The weather is still very changeable with heavy rain and strong winds on some days and sunshine on others.  The rain has been more widespread this week and nearly all those fisheries which were suffering from low water have no more than enough. While the rain did not cause sea anglers too much trouble the wind have been over gale force on some coasts which is never welcomed by those hoping to get afloat. Overall this did not impact on the fishing too much with lots of good fishing reported nationwide.

Maciej Dukacz with a huge 35.5lbs pike, Lough Corrib, May 2012
Maciej Dukacz wins Catch of Week with a huge 35.5lbs pike from Lough Corrib.

For coarse anglers the Longford rivers and lakes were in flood but good bream and tench were regularly showing up in catches at Melview Lodge.  The annual festival on the Grand Canal at Edenderry attracted nearly sixty anglers most from England and despite the poor weather all week, good bags were recorded.  Up in Leitrim, there were great catches reported for anglers fishing with Brian Bohan.  Nearly one hundred Dutch anglers and friends fished the annual Kings of Clubs competition on waters close to Drumshambo and Carrick on Shannon and they enjoyed a great week of excellent catches of mainly bream, roach and hybrids.  Sixty six anglers competed in the Arva Seniors Classic 2012 and several ex world champions took part and the fishing was good and competitive.  Down in Clare anglers staying at Clondanagh had some super bream catches including a fine bream catch of 125 lb. in one day.

There was fair pike fishing reported in the Lough Derg area but up in Foxford area some lovely fish were taken on fly in the Foxford area.  Well known angling journalist Bob Roberts enjoyed good pike action in the Belturbet area.  There was a Kingspan pike qualifier held on Lough Egish and many pike were recorded on the day.  A superb pike over 35 lb. was caught twice in one week on Lough Corrib and returned alive and this is our Catch of the Week.

The higher water levels improved salmon fishing almost everywhere and there were some good catches on the fisheries in the Cork Kerry area.  On Lough Currane, anglers had excellent fishing for salmon and sea trout and regular Dave Ecclestone caught a fine specimen sea trout of 9 lb. 2 oz on fly. Up on the River Moy, over 400 salmon were reported for the week and over in Carrowmore more salmon were recorded when the weather allowed the anglers to go afloat in the very windy week.  There was also good salmon fishing reported from clients at Newport House fishing the river and on Lough Beltra. The fisheries in Connemara also produced better fishing at Kylemore, Delphi and at Inagh in particular. A 17 lb. fish was the best of the week at the Galway fishery.  In Donegal, the Owenea and the Drowes are seeing a good run of grilse.  In Cork, the Blackwater produced better fishing on all the major fisheries at Careysville, Fortwilliam, Blackwater Lodge and at Ballyvolane with the best fish reported coming from the Fishhunt beats and weighing 18.5 lb.

Sea anglers reported excellent sea fishing with some fine tope caught and tagged at Cahore and Courtown.  As usual there was plenty of activity in the Cork harbour area with great fishing reported from small boats and also out deep sea fishing including a fine 4.2 lb. plaice.  There was some fine deep sea fishing reported at Courtmacsherry for Dutch clients. Over in Beara, shore anglers enjoyed some excellent rock fishing for plenty of variety of fish.  In Valentia, there was some deep sea fishing for parties of Scotch anglers.  The 56th Westport International Sea Angling Festival 2012 takes place next week.  Shore and boat anglers enjoyed good sport in the Sligo area.  Up in Red Bay in Antrim there was many species encountered including some huge spurdogs. The bass season opens again on the 16th of June.

There is still quite a bit of trout fishing going on after the Mayfly period although there are still some falls of spent gnat producing good fishing on Lough Sheelin.  Emy Lough is still fishing well for trout and nearby the River Fane is fishing well also.  The other midland trout loughs continue to fish well and there was also good fishing on stretches of the River Inny.  There were many rainbow fishery reports this week with good fishing at Pallas, Carton, the Southern County fishing resort and at the Cashel Trout Fishery in Derry.

Tight lines especially in Ireland,

Paul Bourke

Catch, Photo, Release

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