Salmon Fishing Ireland 2018.

While filming the high flood water levels on the River Lee last week I was just about to get a sweep shot of the footpath which was completely submerged by water when I heard a shriek behind me and as I turned and raised my left hand I was hit by a Falcon or Kestrel which after making contact just flew away none the worse for the encounter.

                                   

Salmon Fishing Season 2018 " The Laune River ".

 

Looking up to Beat 1 from the Bridge

Looking downstream from the Bridge

Upstream from the Bridge fields flooded

Looking up to Beat 1

Nobody fishing the far side of Beat 1

Well it's started again a new season for salmon fishing, this year I really dodged the bullet as I was able to get out fishing for a few hours between storms compared to the last few years. There was only a small band of about eight anglers that braved the elements to fish Beat 1 & 2 of the Laune river, a big drop on previous years mostly due to the decline in early salmon catches but also due in some part to the permit price and low bank maintenance. There was a new hut on Beat 1 which was a welcome sight but walking downstream the bank vegetation was really bad with loads of brambles and blackthorn bushes running wild blocking access to some of the fishing. There was one kelt spotted throwing itself near the far bank and a seal was seen swimming up around the lake by some of the anglers but no fresh fish were met during the time I was there. I moved downstream to the bridge and Beat 2 to try and fish the bend but there were a few trees down in the water and the bank was in a bad state with some of it having fallen into the river. I fished it hard for an hour or so and decided to call time due to the fact that Storm Fionn was just starting to show its ugly head with heavy rain and strong winds. The weather forecast said it would move in around 3 o' clock ish and they were spot on as the mountains disappeared under the heavy rain cloud's and that gave me just enough time to take off my fishing gear etc. and head on up the road just before the heavy stuff started. Beat 2 is well sign posted with warning signs signalling slippery banks and fallen trees etc so BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN FISHING OR WALKING THIS AREA. 

The overgrown brambles etc.

The board walkways going up river and down river from the bridge have been replaced or repaired and that was good to see but there definitely needs to be some bank strengthening work done or it will eventually all fall in during the next big flood. This flood was below medium flood height of (2.91m ) and at about 2.44 m was dropping but with Storm Fionn arriving it's definitely going to rise again. The gauge is correct with the data that I found on Water level's .ie. Here are some more photo's of Beat 2 and the damaged banks.

As I have said be very careful when walking or fishing the lower part of Beat 2 it is very deep close in and has a lot of undercut bank ready to fall in.