The Angling Seasons seem to get crazier and crazier and how to even start to sum up 2026 is baffling. One thing for sure is that salmon and sea trout angling is facing more and more challenges all the time. I think the days of Micromanaging are long gone and we now have to look at the bigger picture, not just for ourselves but for the survival of the species. For that to happen a collective effort by all concerned is of paramount importance, not just in this country but where all Atlantic Salmon run naturally. That’s my rant!
Basically, our season ended with 131 salmon (50 MSW and 81 1SW) and a very poor 111 sea trout up to 2lbs, not including Darren Duffy’s Ferox/Brown Trout/Former Sea Trout of 6.5lbs. Sea trout numbers were especially disappointing after a very positive 2025. On the salmon front there are definitely a lot more in the system than last year but they were extremely difficult to tempt. More than likely the elevated water temperatures would not have helped. On a positive note the size of the 1SW fish this year has been exceptional, averaging, well in excess of 5lbs. I’ll have a definite figure on this in our annual newsletter.
Total salmon for August was 25. Water levels were relatively low throughout, rainfall amounting to 123.3mms(4.85”). We were getting small rises in water. The river might go from 15 to 25 or 30 overnight and drop drown to 15 again within 24 hours. Most of the rain we got was hitting the West or Mweelrea side of the valley so most of the rise in water came from Mikey Bourkes. Doolough was low and basically stayed that way till September. There were 8 fish recorded for August in my last update. Paul Kelly was next on the score sheet with 2 on the 9th, both off the Quarry on a Willie Gunn and a Calvin Shrimp, of approx. 5 and 6.5lbs. Luke Drea, then had a morning to remember landing 5, off the Deadman’s, Bridge and Quarry, weighing between 4 and 7.5lbs on a Collie Dog and a Black Nymph. Teddy Coulter had a fish from the Quarry of approx. 7 on the 15th and Sean Delaney had one of approx. 8 the following day on a Micro Collie and a McCormick Shrimp respectively. Luke Drea had another 2 on the 19th of approx. 5lbs, from the Turn and Quarry, both on a Chartruse Collie. Sean Landman had 2 that afternoon of approx. 5 and 6, both from the Turn on a Willie Gunn. On the 20th Toby Gibbons had a fish of approx 16.5lbs from Goughs Bay on Finlough on a Collie Dog. Teddy Coulter had one on the 21st and Philip McGarrity had one on the 22nd of 5.5 and 5 from the Quarry and Bridge on a Mini Collie and Silver Stoa respectivelyt. Sea trout were poor with only 28 landed! I often had that in a day fishing with my father in Delphi in the 70’s and early 80’s.
Despite much better conditions September was actually slower for salmon with 23 landed although one of the highlights was Cameron Brandt and Curt Watson rising 20 fish on Sunraes on the morning of the 18th on the Turn Pool. There was a lot more water with rainfall amounting to 281.7mms(11.09”). Sea trout improved with 53 landed, although nothing of any great size with the exception of Darren Duffy’s fish. David McDonagh had the first of the month with a fish of almost 7lbs from the Stream on Finlough on a Cascade. Luke Drea was on the mark again with a fish of approx. 10lbs from the Turn on a Collie Dog. William Maire followed this up on the 5th with a fish of 4.5 from the Stream on a Snelda. After much effort Hamish McAuley finally landed a fish of 4.5 in the Turn Pool on a Collie Dog. Declan O’Mahoney deserves great credit for his persistence with the dry fly. He landed a fish on a Parachute Adams in the Turn on the 11th of almost 6lbs on a 5wt rod. (Being a Cork man he recounts the battle with great enthusiasm). Paul Kelly had a fine fish of approx. 12 from the Turn on a Calvin Shrimp on the 13th. Luke Drea again, had 2 more on the 15th from the Turn on a Collie Dog. This was followed up in the afternoon when Hamish had his second of 4lbs, again on a Collie. Maurice Neill had a fish of 6.5 from the Stream on Fin having tried for an hour with a Cascade put on a cast of trout flies and got the fish within minutes on a fry imitation. Vinny Hatton also had a fish that day from Morrisons on a Connemara Black of approx. 5lbs. The Brandt party accounted for 4 over the 18th and 19th , Iain having 1, Cameron 1 and Curt 2. My nephew had a group of mates over from England and Tom Nesbitt managed to land his first ever salmon, a fish of 6lbs from the Turn Pool. He managed to break two rods in his excitement, so we have now christened him Tommy Two Rods! Young Dan Breheny who’s father used to cox me in my Neptune rowing days landed his first ever, a great fish of 7lbs8ozs from the Turn on a Red Francis. Another young up and coming angler Conor Lawlor also landed a fish of approx. 7lbs in the Turn on an Allie. Charles De Burgh had the last fish before the final day of approx. 6lbs on a Lemon Grey from the Turn Pool. The 30th produced 3 fish with Daragh Heneghan having 2 and his cousin Daniel Langan after being out fished by his younger sister Nina last year managed his first ever salmon of approx. 3.5lbs. That brought our final total for the year to 131, not great by our standards but there seems to be a lot of fish in the system. Brood stock collection will be interesting.
At this stage I would like to thank all involved you for your help, custom and support throughout what has been a challenging year but made all the more enjoyable because of you. It’s important that people express their views in relation to the consultation process that the Minister has tasked IFI with. The link is as follows https://.www.gov.ie/en/.department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/.consultations/.consultation-on-proposals-for-the-management-of-irelands-wild-atlantic-salmon-fisheries-from-2027/
Submissions close 30th of October. Anyone can make a submission. It’s about the future of a Species we all love and cherish! Take care all,
David McEvoy