JULY ROUND-UP: PRETTY GOOD MONTH · 1 August 2010
July was a pretty good month for fishing at Delphi. A total of 107 salmon were caught, bringing the total for the season to 175.
Conditions for much of the month were favourable, with good water levels. But the last week was disappointing as the atmosphere turned sultry and the wind dropped. Anglers reported that the undoubtedly good run of fish was slackening off, as was the willingness of the fish to take a fly. On the last day, however, four fish were taken, three by Paul Wymes.
20% of the salmon that were caught were wild, all but two of which were released alive. The rest were tagged fish that started life in the Delphi hatchery.
The river produced 51 salmon, Finlough 50 and Doolough 6. The best fish was Joe Hosey’s sea-liced 11lb 2oz salmon from the Turn Pool, the smallest Danny Murray’s 1lb 7oz sprat from Finlough. As previously reported, many of the salmon were small.
During the month several people caught their first ever salmon, including English youngsters Tom Catchpole, Angus Hay and Julian Scott-Bolton.
Sea trout fishing in July was reasonable but perhaps not as good as previously anticipated. Some 200 trout were landed, a few of which weighed over 3lbs, but the unsettled weather seemed not to suit them as well as the salmon. August, always the best month for sea trout fishing on the lakes, will show just how good the run is.
— Peter Mantle
STEADY CATCHES, SOME SMALL SALMON · 28 July 2010
The past eleven days have seen a further 44 salmon taken at Delphi, with moderate or reasonable water levels for most of that time, but a frequently sultry atmosphere that is rarely good for salmon fishing at Delphi.
Many of the fish have been small, with a number not even reaching the two pound mark – a phenomenon that we had not seen since 2007 and which suggests ongoing feeding issues at sea.
There was one fine, sea-liced 11-pounder taken by Joe Hosey from the Turn Pool. But a lot of runts (one as small as 1lb 7oz) also appeared in the river.
Top rod was Christopher Jarman from London, who had eleven fish in six days, the weights of which illustrate the size range of this year’s grilse – 7.5, 6.75, 5.0, 5.0, 4.5, 4.5, 4.0, 3.75, 3.5, 3.0 & 1.75lbs, the biggest fish being a stale springer.
Angus Hay, Tom Catchpole and Julian Scott-Bolton, all from England, had their first ever salmon in the past week.
Sea trout catches were a little disappointing. While there were some nice fish caught in the 3 to 4lb range, mostly from Doolough, the numbers so far have been lower than expected.
— Peter Mantle
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE.... · 17 July 2010
Since the drought ended on June 30, more than ten inches of rain have fallen at Delphi, dramatically improving the salmon fishing. A total of 57 salmon were taken in the first half of July – 26 from the river, 29 from Finlough and 2 from Doolough.
Top rod, yet again, was Urs Leinbundgut from Switzerland, who landed 13 salmon in as many days. His fish ranged from 2lbs to 10.5lbs. Ollie Watkins took eight salmon from 2lbs to 6lbs (and some really good sea trout to 3.5 pounds) over seven days.
The past week also saw fish caught by Roger Kenny (2), Stan Praeter (2), Ciaran Boland, Donna Morrison, Jean-Pierre Maire, Werner Fasching, Dave Lennon, Tom McManus, Bob Rusby, David McEvoy and Paul Smith (2).
Giovanni Ghersina from Italy, Michael Burton (2) from Ecuador and Ben Watson (2) from England all caught their first ever salmon.
With the river still high and fresh fish continuing to arrive on every tide, the prospects for good salmon catches in the coming week appear favourable. For good sea trout fishing, however, the weather may need to become a little more settled. But there is undoubtedly a good run of trout.
— Peter Mantle
GRILSE & SEATROUT RUNS WELL UNDERWAY · 10 July 2010
The run of grilse (smaller salmon that have spent just a year at sea) is now well underway and some 30 fish have been caught since the rains finally came on June 30.
It is a little early to gauge the size of the run – the catches are only moderate, which might imply a modest run. But anglers are reporting plenty of fish, albeit “with a poor take on them”.
Top rod for the week was Urs Leibundgut from Switzerland with four fish (7, 5, 4.5 & 4 pounds). Hans Majeron from Germany had three salmon (4.5, 3 & 2.5), as did Raoul de Waha from Luxembourg (5.5, 5 & 3).
Martin Devlin from Northern Ireland (6.5 & 3), Paul Smith from County Offaly (5.5 & 3.5), Trevor Tyler from Scotland (6 & 5) and Ben Watson (4 & 2) all had two fish each, in the latter case his first ever salmon. Giovanni Ghersina also lost his salmon fishing virginity with a 3.5-pounder from Finlough.
Finlough was the hot spot, accounting for 18 of the 30 salmon caught. The size if the fish ranged from a paltry 1lb 14oz up to a lovely sea-liced specimen of 7lb 3oz.
Lots of healthy sea trout up to 3lbs were taken in the week and the trout season looks likely to be the best for 20 years.
— Peter Mantle
FISH & CANCELLED RODS · 2 July 2010
Three fish yesterday, more rain to come – and two cancelled rods for the coming week (from tomorrow). Any takers?
— Peter Mantle
