As we approach mid-winter and the shortest days of the year, the weather has been much cooler but in the past week there was been some nice days where the clothed up angler could enjoy some sport.  Overall as it is normal coming up to Christmas, there is less angling activity at this time of year but the pike, coarse and bass anglers are still enjoying some decent sport.

A group of Drogheda coarse anglers fished a stretch of the River Boyne at Glenmore and using feeder they caught some fine roach.  Sadly down in New Ross, the wonderful day fishery at Oaklands was wrecked by mindless thugs who vandalised the lake and the tackle shop where they also stole fishing gear from the premises.  Anyone who saw anything in connection with the incident or know of any cheap fishing tackle for sale, please contact the Gardaí.

Pike
23lb pike for Ben

Elsewhere there was plenty of pike activity around and the top catch this week went to Ben Carvosso who caught a lovely 23 lb. pike on a popped up smelt deadbait in Co. Mayo and wins our Catch of the Week.  There was some fine pike caught by Northern Irish visitors fishing with angling guide Kenny Sloan in waters near Foxford with pike up to 18 lb.  Richie Johnson reported that a trip with some clients to Lough Mask last weekend fished poorly due to the fish lying very deep in the cold conditions.  The Boyle and District angling club had a very enjoyable day’s fishing On the Lung River and on Lough Gara where a lovely 22 lb. fish was the best of the day.

On the sea angling front, we got a report from David Norman on his bass angling season in West Cork where he enjoyed good sport throughout the season. Bass angling guide Jim Hendrick from Wexford reported that he is still catching some lovely bass on flies in December which is very unusual.  Sean Jordan reports that he is still catching bass as they are hammering sprat in the south Wexford area.  The “absolute fishing crowd” enjoyed some super bass fishing in the Waterford area in the past week.  Guide Damien Willis of Lough Fishing Buddies brought his hale and hearty Dad Aiden on his 74th birthday out on a memorable days fishing on estuaries in Wexford and Waterford area. Charter skipper Kit Dunne reported that he was out with a group of anglers from Wicklow searching for big Spurdogs but could not locate them.  They did however catch some fine Bullhuss, whiting and Codling.

On the trout angling front, the browns and rainbow trout fishing at Carrigavantry is still going well with big fish taken regularly.  There was some nice rainbow trout fishing reported at Rathbeggan Lakes near Dunshaughlin.

Despite the wintry weather at times there is still opportunities in freshwater and at sea to catch some fish and when there is a mild day, go fishing, wrap up well and enjoy.

Salmon news

Angling clubs, commercial fishermen, fishery owners, riparian owners and landowners with an interest in a salmon fishery are invited to submit projects to the Salmon Conservation Scheme – 2013/14 Contributors Scheme. An initial fund of €200,000 is available in 2014 for distribution to contributors.

This week’s featured image is from the Delphi Fishery who have some great offers for early season salmon fishing on their website www.delphi-salmon.com. Salmon licences for the 2014 season are available to purchase online at www.salmonlicences.ie

Tight lines especially in Ireland,

Paul Bourke
Angling Information Officer

Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].

Headlines

Coarse angling reports

Pike fishing reports

Sea angling reports

Trout fishing reports

News clippings

Other news

This week's featured image is from the Delphi Fishey who have some great offers for early season salmon fishing on their website www.delphi-salmon.com
This week’s featured image is from the Delphi Fishery who have some great offers for early season salmon fishing on their website www.delphi-salmon.com