After final 12 months’s very poor season for salmon fishing, anglers on the River Suir have reported a marked enchancment this 12 months, significantly in early July.
Excessive water ranges had an hostile impact on wading situations early within the season, limiting entry for fly anglers, however there have been nonetheless some superb salmon operating, with reported catches of well-conditioned fish within the 12lb to 16lb measurement vary.
There was a great build-up of salmon in Higher Suir estuary in early June and a mini flood tempted these fish in from the tide to the freshwater sections; nevertheless, as a consequence of an inundation of moss lifting from the riverbed – identified regionally as Daubiins – angling was virtually not possible. When the moss ‘floss’ cleared in mid-June, fishing improved significantly, and this enchancment continued into mid-July when one other build-up of salmon within the higher estuary occurred. Fish getting into the estuary have been monitored by IFI all through the season, with common boat patrols within the tidal waters till the fish moved upstream.
After they did transfer by means of, good numbers of salmon between 10lb to 16lb and grilse of 3lb to 5lb have been caught and launched, with loads of others met briefly by anglers however evading the touchdown internet! Some spectacular fish have been landed already this season although, together with twelve specimens recorded within the 20lb to 25lb vary.
Mid July onwards noticed a drop in numbers of bigger fish within the estuary with simply small numbers of grilse operating. The fish that entered the river throughout June and July are actually unfold out over complete catchment ready for what anglers hope can be a superb spawning season.
For what stays of the angling season, the months of August and September have been very poor months for anglers within the final variety of years, with the normal backend salmon – identified regionally as ‘Blackberry’ salmon – not showing in nearly a decade. Suir anglers are crossing their fingers and toes within the hope that these fish will make a reappearance this 12 months.
The Suir, which is 184km in size with a fluvial salmonid habitat of just below 9 million sq. metres, is Eire’s largest salmon river with a conservation restrict of over 14,000 salmon. The river has been catch and launch since 2013 and these laws are strictly enforced by IFI. It’s estimated by golf equipment on the Suir that over 90% of Suir salmon anglers favor to fly fish, with smaller hook sizes and in-river wading serving to to maintain fish moist throughout the unhooking course of and additional enhancing salmon conservation on the river.
Whereas fishing in some areas of Clonmel City and Carrick on Suir City is taken into account to be free fishing, fishing is strictly allow solely on membership waters the place Gardai and courtroom appointed waterkeepers strictly implement public order points and trespass alongside the Suir catchment.
Salmon fishing on the River Suir
