Upper river hits the second highest level this month...............

The above graph shows the gauge height at Millstreet (50 miles upriver)
for the last month. It peaked at 04.30 this morning (30th.) @ 0.71m.
This is the second highest peak since hitting 0.90m on July 20th - the highest being 0.75m on the 14th. August.

It is a similar picture at Killavullen 22 miles upriver as seen in the above graph for the last month. It peaked at 21.00 this evening (30th.) @ 1.22m.
This is also the second highest peak since hitting 1.27m on July 20th.

 The Ballyduff gauge is just starting to rise at 20.00 this evening so we can expect to see probably at least a 10cm rise in the lower river by the morning.
Hopefully this, combined with higher tides this weekend - will get fish moving.

Fishing effort remains low, but fish have been caught in the last two days following four blank days prior to this.
Hopefully the coming fresh on the lower river will liven things up much more.

Best Day & Best Bag of the 2014 plus Three First Ever Salmon!

Current Situation & Prospects: Thursday, August 21 @ 21.00

Best Day of the Season – Eight Fish Caught.

Joint Best Bag for One Rod – Four Fish
(& he lost another two at the net!).

Three First Ever Salmon in the one Day.

Weather: 

Showery day today. Continuing dry forecast up until next Sunday
when a depression is forecast to hit Ireland with a band of heavy rain
with more rain to follow on Monday & Tuesday.

River Height:    

 
  Millstreet:  Down to 0.44m @ 23.00 & steady.
 
Killavullen:  Down to 1.06m @ 23.00 & steady.  

   Ballyduff:  Down to 0.12m @ 23.00 & steady.  

Colour/Clarity:  

It is about 5 feet throughout.
 
Temperatures:  

Water @    Ballyduff:    13.1ºC    55.6ºF.
 Water @ Killavullen:    13.1 -  14.3ºC.
     Air @    Ballyduff:     15ºC  @ 17.00  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.
                        
Catches:  

Picked up considerably today on both the upper & lower river.
Best Day of Season with eight fish caught (& several lost).

Harry McCracken (N. Ireland) equalled the Best Day for One Person for 2014
with four fish caught – two on fly (released) & two on prawn
(& he lost two more at the net) – all on the upper river.
He said it was "the best day’s salmon fishing he ever had in his life!"
There were also 3 First Ever Salmon caught the same day – Cedric Jouan (France) who had never fished for salmon before today, Gus McSweeney who had never ever fished before today plus one for Michael Houlihan (Dublin).
Twenty-one fish have been caught in the last seven days
for just 48 rod days which is remarkable given the low water conditions.

Michael Houlihan's First Ever Salmon!

                                       Cedric Jouan's First Ever Salmon!

Methods:   

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

Prospects: 
Fish seem to be coming on the take much 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 September.

Third Best Day of the Season - again! And a couple on the fly!

Current Situation & Prospects: Wednesday, August 20 @ 24.00

Weather: 

Continuing dry forecast up until next Sunday when a depression
is forecast to hit Ireland with a band of heavy rain.

River Height:    

 
  Millstreet:  Down to 0.44m @ 19.00 & steady.
 
Killavullen:  Down to 1.06m @ 19.00 & steady.  

   Ballyduff:  Down to 0.12m @ 19.00 & falling very slowly.  

Colour/Clarity:  

It is about 5 feet throughout.
 
Temperatures:  

Water @    Ballyduff:    13.1ºC    55.6ºF.
 Water @ Killavullen:    13.4 -  14.6ºC.
     Air @    Ballyduff:     15ºC  @ 17.00  today.

Run of Fish: 

A few fresh fish moving especially on the lower river.
The tidal reaches below Lismore are reported to be full of fish
but they are not taking there either
                        
Catches:  

Joint Third Best Day of Season on Wednesday 20^th. August.  
Four grilse caught. Two on fly & two on worms. All released.
Thirteen fish caught in the last six days for just 31 rod days
which is remarkable given the low water conditions.

                           Didier Faye's first fish released on the fly.

                                Didier Faye's second fish on fly.

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.
Self-catering is filling up for September.

The forecast is still showing rain for Sunday............

Current Situation & Prospects: Monday, August 20 @ 12.00

Weather: 

Continuing dry forecast up until next Sunday when a depression is forecast to hit Ireland with a band of heavy rain.

.This is the Magic Seaweed forecast for 18.00 on Sunday next
still showing a depression & band of heavy rain coming in.

River Height:    

 
  Millstreet:  Down to 0.45m @ 10.30 & steady.
 
Killavullen:  Down to 1.06m @ 10.30 & steady.  

   Ballyduff:  Down to 0.13m @ 10.30 & steady.  

Colour/Clarity:  

It is about 5 feet throughout.
 
Temperatures:  

Water @    Ballyduff:    13.C    55.4ºF.
 Water @ Killavullen:    15.3 -  13.4ºC.
     Air @    Ballyduff:     16ºC  @ 10.00  today.

Run of Fish: 

The odd fresh fish is being seen on the lower river, and the tidal reaches at Cappoquin are reportedly full of fish just waiting for a rise to bring them into the main river.
                        
Catches:  

Joint Third Best Day of Season on Saturday 16^th. Four grilse caught. I caught the Second Best Bag so far with 3 grilse all released on shrimp from the lower river.
We have caught between 1 & 4 fish each day for the last 5 days.

Methods:   

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

Prospects: 
Fish are now showing more interest in the shrimp/prawn
both on the lower & upper river.
Availability: 
Is OK for both B&B accommodation & fishing for the coming weeks.
Self-catering is filling up for September.

Rain due next weekend..........................!

Current Situation & Prospects: Monday, August 18 @ 12.00

Weather: 

Continuing dry forecast up until next Sunday when a depression is forecast to hit Ireland with a band of heavy rain.
  Magic Seaweed forecast 18th.) for next Sunday - I hope they're right!

            The Ballyduff gauge on 0.14m @ 10.30 today (18th.)

River Height:    

 
Millstreet:  Down to 0.48m @ 11.30 & steady.
 
Killavullen:  Down to 1.08m @ 10.30 & falling very slowly.  

  Ballyduff:   Down to 0.14m @ 10.30 & falling slowly.  

Colour/Clarity:  

It is about 5 feet throughout.
 
Temperatures:  

Water @    Ballyduff:    13.3ºC    55.9ºF.
 Water @ Killavullen:    15.9 -  13.9ºC.
     Air @    Ballyduff:     16ºC  @ 10.00  today.

Run of Fish: 

A few fresh fish moving especially on the lower river.
                        
Catches:  

Joint Third Best Day of Season on Saturday 16^th. Four grilse caught.
I caught the Second Best Bag so far with 3 grilse all released on shrimp
from the lower river.
Another fish on shrimp from the upper river & a big fish lost there as well.

Methods:   

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

Prospects: 

Fish are now showing much more interest in the shrimp/prawn
both on the lower & upper river.

Availability: 

Is OK for both B&B accommodation & fishing for the coming weeks.
Self-catering is filling up for September.