More rain this week and gales have created some very trying conditions for anglers, many of whom are at their wits end. A number of systems were just about returning to consistently fishable conditions before the latest deluge which has raised water levels once more at many venues. Sea anglers had a slightly better time of it and with some almost settled weather boats enjoyed some good fishing afloat. The recent winds have put paid to this but shore anglers in the south east are hoping the winds will improve fishing there.

Austrian angler Tobias Stern with his fantastic 17lbs salmon caught on the River Erriff, August 2012
Austrian angler Tobias Stern with his fantastic 17lbs salmon caught on the River Erriff

There was some good salmon fishing on the Munster Blackwater last weekend but recent rains have again brought floods to this river. Salmon fishing on the Lee was slow with high water there and on the Bandon salmon to 15lb were taken. Salmon and sea trout fishing on Lough Currane was a bit hit and miss recently but Jim Sayers struggled through to win the Fly Fishing Championship fished there over the weekend. The Erriff had a struggle of its own with levels unsuited to fishing on this spate system. However Austrian angler Tobias Stern had a fantastic 17lbs salmon from the river on an Ally’s Shrimp in the Falls Pool which wins him Catch of the Week. With the angling effort decreasing of late, the reported catch on the Moy has dropped significantly to 293 salmon for the week. Fresh fish continue to enter the river daily, although they are proving more difficult to tempt as the season progresses. In Donegal the weather last week was described by salmon anglers as  “very sunny, hot & dry” and on the Owenea the gauge average for the week was 0.09m! Conditions were similar on the Drowes and as such, angling was not much of a serious proposition. At the other end of the country on the River Slaney an angler using an 11’6″ cane rod had a lovely 17lb salmon. The fish was coloured and so carefully released.

At Lough Corrib the Oughterard area has continued to produce very good sport with those anglers taking to the waters catching trout on the dap and on wet fly. Reports from Lough Arrow are that the Green Peter fishing is beginning to taper off, with wet fly fishing expected to come to the fore in the coming weeks. Lough Melvin was quiet during the first half of the week but the fishing really picked up over the weekend and Sunday was an excellent day with good sonaghan being caught. Tom Burn reported a 5½lb trout caught on a Daddy long-legs fly. Meanwhile Lough Sheelin lead its anglers a tantalizing dance this week in which some days produced excellent fishing while other days, despite impressive hatches of fly life, saw no movement of trout.

Dutch anglers fishing in Cork Harbour had everything from blue shark to bass last week and report that they are already planning next year’s return visit. Anglers fishing with Luke Aston off the Clare coast have enjoyed good mixed fishing and some momentous battles with genuine leviathans. A recent competition held by Galway Buccaneers SAC s aboard skipper Kevin MacGabhann’s boat, the Mighdean Mara, from Spiddal saw anglers land 13 species.  While up in Donegal Michael McVeigh out of Dwonings reports the first days good fishing for around 3 months at Tory Island where the pollack fishing  was as good  as he have ever had. His anglers also had some great tope, a porbeagle and the blues are on the way. There must have been something in the air over the weekend (or in the water) as shore anglers from the Wexford, through east Cork west to the Beara Peninsula and on up to the Clare coast all reported good fishing. Indeed bass angling in the southeast maybe experiencing a reversal in fortunes. Some good fish were reported recently by one angler and Jim Hendrick has expressed hopes that the waves currently battering the coasts around Wexford will see bass fishing improve in the area.

It’s not too late to enter the richest coarse match ever!

The Lakelands & Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championship, supported by Inland Fisheries Ireland and DCAL will highlight the magnificent wild angling in Ireland and promote tourism throughout the Lakelands region. The  The Five day Pairs match itself takes place from 10th – 14th September with anglers guaranteed the chance to win a share in the largest prize ever in coarse fishing! Prizes are awarded based simply on the total weight caught by the pair of anglers over the five days. First prize is £30,000 for the winning pair, 2nd £10,000 and 3rd £5,000 along with crystal trophies and DAIWA tackle. For more information, entry forms and travel arrangements call Kevin Locke on 00 44 (0)736 129 627.

Congratulations to Tubertini Team Ireland got its first ever team silverware, winning the Celtic Cup for the first time at Inniscarra Lake. Coarse anglers will be delighted to hear that the angling access development works commenced on Lough Muckno on  Black Island, White Island and Concra Wood this week. Although access is restricted in the areas being developed until the works are finished the upgrading of the tracks and  provision of parking bays will mean that anglers will be able to access up to 300 pegs and parking on these sections. At the Clones Festival top weights from each section were – Annaghmakerrig 29lbs Dave Smith, Drumate 18lbs 8oz Dave Slater, Drumlona 77lbs 10oz Dave Slater and Mullinary 24lbs Jon Potters.

Tomi Kurman from the Corrib Predator Team reports that an Irish “summer” at least has one benefit – excellent summer pike angling. Over recent weeks Tomi and fellow guide Jack Gorny have enjoyed great sport with their clients. Throughout  July and the first week of August they enjoyed some excellent pike fishing with many great fish caught- in July alone they caught over 30 pike exceeding 20lbs and over the magic metre mark. A French family fishing with Kenny Sloan in the Foxford area also enjoyed success, with several pike up to 90cm boated as well as some nice perch.

There is more heavy rain forecast over the next couple of days but the weekend should be a little drier with  moderate southerly breezes and some sunny spells.

Tight lines especially in Ireland,
Paul Bourke
Catch, Photo, Release

Headlines

Salmon fishing reports

Trout fishing reports

Sea angling reports

Coarse angling reports

Pike fishing reports

News clippings

Other news

Beaufort Bridge on the River Laune, Co. Kerry
Beaufort Bridge on the River Laune, Co. Kerry