The Grevenue Pool, River Mourne, Sion Mills, 26 Nov 2023, DSC_0933-2
The Grevenue Pool is one of the most renowned salmon fishing pools on the River Mourne due to the number of salmon caught each year. It’s an excellent fly fishing water and ideal for wading due to the gravel bottom.
The gravel bed has accumulates here over the years from fluvial floods.
The reason why the salmon catch rate is so prolific on this pool is mainly due to the weir, it helps hold back the salmon while they migrate upstream to the spawning redds on the rivers Strule, Derg, Owenkillew, and Glenelly.
Over the years the salmon catch rates have been quite phenomenal, however, in recent years like other river networks in Europe, wild Atlantic salmon numbers are
declining at unprecedented rates and, in many areas, are currently below sustainable biological limits. At 4th October 2023 the Loughs Agency's net fish count at Sion Mills weir is 354 with an management target of 8,000 fish per year. This figure speaks for itself.
“Climate change is the most likely cause of the decline in salmon numbers. Changing ocean conditions mean poor marine survival is affecting all populations, and higher river temperatures in winter and summer affect spawning and juvenile survival in many rivers.“ Local impacts such as water and habitat quality is also have an adverse effect on fish numbers as evidenced by the variation in neighbouring populations.”
Over harvesting of the salmon stocks on the Foyle system over many years has also had a significant impact both legal and illegal fishing methods. Drift net fishing at sea along the Irish coastline has added to the decline, in latter years an increase demand in aquaculture for farmed salmon has fueled an increase number of salmon farms, most of which are located close to river estuaries or inland waterways where wild salmon migrate. Some fish biologists maintain that farmed salmon has a negative impact on wild salmon numbers. In particular, they highlight that farmed fish are often infested with parasitical sea lice, which they pass onto the wild salmon in such numbers that it proves fatal.
Interestingly, most salmon anglers like to see a few sea lice on a freshly caugh salmon, indicating that it has just entered the river from the sea. If your ever catch a fresh salmon just in from the sea it will have a crisp, fresh ocean smell.
The Grevenue Pool is located between the weir and the swinging bridge within the Mourneside Walk, just below the village of Sion Mills. It can be accessed from either bank, however the West bank is the prefered fishing location by most anglers as it has adequate parking.
If traveling on the the main A5 Omagh to Strabane road, at the traffic lights in the center of the village, turn right onto the Mill Avenue (Willows) which lead to the old Herdman’s Flax Mill (now partically operated by Mulrines). A carpark is available to the right immediately prior to the factory entrance gates. A short walk along the outskirts of the factory fence leads to the Mourneside Walk.
Alternatively, you can park on the roadside of the Liskey Road B165, just above the access lane, known as the Duck Walk, to the "Swinging Bridge" (a suspension foot bridge). The Liskey road is narrow and fairly busy, however parking locations are limited to the road side which makes it far from an ideal parking location.
The Grevenue Pool, River Mourne, Sion Mills, 26 Nov 2023, DSC_0933-2
The Grevenue Pool is one of the most renowned salmon fishing pools on the River Mourne due to the number of salmon caught each year. It’s an excellent fly fishing water and ideal for wading due to the gravel bottom.
The gravel bed has accumulates here over the years from fluvial floods.
The reason why the salmon catch rate is so prolific on this pool is mainly due to the weir, it helps hold back the salmon while they migrate upstream to the spawning redds on the rivers Strule, Derg, Owenkillew, and Glenelly.
Over the years the salmon catch rates have been quite phenomenal, however, in recent years like other river networks in Europe, wild Atlantic salmon numbers are
declining at unprecedented rates and, in many areas, are currently below sustainable biological limits. At 4th October 2023 the Loughs Agency's net fish count at Sion Mills weir is 354 with an management target of 8,000 fish per year. This figure speaks for itself.
“Climate change is the most likely cause of the decline in salmon numbers. Changing ocean conditions mean poor marine survival is affecting all populations, and higher river temperatures in winter and summer affect spawning and juvenile survival in many rivers.“ Local impacts such as water and habitat quality is also have an adverse effect on fish numbers as evidenced by the variation in neighbouring populations.”
Over harvesting of the salmon stocks on the Foyle system over many years has also had a significant impact both legal and illegal fishing methods. Drift net fishing at sea along the Irish coastline has added to the decline, in latter years an increase demand in aquaculture for farmed salmon has fueled an increase number of salmon farms, most of which are located close to river estuaries or inland waterways where wild salmon migrate. Some fish biologists maintain that farmed salmon has a negative impact on wild salmon numbers. In particular, they highlight that farmed fish are often infested with parasitical sea lice, which they pass onto the wild salmon in such numbers that it proves fatal.
Interestingly, most salmon anglers like to see a few sea lice on a freshly caugh salmon, indicating that it has just entered the river from the sea. If your ever catch a fresh salmon just in from the sea it will have a crisp, fresh ocean smell.
The Grevenue Pool is located between the weir and the swinging bridge within the Mourneside Walk, just below the village of Sion Mills. It can be accessed from either bank, however the West bank is the prefered fishing location by most anglers as it has adequate parking.
If traveling on the the main A5 Omagh to Strabane road, at the traffic lights in the center of the village, turn right onto the Mill Avenue (Willows) which lead to the old Herdman’s Flax Mill (now partically operated by Mulrines). A carpark is available to the right immediately prior to the factory entrance gates. A short walk along the outskirts of the factory fence leads to the Mourneside Walk.
Alternatively, you can park on the roadside of the Liskey Road B165, just above the access lane, known as the Duck Walk, to the "Swinging Bridge" (a suspension foot bridge). The Liskey road is narrow and fairly busy, however parking locations are limited to the road side which makes it far from an ideal parking location.