Good morning from a very mild but dull Foxford. The winter is slowly creeping in and there is a very noticeable change in the light. We have got off to a good start with the winter fishing and have had two days on Lough Sheelin, a day deep sea angling, a day at the Pike (Blank) along with a very interesting Beach session. Lets hope we can keep it going.

The bodies are tired and it is noticeable. I went for a swim on Wednesday night and I though someone would have to help me out of the swimming pool. The fact that it was the first bit of exercise I have done since June was probably a factor but age catching up with me and the after effects of a tough season were also factors. The age I can’t do anything about, the tough season I just have to get over and hopefully next year will be easier.

It started off in a strange way and if anything it got stranger as the year went on. In the early part there was great confusion as to whether or not the Moy would be left as it was, become a Brown Tag system, total catch and release, or just a reduction in total allowable catch. The Minister displayed his Ineptitude to the highest level and we were all left in Limbo. Decisions that should have been made twelve months ago were only been discussed in April. One can only imagine the panic in IFI head office as the season kicked off and none of them had a clue as to what the rules were. I sometimes criticise IFI but how can a state body run properly when led by such incompetence.

We finally got the rules and in fairness, most angles were happy enough. A Licence holder was permitted to Kill a total of seven Salmon. One salmon up to the first of June and three per day from June to the end of August, total catch and release for September. At least they were happy enough with the reduction in tags issued and the one salmon up to June 1^st. There was a lot of grumbling towards the end of the season and some anglers felt very hard done by when not permitted to use worm as bait. It is something that needs to be refined and hopefully with plenty of time now before the start of next season, the powers that be will re-evaluate the system.

By May there was a good head of Spring salmon in the river. Angler numbers were down and most of the fish made their way unhindered through the system (apart from having to run the gauntlet of seals in the estuary).

Then came the bombshell.

We had a few days of warm weather and suddenly IFI announced the closure of fisheries. I could not believe what I was been told, Ya couldn’t make it up. Anglers that arrived for their holidays were left speechless and in disbelief. A river full of water where fish could move freely and there wasn’t a sign of a distressed fish, closed to angling. This happened three times at least and on one occasion the Ridge Pool was closed for nearly three weeks. The Seals had a field day, they eat more salmon than a ridge pool full of anglers could ever catch.

By Mid July most anglers had turned their backs on the river and took to other angling pursuits. The river was heaving with fish and not an angler to be seen. During the low water I flew a drone over the river in Foxford. The back of the town was dotted with salmon. We didn’t mention it at the time because the fish were so vulnerable and could have been easily poached (see this clip). Speaking to people “in the know” from Foxford through the system and out into the bay, it was the most fish they have seen in years.

In August we waited for water but water did not come and neither did salmon anglers. We do approx. sixty hour per week in the shop and boy does that drag when its quiet. Luckily enough, between the Loughs and the ocean there was enough going on to keep us ticking over.

September was a damp squib. The water came but there was just a handful of anglers prepared to have a go. Compared to other Septembers when the river was alive with anglers, there was nothing. The season went out on a very low note. The one question we were asked a hundred and one times “what is happening next year” the answer “We don’t know”. I would urge the Minister and IFI to get their act together, have respect for people and make decisions with consultation, in time this year.