for a good flood to run the main river.
When the rain finally does comes we can expect some spectacular fishing as these fish move in.

Season Extension to October 12th.
Almost all salmon rivers in Ireland close on September 30th.
We are fortunate
we have an extension until October 12th. for the third year in a row.
The October extension period is single barbless fly fishing only & Catch & Release.
Having had very little opportunity to enjoy good sport throughout the summer,
this will provide a great opportunity for us once the rains finally come.

Availability
There is limited availability for Lodge B&B accommodation in the second & third weeks of September
though the fourth week is virtually full. Availability for October is OK.
There is a moderate amount of self-catering accommodation available for September
& good availability for October.
Fishing availability is reasonable for September & good for October.

If you too are fed up with the lack of water & fish, hopefully you may join us
in anticipation of good sport for the last month or so of the season.


Best Regards
Ian Powell
Blackwater Lodge & Salmon Fishery
Upper Ballyduff
County Waterford
Ireland

Website Fishing report page (direct): 
www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/FishingReport/fishingreport.htm

Skype:
     bwlodge          

In Ireland
 
Phone:    058 60235 (main Lodge number)
Mobile:     087 235 21 20 (Ian)
       
From UK
Phone:    0844 202 33 33 (Lodge)       or           +353 58 60235
Mobile:   0701 116 33 33 (Ian)
          

International
Phone:    + 353 58 60235 (main Lodge number)
Mobile:   + 353 87 235 21 20 (Ian)