ANGLING NOTES:MY JOURNEY ACROSS Connemara to establish the effects of the salmon driftnetting ban on Irish rivers, brings me to Mount Falcon Country House Fishery on the Foxford-Ballina Road in Co Mayo, writes Derek Evans.
Built for the Knox-Gore family in 1876 by Farmleigh House architect James Franklin Fuller, this stunning "castle" on the west bank of the River Moy, was later purchased by the Aldridge family in 1932. Two years ago, the 100-acre estate was fully renovated by its new owners, the Maloney family.
Undoubtedly, Mount Falcon's primary attraction is its access to two miles of double-bank fishing rights on the River Moy. The Wall Pool and Cunninghams are perhaps two of the best-known beats on this prolific salmon river.
Estate manager Jim Wilson, explains: "Last year, the first without driftnets, we saw a sharp increase in numbers and size of salmon. A total of 980 were landed on our waters last season," he says.
As a keen supporter of the Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST), earlier this year Wilson offered two days' fishing for two plus one night's accommodation at Mount Falcon for €750, with all proceeds going to AST. Incredibly, he received no takers. Instead, the fishery is donating €5 to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation for each salmon returned safely to the water this season.
I meet Mike Harding, Vincent Taylor and Jim Wiltshire, from Newbury in Berkshire, who are staying in the new self-catering suites on the estate. "Our three-day package, including fishing, is fantastic. We'll be back," I am told.
In one afternoon, the three managed to catch three salmon at Cunninghams. At the Boathole, our departure point to the 11 beats on the river, angling guide Stuart Price, explains: "This is the half-way point. We have a mile downstream, called the Lower Beat, for bait-fishing and spinning, and the Upper Beat is mainly fly water including the famous Wall Pool.
"This is our most productive area, particularly in medium-to-low water, whereas downstream is best in high water. We have six rods per day each on the Upper and Lower Beats, and our anglers are resident in the hotel or self-catering suites. Our best fish so far this season is a springer of 6.4kg and also a good number over the 4.5kg mark. This week, we had one of 5.6kg and some better-quality grilse over 2.3kg. With the driftnets on, they averaged only 1kg."
The grilse-run hasn't really started yet. Each season it's getting later and later. For years, the run was well under way by late June or early July. Now it's running into August. Of real interest to salmon anglers, is the news that Mount Falcon intends to expand fly-water at the Wall Pool. "We have, perhaps, half a mile either side of the Pool suitable for fly-fishing. We hope to start work next year if conditions are right," Price says.
I tried worm-fishing with ledgered float at Cunninghams and then up-river for a spell of spinning at the Wall Pool and Connor's Gap ending at the Ditches. All very enjoyable and plenty of "runs" to report, but unfortunately no fish. That's fishing, I guess.
Mount Falcon is a member of the Great Fishing Houses of Ireland. For bookings, contact Liz Godfrey at 096-74472 or e-mail info@failteireland.ie.
• Meanwhile, Ballynahinch Castle in Recess, Connemara, Co Galway, has seen its best start to the season in eight years, with large numbers of grilse running the system, according to Simon Ashe, fishery and estate manager. By mid-July the Ballynahinch system had landed more than 80 salmon since the start of the grilse run and 400 sea-trout.
For further details, e-mail: fishing@bhinch.iol.ieor 095-31006.