Well, it’s hard to believe we’re already in the month of May. The past few weeks since my last update have seen a total transformation in nature and we can finally say that Winter is in the rearview mirror; Spring has sprung and there are even glimpses of Summer appearing, without the midges yet, which is an added bonus. Most of the trees now have leaves that are a vibrant green, one only gets in the first few weeks after budding. The sedge grass is still withered and brown but one can see a slight change beginning and within a few weeks the hillside should be a sea of green.
The Cuckoo was very early this year, being heard on the 8th of April, although it did arrive on the 6th lasty year. Paddy Heneghan always said it was around the 23rd of April that it normally arrived. Having said that it doesn’t seem to be as boisterous as normal. I remember some years ago when you’d hear Cuckoo for almost 24 hours of the day, to the point where people were being woken; alas what a beautiful song to waken to!!
Fishing for the month hasn’t been bad, with 16 landed, which is probably better than expected, with fish only starting to show in Finlough in the last week or so. The Bundorragha is not a river where fish show much, particularly early in the season. Although, it must be said, there are certain places where people with good eyes will be able to spot fish, particularly if they know, exactly where to look! Unlike recent years rainfall was relatively high, 263.8mms(10.39”), basically all of which fell up until 17th so luckily the system was well topped up and this allowed our smolts to have a relatively easy run downstream to the sea. Once the rain stopped, temperatures, both air and water increased and everything burst into life.
On the Fishing front, Colin Lynham’s first fish in April was reported in my last update. Week 15 produced 4 fish, with Mauricio Gordillo from Spain having the first, a fish of approx. 5.5lbs off the Stream on Finlough on a Delphi Collie. David Allcutt, one of two remaining customers of Peter O’Reilly’s Doctors week had a lovely fish of approx. 8lbs from the Rock Pool on the ever reliable, Willie Gunn on the 7th. The next day Roger Janson from Switzerland landed his first ever salmon, a fish of approx. 9.5lbs on a Pot Belly Pig, in Wrens Bay on Finlough. Colin Lynam followed up the first of the month, by landing a second on the 9th from the Bridge Pool of approx. 9lbs on a Collie Dog. There were 5 in Week 16, the first landed by Paul McFadden on the Stream on Finlough of approx. 9lbs on a Blue Charm. Simon Albertini followed up the next day with another of approx. 9lbs from the Rock Pool on a Cascade. Malcolm Bell mastered the Waterfall Pool on the 15th, landing a fish of approx. 9lbs on a Collie Dog. Barry Farrell had one on the 16th of approx. 8.5lbs from Goughs Bay on Finlough on a Posh Tosh and finally Malcolm Bell had his second of approx. 9lbs, this time from the Stream on Finlough on a Delphi Collie. Water dropped off slowly during Week17, with conditions being more difficult, but Dan Tindall saved the day with one on the 25th from the Grilse Pool of approx. 9lbs on a Cascade. Week 18 saw the return of a very experienced group of anglers and they landed 4 to the end of the month. Matthias Glasmeyer had his first ever, a fish of approx. 8lbs on a Breakfast Fly at the Boat Point on Fin, on the 26th. This was followed up on the 27th with the Swiss team of Markus and Urs having one each in the boat off Fin of approx. 6 and 9.75lbs on a Tummel Shrimp and Francis respectively. Urs had his second on the 28th, from the Road Pool of approx. 10lbs, again on a Red Francis. The 16th and last fish of the month was a first ever for Sebastian Hanfland, taken at Wrens Point on Finlough of approx. 10lbs on a Willie Gunn. On the first of May Urs’ Red Francis worked wonders again with another fish, this time off Finlough of approx. 11.75lbs. This brings our total for the year to 29, which is 12 ahead of this time last year. Water levels are low now but weather is forecast a little more broken this coming week, so hopefully the fish will keep coming.
Take care all! David McEvoy
