Spring & Grilse Fishing on the Cork Blackwater

[Ian Powell - Blackwater Lodge]

Excellent Spring fishing on the Cork Blackwater plus the First Grilse is Caught!

A slightly coloured springer taken on fly is released on Blackwater Lodge's Beat 18

 

Even although the water is at summer level, there is an excellent run of spring fish in the Blackwater.

With only five rods fishing out of the Blackwater Lodge on Friday, April 25th., there were four springers caught. Three came from the Lodge's very top beat close to Mallow - Beat 16 and included two taken on fly which were both returned alive.

 

A total of 21 springers have been caught on the Lodge beats so far of which 12 have been released alive.

 

This year, the first grilse has also been caught exceptionally early.

It was taken by Cathal Ferris from Lisburn, Co. Antrim on the Lodge's Beat 4 on Sunday, April 20th. & was duly released alive as well.

 

Of the 22 fish caught, 13 have been taken on the fly.

On the 25th. April, there were a large number of large fresh fish seen moving through the Lodge upper beats from 20 to 28 miles upstream of the Lodge.

With 16 beats (approx. 14 miles of fishing) there is ample availability of fishing at the moment.

See Blackwater Lodge website for details.

http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net

 

Another very encouraging sight has been the huge number of large, superbly conditioned smolts which are descending the river at present, which augers well for the stocks of fish in years to come.