Firstly, I must apologise to all for not updating you before now. The Winter was a bit hectic to say the least and I’m more than glad that it’s now in the rear-view mirror. We had numerous damaging storms, including Darragh and Eowyn, which were very destructive, but I’ve seen and witnessed more severe weather events here in Delphi. We had a very bad flood, probably the worst I’ve seen, on the morning of the 23rd of November. We had a good fall of snow on the 21st, added to this there was 81.2mms(3.19”) in about 8 hours on the 23rd from midnight till about 8 or 8.30. As there was a red warning, I had actually stayed here for the night and when the alarms went off as expected I was greeted by a chaotic and extremely destructive scene. It’s probably the first time in my life that I’ve heard boulders rumbling and tumbling down a mountain stream, depositing literally thousands of tons of gravel and rock. Lest we forget the awesome power of nature!!
The net effect was that the whole system was a mess as were most locally. I have seen Doolough partly dirty before, but never the whole lake and it was actually about two weeks before it finally cleared. The clean-up job was immense and took us about two to three weeks, particularly around the lodge and hatchery. Gladly the river itself, besides being dirty bore very little damage. Normal work then resumed in the hatchery, and we had a few shooting parties thrown into the mix.
I had a little Sejour in Australia, with family over Christmas, while the rest of the gang here held the fort. Back with a bang, literally with more shoots and then Storm Eowyn hit. I again had stayed the night, and we were pretty well prepared, bar one oversight on my part. I had filled all empty tanks with water, except one, which of course was lifted and burst a pipe. Net effect was that I had to move 5000 fish at 4.30 in the middle of Eowyn. Completely mad but as I said above, I have actually witnessed far worse here.
We had the usual Blast and Cast, except this year it was with an Irish group that also fish with us. We had a couple of excellent days sport, with beautiful weather for the shoot and the River was in perfect order for opening day with the water running at 45. A few people tried for a couple of hours, but most were keen to get home and watch the Rugby. Conditions generally throughout the month of February were good, if anything the water was a little high but always fishable with the exception of a huge flood that hit 110 on the gauge on the 23rd of February. Rainfall for the month amounted to 336mms(13.22”)
Our first fish was actually landed on the 10th of February by Ken Wickham. The fish was about 7.5lbs and was landed in the Waterfall Pool on a Black Nymph. It was actually Ken’s first fish after 5 years trying in February. I suppose that’s why we classify February fishing as Hard Core as you can get any type of weather but it’s great to get out and a fish is a bonus. Well done to him, it was indeed well deserved. Fishing pressure was steady throughout the month, but catches were rather slow, with our second fish only arriving on the 26th from the Stream on Finlough. It was landed by Philip McGarrity on a Collie Dog and weighed in at approx. 10lbs.
Conditions for the early part of March were good, again the water was high some of the time but as usual clear and fishable. Despite the presence of some really experienced anglers, it was only on the 8th of March that we landed our 3rd fish. It was just reward for Max Groener who hadn’t landed a fish here in 10 years but managed to do so 10 years to the day and in the exact same pool, the Waterfall again. The fish was taken on a Willie Gunn and was 8lbs. Alexander Mills followed this up on the 11th, with another fish from the Waterfall, this time on a Collie Dog and weighing approx. 5.5lbs. Karsten Kronborg then had one of approx. 5lbs off the Turn Pool on the 14th on an Allie Shrimp. There was also a double figure fish lost at the net the same day, also in the Turn Pool. Water levels have dropped off now to 20 and conditions will be challenging as there is no rain forecast till the end of the week.
All I can say is that it’s good to be back again and happy Paddy’s day to all. D.McEvoy
