After the generally unsettled weather of the weekend we saw something like summer weather over the last few days and all across the country there are hopes that water levels will continue to drop and rivers to clear. Although it is hard to generalise, as some fisheries report low water levels, high water temperatures and blazing sunshine making for difficult conditions! Sea anglers (probably) had the some of the best of the fishing on offer and despite strong winds on some days we had good reports from charter boats as well as anglers fishing from the shore.

All reports from the River Moy indicate that conditions have been difficult, with water levels fluctuating and just 250 fish were taken by anglers this week. It was a similar story at Lough Beltra but there was some great sea trout action with up to 20 fish to a boat early last week. The Munster Blackwater has had 6 big floods nearly back to back already this August but now that levels are dropping following the most recent deluge salmon fishing is improving. There were a few salmon and sea trout from Lough Currane last week and on the Laune fishing is expected to improve as the levels there continue to fall. On the Nore salmon anglers were champing at the bit and at the first sign of fishable water returned to the river. A few salmon were taken and more are expected as the river continues to improve. Angling guide and casting instructor Eamonn Conway reports that water conditions are now perfect on the Fane and Castletown rivers in the North East.
On Lough Owel the Patti Doolan shield was won by Danny Cole on a difficult day. Some better fishing is possible in the evenings when the sedges hatch. Anglers on Sheelin also found daytime fishing tough but prospects improved in the evenings. Angling guide and fly casting instructor Philip Maher had great fishing on the River Suir right inside the town of Clonmel. Using novel techniques and fishing from a boat some fine trout were landed.
Pat Ruddy won the 41st Annual two day International Boat Angling Competition at Belmullet which was contested by over 40 anglers. At Courtmacsherry a wide range of species were taken by charter boat anglers. Blue sharks made up part of the catch and some stone bass were seen feeding in the rubby dubby trail but could not be hooked. Blue sharks also featured in catches reported from outside Cork Harbour, off the Clare coast and as far north as Downings, Co. Donegal. At the Grauvell West Coast Shore League on Keel beach in Achill fishing was quite good, with good numbers of turbot and the odd flounder coming in throughout the competition. Charter boat fishing on Galway Bay is also productive with some great tope on offer. Bass angling continues to improve and this week there are reports from Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Kerry.
There was some great coarse fishing at Lanesborough recently and Paul Waghorne had almost 100 bream to nearly 8lbs following the clearing of the swims there by IFI staff. Despite winter flood levels on Lough Muckno and surrounding waters the lakes continue to produce quality fishing. Good fishing was also reported from the Longford area where big nets of bream, roach and tench were taken by UK and Belgian anglers. Tench of around 3lb are making up the bulk of catches on Lough Patrick at the moment but coarse fishing in the Mullingar area in general is described as slow.
Over the next couple of days winds are likely to shift to the north and northwest and it will once again become unsettled with more rain to come. It might be a pretty good weekend from an angling point of view so make an effort to get out, schools are back next week…
Tight lines especially in Ireland,
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release
Headlines
Salmon fishing reports
- Conditions challenging for anglers on River Moy
- Good sea trout action on Lough Beltra
- Ballisodare Fishery update
- Big trout at Lough Inagh as conditions set to improve
- Salmon angling improves at Fortwilliam on the Munster Blackwater as floods receed
- Flood follows flood on the Blackwater but salmon to be caught
- Salmon and sea trout reported from Lough Currane and bass from the nearby beach at Waterville
- 5 salmon caught at Inistiogue in Kilkenny
- Perfect fly fishing water conditions reported on the River Feale in Co. Kerry.
- Laune high but clear, salmon anglers advised to spin
- Some Salmon on Castletown and Fane Rivers
- Owenmore Fishery, Dingle should fish well at weekend
- A few salmon on the Owenea, more water needed
- Salmon to 16½lb on the Drowes
Trout fishing reports
- Danny Cole wins Patti Doolan Shield on Lough Owel
- Melvin hard work but songhan taking well for some
- Great trout on fly for experimental anglers on the Suir
- Red Blob fly lures rainbow trout at Lough Acalla near Kilconnell in Co. Galway.
- Waterford trout like nothing better than a damsel
- Even the dog took to the water as beautiful Sheelin rose to over 20 degrees
- Dry flies and Buzzer pupa are best for Rainbow Trout at the Cashel Trout Fishery.
Sea angling reports
- Deadly duo take a pair of specimen gilthead bream
- 41st annual Belmullet two day International Boat Angling Competition results
- Lots of species for charter boat anglers at Courtmacsherry
- Bass to 10lb from Cork Harbour despite conditions
- Some good charter boat fishing reported off the clare coast
- Good mixed fishing and tope in Galway Bay
- McKenna takes the spoils in 5th leg of West Coast League
- A few specimens for Predator II, rogue porbeagles in his sights
- Sea Angling Reports from Rosslare Strand and Wexford Area
- Some good Bass fishing near Tramore
- Setting a plan to fool the Mullet to take in Cork
- 3 Blue sharks landed in Downings, Donegal
- Best kept secret Sweet lures for the fish and the angler
- A dash of the blues down in Cork Harbour
- Rock fishing lure magic as the Clare angler reels in the Pollack !
- 5 blue shark and good mixed fishing from Bellavista small boat
Coarse angling reports
- Ireland’s 2012 Boat Fishing with Lures team selected
- Grand Canal Dock for perch and roach in Dublin city
- Tench to 4lb from Lough Patrick, but coarse angling slow in Mullingar area
- Some nice Dace around the St Mullins area
- Big bream to nearly 8 lb. and Tench to 7 lb. reported from the hot water section of the River Shannon at Lanesborough
- Summertime and the Fishing is Easy
- Big nets of Bream, Roach and Tench for parties of UK and Belgium anglers fishing at Melview Lodge
- First roach for little Mark at Ticknevin on the Royal Canal
- Inaugural Heather Dyett Memorial coarse match at Donamon enjoyed by all
Pike fishing reports
News clippings
- Local knowledge: Shannon region – Irish Times
- ‘It will take years for stocks to replenish’- The Cork News
Other news
