Trout n About

There is some fantastic trout fishing to be had at the moment. We have had trout up to 3lbs and these wild brown are second to none when it comes to testing your skills in tight spaces. Nymph fishing is proving best during the day with plenty of fun to be also had with wets and dries in the evening.

As quoted last year when we had a visit by the current world champion at the time David Garcia we have some of the best wild brown trout fishing he has ever seen. It was the abundance of trout that impressed him.

We offer day or yearly tickets to enjoy this superb fishing throughout all of our beats.

Drop us a line if you would like to experience these historical fighters for yourself.

Jason

New Season, New Journey

With only hours remaining to the official opening day of our new season, excitement is building.

Over the winter period we spend a lot of the time on the spawning grounds and this year has been one of the better ones in recent years. We love to study Salmon behaviour and as an angler and guide you can learn a lot at this time of year that helps in the open season. Every winter i am so impressed the way these outstanding species communicate with one and other and again this year has be no exception.

When spawning season comes to a close, we pound the river banks to observe Kelts (Post Spawning Salmon) breaking the water on their slow migration down river and also with the hope of witnessing the sight of the first fresh spring Salmon sticking his head up to say hello.

Over the years we have witnessed fresh run spring Salmon surfacing as early as January 1st this year we have done such on the third week of January and this always gives you that special feeling inside that only an angler will understand.

Forecast on the run up to our opening day Saturday 1st of February is mixed with rain due in early Friday morning. Depending on where this rain hits the catchment chances are we will have a chance to wet line.

As it stands our opening day we are now fully booked but at this moment we have some availability for Sunday 2nd.

We look forward to welcoming you all that visit us throughout the angling season of 2020 and we wish you tight lines.

Jason

2020 Fishery Catch Restrictions

Due to the decline in Salmon stocks in recent years and the recent announcement from Inland Fisheries Ireland for the quota on the Munster Blackwater for the coming season in 2020. We at Blackwater Trout and Salmon fishery feel enough is not being done so we have decided to enforce our own catch restrictions for rod caught Salmon and Sea-Trout on our Fishery.

1. Regular angling visitors or Syndicate members allowed 3 fish per season.

2. Visiting anglers allowed 1 fish per week.

3. C&R is encouraged throughout the season.

4. All fish over 8lb are to be returned.

5. Knot-less weigh nets are to be used, if you don’t have one the fishery will provide one FOC.

6. Only one fish per day is allowed, once the limit is reached you must practice C&R

7. Spinning is allowed but with barbless hooks or pinched barbs.

8. Full catch and release in the Months of August and September

9. If you hook a fish after your limit, and it is bleeding from the gills, the fish must be harvested and handed over to the Fishery Manager where it will be donated to a local Home for the elderly.

10. Everyone fishing on the fishery must produce State Licence before fishing commences

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Under Pressure

In the last week since my last blog post, due to family commitments. We have had fish caught nearly every day although mostly grilse in the 4/7lb range.

Last weekend saw most fish taken on various spinning methods due to clarity of water. As the week moved on more fish were taken on fly as clarity improved.

Atmospheric Pressure

How often have you looked at the Atmospheric pressure before heading out fishing?

Barometric pressure can determine how high or low a fish lies in the water, along with their feeding habits and general mood.

As rain is forecast for the coming day’s, you can see the change in pressure today vs next Wednesday when the weather is to return to more settled conditions. See maps below.

There is a complex reason behind how the pressure works and how it changes the behavior of the fish. There are many different variations to how or even if it does have any effect on the fish. It’s the weight of the earth’s atmosphere causing pressure on the water’s surface and the pressure affects the fish is via their air bladder.

During weather patterns associated with high pressure (this is when the barometer is reading 1018hPa or higher), there is more pressure force on the air bladder causing it to be squeezed in and making the fish feel relaxed and comfortable. This brings with it good/normal fishing conditions.

During a low pressure (when the barometer is around 1014hPa or less), there is less pressure on the air bladder causing it to expand and therefore putting pressure on the stomach of the fish. This causes the fish to become uncomfortable and usually results in slow fishing conditions.

How the fish counteracts this drop in pressure is by swimming deeper in the water column. The deeper they swim, the more pressure is around them and the more comfortable they will feel. During the time of low pressure they will usually hide out on the very bottom of the waterway. It is more effective for an impoundment fish to swim deeper as they have depth beneath them. In rivers there is only so deep they can go which will cause the river fish to be less comfortable during low pressure and therefore harder to catch.

Please have a read on the link below and it will give you a little more detail on what i mean.

https://www.bcfishn.com/barometricpressure/

Jason

Low and slow

In the previous few days of fishing on our fishery, low and slow was the order of the day due to higher water conditions and peat stained clarity.

Anglers Ivor Pengelly and Vaidas Tiskus had 2 nice grilse on our upper beats in what can only be called challenging conditions.

The forecast for the coming days is in our favor as there is not much rain forecast. With the higher river conditions over the previous few days targeting fish in the usual (HOT SPOTS) vs in the lower conditions is a lot more difficult as fish are more spread out and this can be challenging for anglers.

With the weather to settle down, water fining down and clarity improving anglers will see a return to targeting these usual hot spots and also returning to more sub surface tactics of fishing.

We also would like to remind everyone to please have a look at our Salmon Protection Program page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Salmon-Protection-Program-276995096518432/?ref=bookmarks

This page is about supporting anglers that support Catch and Release and reward you for doing so with the chance of winning some fantastic prizes. It is open to any river and you can post as often as you like. Please add what river and estimated weight of catch.

Jason

Hooking up

In the previous few days we have had to deal with water levels vacillating, this must not be looked as being a bad thing but more so as a positive.

As anglers we are all well use to a great day on the river and also to a very distressing day, but very erratic river conditions should never determine your decision on spending a day on the river.

Coming out of your comfort zone and changing tactics can be a game changer for any angler.

On the Blackwater especially in high water i like to use this phrase, (If it’s fast let it pass, if it’s slow give it a go) There is so many fly anglers that always overlook slower moving water and for our recent guests this again has proved the difference between blanking and seeing the happy faces.

In the previous three days we have had anglers hooking up on 21 fish and 10 making it to the net.

Cable Island, Ballincurrig and Ballinroone have proven to be the beats producing most recent catches and again most fish taken in slower moving water as especially this time of year fish will move closer to the bank avoiding extra exertion of energy in fast moving water.

The coming days shows more heavy showers so we are sure to see the recent conditions continue for the coming days.

Water clarity at present is very good and with the river once again fining down this week should well produce excitement for all anglers.

Jason

Not always fast water for a fly.

Today local anglers Darren Duffy and Jordan Ó Hara headed for Cable Island at the early hours of the morning. Upon arrival on the beat they noticed it was unsafe to wade across to the Island stream due to over night rain and with the river rising they moved downstream to the more settled stretches of the beat.

Shortly after starting Darren hooked a nice clean fish of approximately 6lb on landing of his catch, Jordan moved in front of Darren and hooked and landed a clean fish of around 3lb both fish were taken on a Green Butt Cascade and a CCK Partridge.

At this time of year on a rising river with a bit of colour, it is always good idea never to overlook the slower shallower running water as fish tend to slow down and concentrate in these areas and can prove very successful for a fly angler.

Our guest from Switzerland Alessandro who was fishing on our Blackstone beat hooked and landed a lovely clean fish of around 6lbs his second fish in as many days. There was also 3 more fish hooked and lost on our remaining beats.

Overnight we had some heavy rain in the upper catchment and the river is slowly rising and colouing up a bit. This is good news as it will keep the fish moving throughout the entire system and the coming days should provide more welcomed sport for our guests.

Jason

The Fun Continues

Some more good fishing again today with 11 fish hooked and 8 making it to the bank. Fly Fishing was the prolific method taking most fish and a couple landed on spinner.

As usual our return rate was very high again today with 100% of catches making it back into the water safely.

Catches are as follows: One from Kevin McCall off Beat 1 Cable Island, Gavin Wishart landing three at beat 2 Cable Island. Glen Harmon landing two fish at Blackstone and our Italian guest Franco landing two at Ballinaroone.

Forecast gives very heavy rain overnight so we are sure to see a rise in the river by lunch time tomorrow depending on where it hits the catchment.

For up to date river conditions please call Jason at 353(0)877205690 or alternatively email us at jason@blackwatertroutandsalmon.ie

Also please remember our reduced rates for the months of August and September from €80 per day to €60. Tight Lines 🐟

Ireland is there.

A day to remember

Today we had our best day of the season by far with 23 fished hooked and 15 making it to the bank.

It was a great day for all anglers from the most experienced fishers, to the novice anglers landing their first Blackwater Salmon.

Every beat produced fish from top to bottom with the biggest of fish being 14lbs and a lot of grilse being met.

The water clarity is a good 3.5ft and ideal conditions for both fly and spin.

Forecast for Thursday through to Monday is giving heavy showers so we can be sure to see fluctuations within the water level.

Guides Advice

Apache Shrimp, Brollies Gold and most Shrimp patterns are proving most successful. Also it is advisable to have various density poly tips for changes in water pressure in pools throughout our beats. A good indication for your day’s fishing (If it’s not working change it).

Spinning the Black & Gold/Copper Flying C is proving most successful but it is always hard not to have a Rapala in your tackle box.

For anglers that practice C&R it is also advisable to fish with barbless hooks , especially if spin fishing and more so at this time of year as Salmon tend to swallow the spinners deeper.

Tight lines to you all , and we hope to see you on the river soon.

Jason

Experience Prevails

Today we had anglers on most beats but it was the experienced anglers Ian Powell and Connie Corcoran came up trumps.

Firstly Connie and his sidekick Michael hooking 6 fish and landing 3 on the bridge beat 2 all fish averaging 7/8lb and all released.

Ian Powell went to Cable Island Beat 2 with his great friend Dan where he hooked and landed a fine fish estimated at 14lb and safely released it to continue it’s journey up river. Moments later Ian went on and hooked another heafty fish but unfortunately this fish did not make it to the net.

This was very good fishing considering the experienced anglers only spent a maximum of two hours fishing each.

Angling is for all ages but you cannot buy experience and today this prevailed.

Jason