Good morning from a cool and cloudy Foxford. My apologies for disappearing recently. I think its three weeks now since there was a blog post. I mentioned a while back that life has a tendency to dictate what happens and once again it done that. Our elderly aunt was sick in hospital and she eventually passed away and this was followed by a nasty dose of cold/flu or whatever. I’m sure you have had it, sore joints and muscles, runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, and a lack of sympathy. It wont kill but the will to sit at a computer isn’t there. Anyway, we are back.
Foxford has been quiet and thus far I have not seen an angler on the river which even though we have had a lot of rain, is not looking too bad. We are still no wiser as to how the season will work out with regards to Tags, C&R, restrictions, or allowable catch. The initial draft regulations that we spoke about were scraped following submissions sent to the Minister. It now appears that a new draft has been published. I am attaching a link here.https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/press-releases/minister-dooley-announces-second-public-consultation-on-the-draft-2026-wild-salmon-and-sea-trout-tagging-regulations/ I have not had a chance to look at the new draft yet but will do so in the coming days. I would again urge Everyone to make a submission and have your say.
Club
I have said it many times, if our sport is to continue and our traditions and skills passed down to the next generations, clubs are the way to go. We had our angling Club AGM last night and it was very good. A room full of happy and positive anglers full of hope for the season ahead. We have plans made for the year and hopefully we will have some sport and fun in the next few months.
There is now a noticeable stretch in the days with brighter mornings and longer evenings, the birds are singing and there is a hint of spring. We will soon be on the river bank and searching for the first Salmon of the season. Please remember that at this time of the year there are a lot of Kelts/Slats making their way downstream to hopefully recover in the Ocean.