Best February Ever for Springers!

[Robbo]

That that I have you here Nelly...read on

Biggest Fish of the Season March 3
Shane Kinsella from Wicklow was fishing alone on Lower Kilmurry on Saturday March 3 - indeed he was the only rod out that day.
He hooked & netted a beautiful fresh fish of ~12lb. on 1½" aluminium Garry Dog tube on a sink-tip line which he played for 20 minutes.
He also saw another very fresh double figure fish showing around the same time in the afternoon.

First Fish of the Season from the upper river - March 4
Tom Donovan from Castletownroche was spinning the Junction Pool on Bridgetown Abbey & landed a lovely fresh 7 pounder.

Best February Springer Total since 2004

The honour of catching the first springer
on the river Blackwater fell this year
to Lodge proprietor Ian Powell (left)
who caught this very fresh 6.2 pounder
at the Jole on Lower Kilmurry
at 13.40 on February 3rd.

blackwell1.jpg (76.8 KiB) Viewed 3697 times

This was followed quickly by Paul Howard
with his first ever springer of 8.5lb
on February 5th. - again on Lower Kilmurry.

blackwell2.jpg (52.22 KiB) Viewed 3697 times

His pal Ger McCarthy also caught a sea-liced
5 pounder on the same beat the same
afternoon and they saw about a dozen
fresh springers during the course of the day.

Best February for Years!
The total for February was the
(joint) best since 2004 & the
(joint) second best since 1994.
The 5 fish were caught for just
30 rod days between February 3-14.

Ian Powell
Blackwater Lodge
http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/index.htm

[Jadeo]

I was lost until I realized these guys were in the Ireland I thought those springers were looking pretty Atlantic'y.

[Robbo]

This post sent Nelly into dreamyland

Slobber, distant stare, mouth breathing...the whole works...dreamyland

[Nelly]

Endsley,... You have a donkey punch coming

[Jadeo]

I would totaly chase those fish if I didnt have to fly across the world to get them .
Nelly you should find a real donkey to administer that punch.

[Smalma]

Nelly

To bad this spring on the Columbia was not as good for Chinook.

Saw some numbers today that the estimates for February were 8,200 angler trips for 37 springs keep and 23 released. That compares to the 2011 estimates of 5,600 angler trips with 280 springs keep and 43 released.

That said the reports seem to be increasing and by the time you get back from the land of sun it could be game on!\\

Tight lines
curt

[Nelly]

Smalma! No fair piling on!

Endsley does not need any help! He does just fine on his own!
I'm bummed to miss the Monday NOF meeting but we'll be back soon enough!