Lodge tops British magazine poll of fly fishing destinations

A FISHING lodge near Fermoy has been voted as the number one destination by readers of a well-known British angling publication.

Blackwater Lodge, in upper Ballyduff, scooped top prize with readers of Today’s Flyfisher, who placed it 27% ahead of its nearest rival, a fishing hostel in Devon.

Ian Powell, who, with his wife Glenda, has run the fishing lodge since 1986, said he was surprised by the award.

“In a climate where Irish salmon angling has been suffering bad press internationally because of the Government’s unwillingness to act on the salmon drift-netting issue, it is indeed a considerable coup.

“It is also one which shows the level of interest and affection there still exists among overseas anglers for the quality of Irish salmon fishing,” Mr Powell said.

The magazine ran a poll among its readers over three months looking for the best fly fishing hotel.

“It’s great to have won a competition in a British magazine. The last thing we won was a An Post award in 1993 for direct marketing,” Mr Powell said.

The couple, who are passionate salmon anglers, control around 15 miles of the River Blackwater and greet visitors from all over Europe and the US every year.

“It’s probably the empathy that we show for our guests that helped us win the award,” Mr Powell said.