Brenda Montgomery reports on fishing trends from the IFI Lough Sheelin office:
Lough Sheelin
Angling Returns
June 11th to June 17th 2012
Where have all the anglers gone?
The weather played havoc with our Sheelin anglers this week (but not with the trout) as particularly at the end of the week very few ventured out.
The quotation that must be remembered is that ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong gear”
Heavy rain of course will have a slightly negative effect on the fish in that the water temperature goes down and the fish drop deeper in the lake but we must remember that the food chain isn’t as plentiful now and Sheelin had good hatches of mayfly this week which brought the fish to the surface to feed.
Thursday was blustery and wet but for those who know this lake, wind is never a problem as there is calm water somewhere and during this week where the wind was easterly throughout, the calm places were around the Stony islands, along Crover and down into Gaffney’s bay, the water was stormy elsewhere but here there was barely a ripple on the lake’s surface to keep the fishermen happy and fishing couldn’t of been better.
There was an excellent hatch of mayfly on Tuesday and around noon on Thursday with spectacular falls of spent particularly around Crover on Friday evening when the rain stopped and the heat came, around 6pm.
The wind changed to westerly on Saturday which made fishing more challenging but still excellent numbers of trout were caught.
Anglers are switching between wet fly and dry fly fishing with good results from both. Trout are feeding on sedges and there was good sedge fishing on Sunday evening but predominantly this week the trout are coming up for the mayfly.
On Wednesday June 13th thirteen 10 – 11 years old pupils from Ballynarry national school along with their boatmen and teachers set off for Church Island where a mass was said by Fr Gray. This island which is a landmark on the lake has the remains of an early Christian oratory dating from the 400s and it has now become a tradition to say an annual mass here. Let’s hope this enthusiastic group and Fr Gray included a small prayer for good weather and good fishing.
The L.S.T.P.A will be running a ‘not to be missed’ Youth Angling Day on Saturday July 7th at Lough Sheelin. This day is open to all 8 – 18 year olds. The day will include fly tying, casting and then fishing, finishing with a Bar-B-Q. Everyone must bring a life jacket and eye protection and of course lots of enthusiasm and energy.
Contact E.Ross @ 087 9436655 or Thomas Lynch @ 087 9132033
A catch and release policy is actively encouraged on this lake.
Please remember anglers that the size limit on this lake is 35.5 cm (14 inches) – we need our small fish alive…….
Heaviest fish for the week was a 5lb wild trout caught by Michael Kelly, Balbriggan on a spent gnat.
Total number of trout recorded: 56
Selection of catches:
Michael Kelly, Balbriggan – Tuesday evening on sedge 2 trout at 2 & 3lbs. Wednesday 2 trout both at 2½ lbs on a spent gnat, 1 trout at 4lbs on a wet mayfly. Thursday 6 trout weighing 1½ – 3½ lbs, wet and dry fly fishing, Friday 8 trout 1¼ – 5lbs, 2 at 4lbs, 1 at 3lbs, all wild, fishing around Crover. Saturday 2 trout at 2 and 2½lbs.
Andrew Brown, L.S.T.P.A – 7 trout, all caught on the spent, weights were 5, 4½, 3½,3½, 3¼ and 2 at 1½ lbs.
Mourice McDevitt, Donegal – 1 trout at 2lbs caught on a spent on June 16th.
Peter McArdle, Dundalk – 1 trout at 2lbs on Saturday evening using a sedge.
Mickey McCluskey, Donegal – 1 trout at 2lbs on the sedge on June 16th.
Brenda Montgomery
18th June, 2012
