Friday 15 March 2013

My First Spring Salmon of 2013

                                              Beat 4 on the Inniscarra Salmon Fishery in Low Water
                                                The Croy at the start of Beat 4 on Woodside
                                            My new Switchfly Rod on Croy at Beat 3 Woodside
                                            Switch Rod 10' 10" three piece 6/7 weight
                                          Beat 3 Woodside looking downstream
                                          The Croy just below the bend from Beat 2
                                           Just below Beat 2 looking downstream .
                                           The Croy at Beat 2 looking downstream
                                          Looking downstream to Beat 2 Woodside
                                           Beat 1 Woodside in low water.
The Dam just releasing Water
                                          Starting to reach full load at Beat 1 Woodside.
                                          Side view of the Big Fish caught on a Flying C.
                                           Just a small bit of marking on the Salmon's snout.

                                         Hardy Sirrus 10ft with a 6000 fb Shimano Stradic.

When i started fishing at the Inniscarra Salmon Fishery the water was low so i decided to try out my new Switch Rod which was made to my specifications by Tony O Sullivan, the rod casts well but i think it is a small bit heavy for my 6wt lines so i will have to downsize to the 5/6 wt version rather than the 6/7 wt version that i got. It is a beautiful rod for casting both overhead and underarm and definitely has plenty of power to handle any salmon. As i was fishing all the regular croys in search of the ever elusive salmon i heard the warning siren from the Dam that lets you know that the water level will be rising soon, so i moved up to Beat 1 Woodside and set about putting up my spinning gear as that is the most successful method you can use in high water at the dam. Having fished for about an hour i hooked into a good fish which charged downstream but i was able to turn the fish with my Hardy rod and strong stradic 6000, that is why i use the 6000 because it has the power to stop big fish and not tear up cogs spinning in high water. The salmon gave a few long runs but each time i stopped the fish and brought it in closer to me and then i ran the fish around in circles to tire it out so that i could beach it. The salmon had a small mark on its snout but was very fresh and the scales were falling off but no sea lice. The fish was very broad and deep and was at least 17lbs in weight and i could barely hold it to take a photograph. Holding the fish for a few minutes in the water it was rested up enough to swim away strong and so starts my 2013 season. Can i catch a bigger salmon or is it all downhill from here. The short video of me catching the salmon can be seen on my youtube channel.


7 comments:

  1. WELL DONE ON CATCHING YOUR FIRST SRINGER 2013. DOES TONY O SULLIVAN SELL FLIES TO THE PUBLIC OR DOES HE SELL TO THE SHOP? IF HE SELLS TO PUBLIC YOU MIGHT PASS ON HIS NUMBER PLEASE! IF U WENT UP A SIZE OR TWO IN THE LINE WOULD THAT SUIT YOUR NEW SWITCH ROD! REGARDS KIERAN.

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  2. Hi Kieran, tonys number is 021 4396172 and just tell him i sent you. Why go up a line size when i can just get the 5/6 wt rod because i have all the Airflo forty plus lines to suit the 5/6 wt and it would mean buying all new lines for the 6/7 wt rod. My new rod was just a tester to see if the blanks were good and i must admit they are very strong and better than most of the switch rods that i have tried. So i will get a 5/6 wt to suit all my lines.

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  3. CHEERS PAUL FOR THE INFO. I TAKE YOUR POINT ABOUT THE SWITCH ROD AND BUYING FROM A CATALOGUE.ITS DEFINATELY NICE TO FEEL A ROD AND GET THE FEEL FOR IT. MAY BE IF I COULD GET YOUR MOBILE NUMBER, I COULD HAVE A CHAT TO YOU AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON A TEN FOOT ROD RATHER THAN MAKE A RASH DECISION, BETTER TO TAKE AN ANGLERS ADVICE THAT CAUGHT PLENTY OF SALMON/TROUT AND SEA BASS ON THE FLY OVER THE YEARS.THIS WOULD PUT ME IN GOOD STEAD. KIND REGARDS KIERAN. P.S IF I GET THIS RIGHT I MAY HAVE TO PUT AWAY MY 12 FOOT MAVER DISTINCTION PRAWNING ROD FOR GOOD.

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  4. Hi Kieran,
    As far as i know Glenda from Blackwater Lodge is doing a demo day and there maybe a Switch Rod or two there to try out. It's on the 20th of April but you should ring to confirm the date etc., also Fort William are also doing a day in May showing tackle, rods, reels etc. and there a few more of these demo's coming up in the next few months.

    Regards Paul.

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  5. CHEERS PAUL, I GOT THAT EMAIL FROM GLENDA AS I SPENT ONE DAY ON UPPER KILMURRAY AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. BETTER NEWS I GOT MY FIRST 2013 SPRINGER AT 5.30 THIS AFTERNOON ON THE PRAWN 7/8 LB. MUST HAVE SEEN SIX OR SEVEN SPRINGERS OVER THE DURATION OF THE AFTERNOON MOVING UP THROUGH THE RIVER JUST BELOW FERMOY.

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  6. Hi Kieran, congrats on your first springer of 2013 and maybe during the year you will be able to take one on the fly.

    Regards Paul.

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  7. LETS HOPE YOUR RIGHT PAUL. SINCE I LAST WROTE, I TOOK A CHANCE AND PURCHASED A REDINGTON CPX SWITCH ROD. IT IS A 6 WEIGHT ROD THAT IS 10FT 6IN IN LENGHT AND WEIGHS 5.7 OZ. IF BY CHANCE IT IS TOO SOFT FOR SALMON, IT WILL COME IN HANDY FOR A BIT OF SEA TROUT FISHING LATER IN THE SEASON. ITS IN TRANSIT FROM THE STATES AS I WRITE, AND HOPE I SHOULD HAVE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO. SEEN AN OTHER FEW SPRINGERS MOVING UP THROUGH FERMOY BUT UNFORTUNATLY NO TAKERS. MIGHT THAT A DAYS PERMIT ON ONE OF IAN POWELL'S BEATS UPSTREAM OF FERMOY NEXT WEEK. WELL DONE BY THE WAY ON CATCHING YOUR SECOND SPRINGER, YUOR OFF TO A FLYER! REGARDS KIERAN.

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