After completing one of Delphi’s Flyfishing Courses in July 2008 with Peter O’Reilly one of Ireland’s foremost  flyfishing tutors, Pat Cassidy finally managed to land his first ever salmon. Ten minutes later he then managed to land his second. Both fish were taken on Finlough  on a Delphi Collie. The fish were both sea liced and weighed in at 5lbs8ozs and 7lbs8oz. Pat’s fishing partner was his brother in law Cian Murtagh who I’m afraid was a mere spectator on the day as Pat took all the glory.

Besides these two extremely expensive and long awaited fish we have had 14 others since my last update.

Delphi regular Alan Dunlop had a fine 9lbs1oz fish off Finlough on Monday afternoon. The fish was taken on a Silver Stoat.

On Tuesday we had 4. Thomas Ahlers had a sea liced grilse of 4lbs9ozs from the Waterfall pool on a Collie Dog. Chris Flanagan had a fresh grilse of approx. 2lbs8ozs from the Schoolhouse on a Collie Dog. Jim Jackson and Alan Dunlop had one each off Doolough weighing in at 10lbs and 6lbs respectively.

Wednesday there were 2 fish landed, both off Finlough. Alan Dunlop had a fresh fish of 11lbs on a Collie Dog and John Somerville had one of 8lbs15ozs on a Delphi Collie.

On Thursday we had 2 fish, one off Doolough of approx. 8lbs taken by David Heweston Brown and the second off Fin taken by Alan Dunlop on a Collie Dog and weighing in at approx. 5lbs.

Yesterday after some heavy rain the previous night 27.4mm and difficult fishing conditions with high water we landed 5, all of which were sea liced.

David Heweston Brown had one in the morning off Finlough of 3lbs8.5ozs on a Collie Dog. In the afternoon Pat Cassidy had his 2 off Fin and Peter Eaton had 1 of 3lbs2ozs on a Green Highlander. Rocky Moran managed to land a fish on the Deadman’s of 6lbs10ozs on a Willie Gunn.

So far this morning we have landed 2. Garret Byrne had one off Finlough of approx. 5lbs on a Cascade and David Dunne had one off the Rock pool of 5lbs15.5ozs on a Willie Gunn.

With the river at 50 and fresh fish running the outlook for the next few days looks good. (God I better shut up now or I’ll sound like a weather man.)

D.McEvoy