Spinfish Online Magazine

Blackwater Salmon Fishery Reports 2019



Sláinte an bhradáin (Health of the Salmon Upon You) Glenda 00353 (0) 872351260 glenda@glendapowellguiding.com http://blackwatersalmonfishery.com/ http://glendapowellguiding.com/

Glenda Powell Guiding & Blackwater Salmon Fishery May 2019

 

Glenda Powell Guiding
& Blackwater Salmon Fishery


May, the Mayflower and the Mayfly
http://www.blackwatersalmonfishery.com/


2019 Young Persons Day on the Blackwater



OFG 1880 Austrian Event & Further Shows & Fairs 2019



''I'm only wishing to go a-fishing, For this the month of May was made''
Henry Van Dyke


June has arrived and as I sit here in Austria following the OFG 1880 annual teaching event in Purgstall near Vienna listening to the grasshoppers I realise that summer has arrived.  I look back at  May and time has passed quickly on the Blackwater. May is a wonderful time to be in Ireland with everything coming back to life as the daylight hours grow longer. It is with growing anticipation of catching salmon on the Blackwater when the Mayflower blooms and the Mayfly hatch and even though our salmon were a few weeks late this year we have been catching some fine fish in the last few weeks. The water is getting low at the moment and we hope for some rain soon.  Next weekend we are holding our Low Water Salmon Fishing Course on the Blackwater and this course will cover Hitching Flies/tubes, Stripping Micro Flies, Nymphing for Salmon, Collie Dog/Sunray Shadow techniques and single handed Spey Casting.

Ireland is steeped in myth and legend and as I watched the Mayflower (Hawthorn/Whitethorn) bloom in such abundance this year I though back to our ancestors and their beliefs before Christianity. In Irish myth this tree was thought to be a fairy tree. Farmers would not cut down this tree even if it was in the middle of the field and they would plough around the tree but not too close in case they made the fairies angry. Many roads have been diverted in Ireland to avoid cutting one down and this tree is generally seen as a tree which brings good luck to the owner and prosperity to the land where it stands. As children growing up we knew to stay away from the circle of trees in the middle of the field which was known as the fairy ring and not even the most adventurous child in the group would dare to upset the fairies.

The most well know fly in Ireland has got to be the Mayfly.  The Mayfly (Ephemera Danica/Vulgata) is by far the biggest Upwinged fly on our Island and with it's size and majestic dance is an easy fly to identify. The nymph of this fly is our only bottom burrower nymph and is therefore hidden from the fish diet until it starts to emerge and this usually happens around May depending on the temperature. 
A story is told about the birth of Cuchulain.  Dechtire drank a cup of wine in which a mayfly had landed.  That night she was visited by the God Lugh in a dream, who told her that the mayfly was him, and that she would soon give birth to a boy child.  When she awoke, he transformed her into a swan, and took her to his halls in the Otherworld, where she duly gave birth to Setanta. She returned with him to Email Macha in Ulster, where he was raised, and went on to become the hero warrior known as Cuchulain who was gifted with superhuman strength, speed and skill.

We have a busy month ahead and on the 8th June we have our Low Water Salmon Fishing Course on the Blackwater, June 15/16 we will be in Galway at the Irish Game & Country Fair, on the 22nd June we have our Young Person's Day on the Blackwater and the weekend of the 29th-30th we will be in Antrim in Northern Ireland at the Irish Game Fair and Fine Food Festival at Shanes Castle.

More information about the Young Person's Day and the Fairs/Events to follow in this newsletter.

We wish you a successful June and look forward to seeing you soon.

Sláinte an bhradáin  (Health of the Salmon Upon You)

Glenda 
00353 (0) 872351260
glenda@glendapowellguiding.com
http://blackwatersalmonfishery.com/
http://glendapowellguiding.com/


Glenda Powell Guiding & Blackwater Salmon Fishery March 2019


Glenda Powell of Blackwater Lodge

Adventure is Worthwhile

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Experience the World Of Fly-Fishing Germany 6-7 April 2019 International Year of the Salmon Youth Day 22nd June

''If you think adventures are dangerous, try routine: It's lethal'' Paul Coelho

Wanderlust is a condition that I have always ''suffered'' from. That strong desire for, or impulse to wander and travel and explore the world.

Even as children we were adventurers. We lived in Comber, Co Down Northern Ireland, and as really very young teenagers, with little money in our pockets we would board a bus without looking to see where it was going to. The fun was in not knowing where we would end up, the freedom of the adventure, and we would enjoy the day wherever the destination was. I look back and smile at those lovely innocent days.

When I was 18 years old I left Northern Ireland on a ferry from Larne to go to Scotland. I told my parents that I was going to fish for the rest of my life. It took some time for them to come to terms with this, as I am sure that any parent reading this can understand. I just wasn't interested in that, ''good pensionable job''. However I look back now and realise that I was just one of the lucky ones who could make a living at doing what I really wanted to do, and through a lot of hard work and persistence I still do.

Time has moved on I have realised that there will not be enough time to see everything I want to see and to do everything that I want to do. Today I grasp each and every opportunity that comes my way, I invite them and seek them out. I realise that travel is not always glamorous or comfortable. I do many shows and fairs around the world every year, lose many nights of sleep traveling on buses, trains and planes and know that this is sometimes not great for health. Adventure may hurt sometimes, but for me I know that routine would kill me. I love not knowing where I could be by the end of the year.

In a few day I will be taking a group of anglers to Patagonia. We will be arriving at the Las Buitreras Lodge owned by Solid Adventures and we will be fishing for some of the largest Seatrout in the world. I have been there before and it is a wonderful place to visit. The fishing is awesome, the people helpful and generous and the scenery and landscape is incredible. We will be going again next March and I have 2 places left on the original March week and I will be taking another week due to demand.

In 2021 we will also be taking a group back to Greenland to fish for Artic Char. (2 places left) I was here last year and can highly recommend this as a great trip for the adventurer. Really hard fighting fish that will test all your equipment in a place that has been untouched by human ways.

I was walking across the mountain one morning to get to the river and in the vastness of the land you begin to see what a tiny place you occupy in the world, and how any trouble you could have would be miniscule in the great scheme of things. We leave in August 2021, let me know if you can come with us.

Lastly on the trips, Noel and I will be going to the Orlka in Norway to spend some time with some friends fishing there this summer, trying to catch the big one. We plan to be running a trip to this destination in 2020. Again, let me know if you are interested and I will send you further details.

The river Blackwater has been up and down in levels since the season opened on 1st February. We had a few people fishing in the first two weeks of February and had a successful Skagit course on the 2nd.

We attended the Dublin Show - The Ireland Angling Expo and I had the honour of presenting the Irish Fish Specimen Awards this year. A few days later I was in Salzburg at the Die Hote Jagd & Fischerei for a 4 day event. The river was slowly coming into wadable height by the end of February and then we have had quite a lot of rain since then and the water levels have remained high.

We have completed the Improvers Double Handed Casting Course on the 2nd March and also the Beginners Double Handed Course last weekend. These have been great learning days despite the high water. As I write this we are expecting another storm to arrive this afternoon - Storm Gareth and we have weather warnings in place for the next 24 hours. It is hard to see at the moment as the sun is streaming in through my office window.

I will be running a Low Water Salmon Fishing Course on June 8th and I have 2 spaces left on this course. This course will cover single handed Spey casting, Switch rods and numerous low water techniques such as hitching flies/tubes, Sunray Shadow and Collie Dog fishing, Nymphing for Salmon , and Stripping micro flies. The cost of this course is €150 per person and includes lunch, equipment if required and fishing. Please contact me if you wish to book on to the course.

I am also available to take private groups of anglers or individuals on the river Blackwater on Guided days which include tuition and guiding and I can also be booked for private casting/fishing lessons.

I am also willing to travel to teach on other rivers in other countries with groups. http://glendapowellguiding.com/contact-booking/about-glenda/

When I am away to Patagonia I am available by email each day and Noel my partner will be here to look after the fishery and can be contacted on 085 7220923.

This year is the International Year of the Salmon and here at Blackwater Salmon Fishery we are passionate about salmon and we strongly believe that if our salmon are to have a future we need to have anglers on the water in the future. To help achieve this we must encourage young people to become involved in our sport. More later in this post.

We look forward to a busy year ahead and look forward to seeing you somewhere soon.

Sláinte an bhradáin (Health of the Salmon Upon You)

Glenda 00353 (0) 872351260 glenda@glendapowellguiding.com http://blackwatersalmonfishery.com/ http://glendapowellguiding.com/

2019 International Year of the Salmon Youth Day. 22 June 2019.

This year is the International Year of the Salmon and here at Blackwater Salmon Fishery http://blackwatersalmonfishery.com/we are passionate about salmon and we strongly believe that if our salmon are to have a future we need to have anglers on the water in the future. To help achieve this we must encourage young people to become involved in our sport.

In order to help this happen we will be hosting a ''Young Persons Day'' which promises to be both an educational and fun filled introduction to fishing. We will be talking about, Safety around water, The life cycle of the Salmon, Why clean water is important to us and the fish and we will have a BBQ and try fishing.

The day is the 22nd June on the River Blackwater near Fermoy Co Cork, and to book a space on this day please contact me. Any older person who would like to come and help on this day is also welcome to contact me and we will put on a few extra sausages and burgers on the BBQ.

Come and join us, we need your help.

Best wishes

Glenda

Glenda Powell Guiding

Blackwater Salmon Fishery


2019 International Year of the Salmon Youth Day 22nd June

Ireland Angling Expo this weekend 16-17 February Dublin

Die Hohe Jagd & Fischerei 21-24 February Salzburg Austria

''Many of the most highly publicised events of my presidency are not nearly as memorable or significant in my life as fishing with my daddy.''
Jimmy Carter

As the sun comes up on the eve of our first angling show of the year - Ireland Angling Expo Swords Dublin https://www.facebook.com/IrlAnglingExpo/ - my thoughts are drawn to the game fairs that my daddy used to take us to when we were young.  These shows in Northern Ireland were run by Albert & Irene Titterington from The Great Game Fairs Of Ireland http://www.irishgamefair.com/, and indeed Albert & Irene, along with their team still organise two of the most exciting shows in Ireland, North and South each year.

These events were much anticipated by us four girls and really were a highlight in our year.  Hayley our 'big sister' would always win a medal at the clay pigeon shooting, and went on to represent Ireland and the UK in numerous competitions. Beverley, Emma and I would give the shooting a go and they were quite good but I always ended up with a huge bruise on my shoulder from not holding the gun properly.  It was at the trout pond - which was purposely stocked for the children to have a go at fishing - that I spent my time. I also vividly remember watching Peter O'Reily in the casting arena and wondering how he could cast his line out so effortlessly, wishing that some day I would be able to do the same. It was with great sadness at the end of last year that we said goodbye to Peter. Peter later became a good friend and mentor and he will be remembered by many of us at each event we attend throughout the angling show year.

These events are so important to anglers everywhere and they always have something to offer for our children.  Our own children, Anna & Ian, will be at the Angling Fair with us this weekend on our stand and they also remember a childhood growing up with the fairs.  Come and see us and bring a young person with you if you have the opportunity, we will have a fun competition at our stand for all.

The river Blackwater has been up and down in levels since the season opened on 1st February. We have had a few people fishing in the last two weeks and had a successful Skagit course on the 2nd.  The river is slowly coming into wadable height for the first time, and we would be expecting our first salmon of the year very soon.

This year is the International Year of the Salmon and here at Blackwater Salmon Fishery we are passionate about salmon and we strongly believe that if our salmon are to have a future we need to have anglers on the water in the future.  To help achieve this we must encourage young people to become involved in our sport.

In order to help this happen we will be hosting a ''Young Persons Day'' which promises to be both an educational and fun filled introduction to fishing.  We will be talking about, Safety around water, The life cycle of the Salmon, Why clean water is important to us and the fish and we will have a BBQ and try fishing.

The day is the 22nd June and to book a space on this day please contact me.  Any older person who would like to come and help on this day is also welcome to contact me and we will put on a few extra sausages and burgers on the BBQ.


We look forward to a busy year ahead and look forward to seeing you somewhere soon.

Sláinte an bhradáin  (Health of the Salmon Upon You)

Glenda 
00353 (0) 872351260
glenda@glendapowellguiding.com
http://blackwatersalmonfishery.com/
http://glendapowellguiding.com/

Glenda Powell Guiding & Blackwater Salmon Fishery

Reports on: Opening Day February 1st on the River Blackwater


Ireland Angling Expo 16-17 February Dublin

Die Hohe Jagd & Fischerei 21-24 February Salzburg Austria

''No Winter lasts forever: no Spring Skips it's turn.'' Hal Borland

What a wonderful day we had on the River Blackwater today. This day marked the beginning of our Salmon Fishing Season which is a very special day in our year. In the last few days Winter seemed to return to the valley, and the daffodils were bowing to the cold weight of snow resting on their heads. Today the rain stopped and the sun came out to greet us. She warmed our cold hands and faces and joined in with the Opening Day celebrations. We were honoured that people came from far and wide to be with us on this very special day. These people knew that the chance of fishing was slim after the recent flood from heavy rain yesterday and snow melt from the mountains. Like pilgrims following a ritual obligation we travel to the river on this day. Often searching for that basic need to be part of something bigger than ourselves, we find ourselves drawn to the river. An urgent need in this busy world, to find solace and personal reflection in a familiar like minded community we travel - despite the adverse conditions.

This winter Noel wrote a quote by Henry David Thoreau on the wall above the fireplace in Kilmurry hut which says it all:

''Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.''

For some of our far away friends they could not travel because of dangerous road conditions and we look forward to seeing them soon. We toasted the river, prayed that the river would be kind to us this year, and that all who fish in Her would be kept safe. We gave thanks that we could be here today and had a moment of silence for those who made their last cast last year and cannot be with us this year. The Last Cast but the River Flows On.

This year is the International Year of the Salmon and to celebrate and we made a special Blackwater Salmon Fishery keyring adorned with the old Irish 10p coin and a piece of Donegal Tweed in it to present to the people who came to the fishery today.

We had the pleasure of trying out the LTS Nitro 12' 6 Double handed rod teamed with the SCS line A fantastic tool and I would be very happy to make an appointment with anyone who would like to try this equipment. http://www.lts-flyfishing.uk/products.html

Tomorrow is the first of our Fly Fishing Courses this year - the Double Handed Skagit Course.

The next course is the Double Handed Course for Improvers which is held on the 2nd March and one space has become available.

Please contact me if you would like to book this place.

This month I will be attending 2 Fishing Shows one in Dublin and the other in Austria. In March I will be taking a group of anglers to Patagonia to fish for some of the largest Sea-trout in the world. We look forward to a busy year ahead and look forward to seeing you somewhere soon.

Sláinte an bhradáin (Health of the Salmon Upon You) Glenda 00353 (0) 872351260 glenda@glendapowellguiding.com http://blackwatersalmonfishery.com/ http://glendapowellguiding.com/

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