Angling reports this week have been overshadowed by news of the death of angler Michael Ruane from Salthill, Galway, on Lough Corrib on Monday. Inland Fisheries Ireland would like to offer its condolences to the family and friends of Michael. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

40cm and 1.1 kg; a good perch by anyone's standards
40cm and 1.1 kg; a good perch by anyone's standards

County Cavan has always been a great location for pike and perch anglers and this week’s Catch of the Week goes ‘Mateusz’ for his 1.1kg perch taken on a spinner.  At a pike angling competition on the Shannon over the weekend where only your 3 best fish counted, the top 4 rods caught over 120lb between them. The winner was Joe McDermot with 40lb 9oz.

The Duck Fly is well up on Lough Corrib and trout anglers are reporting fish on nearly every outing. On Lough Mask the hatch has been patchier but there is still good wetfly fishing in the shallows. The milder weather of last week  led to an increase in fly activity on the lake, coupled with an increase in angling effort leading to greater catch returns. However, the news from opening day on Lough Derg was that fishing on opening day was disappointing but that the number of undersized trout returned is a source of hope that there is a good season ahead.

There were a few salmon caught over the weekend, and though some of these were fine fish with a 15lb springer taken at Delphi and one of 13.5lb at Currane, overall the salmon seemed reluctant to take despite favourable weather and water levels.

Congratulations to Gordon Higgins winner of salmon licence competition. Congratulations also to the winners of the juvenile salmon licences; Hans Bernhardt, Alec McCall, Mark Rogan, Brian Hope, Aidan Connolly, Kevin Egan, James Kelleher, Enda Hyland, Alex Butler and Joanne Griffin.

Peter Power reports that the mackerel are in and that there are plenty of coalfish, pollack and some cod to be had – mostly on feathers usch as the Hyabusa Sabiki or Shamrock Crazy Clowns. At Red Bay Hamish Currie was rewarded by a big 222lb skate for one of his anglers when they moved to deeper water behind Raithlin Island.

Prospects for the weekend look good as the weather is forecast to become settled with southeast winds stirring dry and very mild air from the continent towards Ireland. However there will be onshore breezes along the south coast which will make this cooler there, inland temperature could reach as high as 18C. Into next week the weather is likely to stay settled and dry, with light winds. The days will be very mild, but the nights will be cool with some grass frost, as well as a few fog patches.

Tight lines especially in Ireland

Paul Bourke

Angling Information Officer.
Catch, Photo, Release

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