Opening day Salmon season 2023 "Laune River".

 Opening day Salmon fishing season 2023 on the Laune river. Got to the river a bit late due to slow traffic conditions because of the icey roads, especially coming over the county bounds. I went straight up to beat 1 and was surprised how high the water level was basically all the way up to the hut. A few trees were down blocking access to most areas, and between high water and soft bank it made fishing sketchy to say the least.

There were about a dozen anglers in total fishing beat 1&2 on both banks, a few kelts were met and returned but no fresh salmon was seen or caught during the time I was there. It was definitely out for fly so I concentrated on spinning and I fished the bottom of beat 2 from Beaufort Bridge upto beat 1 covering the areas that I could safely gain access to. These days I prefer caution over bravery so if it looks dodgy walk away. The bank from the laune bridge looking down to beat 2 is under water and that was just about my limit of stupidness so I fished down to the bend and basically tore up the bottom with the spinner covering as much water as I could. I gave the top of  beat 1 a good run through and also below beat 1 where I could get access to the river but again nothing met. At about 3.30 I decided it was best to head back home and to be honest the snow covered mountains and landscape were just breathtaking so I was delighted to have spent time enjoying the scenery and any day that one doesn't get poured on by rain is a good day. The water level was 2.68m at the bridge so looking at my pictures you can guage height as it drops. Here are some pictures of beat 1 & 2 from the top of beat 1 to Beaufort Bridge. I did see 2 silver salmon on my journey but definitely not fresh. Pictures below fish included.

Salmon Season 2020 " The Laune River ".

           The photo shows the top of the Beat 1 from the far bank looking up into the lake

                                         Looking downstream from the Laune Bridge

                                                     Looking upstream from the Bridge

                                                               Downstream from Beat 1

                                           
                                            The sign heading down to Beat 2 from the Bridge

   

The water  level was at 2.38m when I arrived at the river but the clarity was good so it was looking promising for a good days fishing. Heading up to beat 1 I met some of the regular opening day anglers and saw a few kelts throwing and even a few being caught and released from the far bank. The main bank was quiet with only the odd pull from a kelt but no takers. I headed down river and fished for awhile with spinner due the water height and lack of access to virtually any water for fly fishing. Heading down to the bridge I was just about to fish the lower beat when I came upon a sign saying no access due to eroded bank and again when heading up stream on the right bank the water and access was blocked and very little effort if any to clear a path along the river. We pay thirty euros for a day's fishing with very little access to the majority of the river and even the parts that have access are over grown and not managed. In reality I should have asked for a refund, I headed home at lunch time not even bothering to check if there was any news of a fresh fish being caught. Next year a definite change of venue.

                                                              Looking up to Beat 1

                                                           Looking down to the Bridge

 
                                                        The field next to the river

I'll wait till February 1st before I venture out again because at least I know I have good access to the River Lee and the Blackwater for a day's fishing.

Short Video Opening Day 2019.

A small bit of snow on the mountains and a few deer crossing the river really added to the atmosphere of the opening day just a pity there were no fish.

Salmon Season Opening Day 2019 " The Laune River ".

Opening Day 2019

Beat 1

Beat 1 Looking downstream

Looking up from Laune Bridge

Looking down to Beat 2

Beaufort Bridge Beat 3

The only silver fish that I saw all day

Beat 2 lower

The Lower Laune

The Lower Laune

Some cracking brownies can't wait for the trout season on the fly.

Well it was another quiet affair again on opening day on the Laune river, there were about six anglers that turned out and to be honest it was really a beautiful day pity about the lack of water and fish. I did see a few Kelts throwing on beat 1 and again further downstream but no silver fish except for the statue at Beaufort Bridge. The lack of high water really put a damper on proceedings and with it being extremely low and clear it was going to be very hard to tempt anything. I did have some fun with some cracking brown trout that were willing to take a size 4 flying c in fast water but couldn't tempt anything with a fly. I definitely had some fun ironing out the kinks in my casting and testing out some of my new patterns for this season, now is the time that one has to get ready for the days that there will be fish in the system it's like a practice day before the main event. Hopefully with a bit of heavy rain it will start to bring some fresh fish in, on leaving the river about four o clock I hadn't heard of any fresh fish being caught or seen. My next session will be on the opening of the Lee and Blackwater on the first of February but that could all change if we get some heavy rain, we will need the river to be up about 4 ft on today's levels to have any chance of running fish. It's the first time that I can remember the river so low on opening day but I will be keeping a close eye on the weather over the next couple of weeks just in case of some rain.

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.

Salmon Season 2017 " The Laune River ".

 Looking upwards from Beat 1 to the Lake, the water was at medium height and running clear ideal for the fly but as I was only doing a very fast session I only brought the spinning rod and a few Flying C spinners just in case the ever elusive Springer was about. As I said last year I wasn't going to fish Beat 1 this year so after taking a few photo's of the water levels at the different Beats  I ventured down river to do some fishing.

                                                           Beat 1 looking downstream

                                                               Good water clarity.

                             
                                             Looking upstream from the Bridge to Beat 1

                                                       Looking downstream to Beat 2

     
                                                       Upstream from Beaufort Bridge

                                               Downstream from Beaufort Bridge Beat 3

                                            Johnsons Beat Laune anglers Salmon Fishery

                                                  Looking upstream from Johnsons Beat

Moving downstream I decided to start my short fishing session on the lower river and was surprised to find that it had changed so dramatically over the last few years with many of the good pools filled up with gravel and now just long shallow glides taking their place. I started fishing with a size 4 Black / Silver flying C but had to downsize to a size 3 due to the water being so shallow, moving up along the river I found a nice quiet bit of water at the end of a narrow deep run and quickly changed back to a size 4 spinner to get depth in the narrow channel and within a few casts I hit a nice fish but it came off after a few rolls. It was a nice Kelt probably around 6 lbs and very well mended and clean, fishing the pool I hit and caught a few nice spent sea trout and brownies which i quickly released. I had to stop fishing this area because the fish were packed tight and any time the spinner came down a trout hit it and there was no chance of a salmon with so many hungry trout around. I have fished the Laune for many years and was surprised to see a pod of spent salmon numbering 7 or 8 strong heading down river very fast along the shallow water being lead by a big male fish, the big fish had a few white marks but was in great condition and at the speed they were travelling would have been down in the tidal area in less than an hour. As i was only out for a couple of hours the darkness soon arrived and I had to stop fishing but with very mild weather it was a nice introduction to my 2017 salmon season, normally I'm fighting storms or snow etc. I was also testing my old waders for leaks but luckily for now my feet are dry, nothing worse than cold wet feet. The moment we get some heavy rain to bring the river up by a few feet then we can expect to see some fresh fish moving in  (fingers crossed). Here are a few photo's of some of the sea trout I caught and released.

 
                                                               The Lower Laune river