salmon run

[davidlloyd 16]

very nice Zap, well done, its very hard to capture them in mid air!

 

 

its hard to catch them any were mate

[dannyboi 10]

Nice pics!!

 

And if you don't mind me asking, I thought that salmon didn't eat during the runs? Or was the guy using a net?

Salmon dont feed at all,during their stay in fresh water.They attack lure's,and fly's,in a killing mood.Could never understand though.Why some of my fly's,are at the back of their throats,and imposible to remove.I used to kill quite a few fish on the fly,(daily)and once took 18,in one day,and hooked,played and lost,as many or more.Those days are over now,as there is a bag limit of 2 salmanoids a day now.The only reason i took so many,when the chance arrived.Was that the river derg,where i fish.Is a spate river.Up one day,down the next.We might get 5 good days,in the season.So we took what we got.As the poachers moved in,soon as the water droped,and whatever fish were in the river.Went missing.Over the next few days.They even shrimp the spawning beds,and take out the gravid hen fish.Who are no good for nothing,as far as eating goes.Even with the new tagging system.The netting still goes on,and there has been local stories of dead netted fish,being found in numbers,lying below a couple of the bridges.Where they've been dumped over the bridge.When a sale for them couldnt be found.I never took the rod from its bag this year,and dont think i'll bother next year either.The salmon runs we have now,are very small.Even the average grils,only weigs 3lb now,and we even have fish coming back up the river,weighing less than a lb.Would love to put a fly,over some of those big cock fish.Even for the sport of it.As i dont take a fish out of the water,thats showing even the slightest sigh,of colouring.Those are fantastic shots mate.I thought i would never live long enough,to see the likes of those shots again.Probibly never will see it in real life again.When i was a kid.My dad used to take us down to watch the great salmon,and sea trout runs,of the early 60s,and 70s.Sometimes it was like a great dark shadow.Coming up toward the great swinging bridge,that went across the river mourne.I once seen over 4.000 fish going over the weir,in one hour,and we didnt see them all.As i said.Those days,are long gone.Never to return.

Edited December 15, 2009 by dannyboi