It has been a very busy few days for anglers in Ireland. The weather remained mostly settled and what rain and wind we had only served to improve angling conditions. There was some really good fishing reported from small boats fishing off both the northern and southern coast and charter boat anglers also enjoyed some good fishing. Salmon and trout fishing has been reasonable though more grilse could be running. Coarse and pike anglers report that fishing has improved now that water levels at midlands venues are coming back to normal.

This 700lb six gill shark wins Catch of the Week
This 700lb six gill shark wins Catch of the Week

There were a lot of shark reports in this week, particularly from anglers fishing out of Cork Harbour where blue sharks seem to be readily available at the moment. We also have reports porbeagles from Red Bay in Antrim. But the biggest catch was another six gill shark for Luke Aston’s Clare Dragoon out of Carrigaholt. The enormous fish was estimated at 3.6m and 700lb. Shore anglers on the Clare coast also had some good fishing where wrasse over 5lb and trigger fish over 3lb were caught using LRF tactics. Bass reports from the south east coast hint at an improvement there and there is a definite upswing in catches from the Copper Coast and west past Cork Harbour. Small boat anglers had some great fishing at the Maidens of the Antrim coast with a good range of species landed including skate. Congratulations go to Pat O’Shea winner of the the Cobh International Deep Sea Festival. Pat won the event with a record score which was needed to beat of stiff competition from Irish, Dutch and Welsh anglers.

At last coarse angling on the upper part of the River Shannon is improving as water levels drop back to near normal levels. Lakeland’s and Inland Waterways World Pairs Coarse Angling Championship 2012 and though strong winds have made for difficult fishing at some venues there have been some good catches made up. Last week the Arva Festival was won by Wayne Easter with 79.090kg. Some great weights were also put together by 3 anglers fishing in the Longford area. Fishing with Kevin Lyons the trio had bags between 94lb and 189lb on feeder. Portumna also saw some good fishing with bream to 5lb and sizeable roach reported.

As the weather improved to ideal angling conditions on Sheelin last week the sedge fishing went well but seems to be easing back a little now. Fishing on Lough Ennel has been slow and Donal Stenson won the recent the Con Hope cup with a trout of 1.464lbs. Connaught won the TAFI InterPros on Saturday at Lough Owel. With lots of blanks and anglers struggling to meet trout in the unfavourable conditions the team did well to edge out Leinster and take the honours on the day.

Salmon fishing in Donegal was again quiet despite better water at some rivers. Anglers are still hopeful of some good fishing before the season’s close.  On the Moy latest reports indicate that many fish are showing on the river, but are proving difficult to tempt. At Delphi it seems the salmon were on strike but the sea trout crossed the picket and lovely fish to 4lb were brought to the boat. On Lough Inagh 93 sea trout were caught over the week and some better sized fish featured in the catches. Lough Currane fished well enough also and there were  good numbers of sea trout between 2-3lb landed. Fishing on the rivers in the south west was not very productive but some good salmon were reported from the Bandon and the Lee with fish around 15lb taken.  Water levels on the Blackwater, Suir, Slaney and Nore are all quite suited to salmon fishing now and a few fish are being caught. Best reported last week was a 17.5lb salmon from the Nore.

IFI’s Markus Muller working with a team of overseas angling journalists had some excellent pike fly fishing on Loughs Conn and Cullin and surrounding waters. Local guide Kenny Sloan put the group over some very productive venues and many pike between 15lb and 20lb were landed. Dutch writer Rudy van Duijnhoven described Tuesday’s fishing at exceptional when some 30 pike were landed, “We had some thirty pike between us, at least half as many again threw the hook during their acrobatics and most fish we landed were between 80 and 97 cm”.

Federation of Fly Fishers event

Congratulations go to the Angling Council of Ireland’s Der Casey who is Ireland newest FFF Master. Der passed his assessment today at Kilsheelan’s iconic Castle Beat which is also the venue for a day of workshops and demonstrations in fly casting this Saturday, September 15th. The event is open to all. Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Master Casting Instructors from Germany, Holland, Italy and the US will work with Irish and British masters to provide top class tuition. For more information see Tipperary to host International Fly Casting Event

Changeable weather continuing, with below normal rain in most parts. Relatively mild up to Monday, but much cooler from Tuesday onwards.

Tight lines especially in Ireland,
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release


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Markus Müller is into a nice pike that makes airborne acrobatics.
Markus Müller is into a nice pike on Lough Conn that makes airborne acrobatics. Courtesy of Rudy van Duijnhoven