Prospects for 2008.
It is a very difficult task to predict what will happen in any fishing season, but there are factors that can be taken into account to asses the overall picture for the fortcoming season.
As most will now be aware the ban on commercial driftnetting is ongoing and will continue to be of huge benefit to the Kylemore system. The 2007 season was not a one of the best number wise but it was notable in that none of the fish was net marked and better quality grilse were being seen in the catch returns. This will be a major factor in the catches again this season, and if the run is better this season proportionally more fish will enter the system. Historically a better run of fish led to more activity by commercial fishermen, which will not now be the case.
One of the other important factors in any season is the numbers of smolts that went to sea, and their survival rates.
The run of fish that contributed to this years smolt run would have been from the summer of 2004, which was a moderate but respectable season for catches. There was also a good number of fish seen on the reds at spawning time, so although not a bumper year there was adequate spawning to again produce a favourable run when this spawning matured to smolts.
The smolts run to sea at the end of April, and they are more successful if there is plenty of water as there was at the end of April this year.
The one other factor that we can add into the equasion is the amount of activity on the salmon farms in the estuary. There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that survival of salmon smolts is seriously affected by sea-lice which originate from salmon farms in the estuaries of their natal rivers.
The salmon farm in Balinakill bay was a hive of activity this year, let us hope that they have kept their salmon treated to keep the sealice at least to the levels laid down in current aggreements and legislation.
It has been suggested by some people who should know that this is seldom, if ever, the case.
So to add up all the factors I think that we are looking at a moderate season, provided that there are water levels to bring the fish up.
An improvement on last season is to be expected, and perhaps a few larger fish.
One of the most noticeable changes in the last few years has been a change in the main run time, although summer fish still enter the system from late May onwards, it is now mid July before the main run of fish comes, not so long ago it was all over by this time. Recent seasons have produced fresh fish up until the close of fishing in September, so steady fishing is now more the norm rather than three weeks of frenetic activity followed by a sudden slow down.
One more thing to remember, perhaps the most important factor of all.....if your fly is not in the water, you will not catch fish.
So go to the bookings page now to reserve some fishing.
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