A changeable week weather wise.  From frost to rain. At Melview Lodge Kevin Lyons decided that due to the cold spell he would put the Lures away and change to dead baits, this produced fish to 27lb 2oz and it was solid action for four days with the fish taking Herring, mackerel, Pollen and Roach dead baits.

The Carlow Barrow Piker showed us that his small county can compete with the best of them when it comes to pike fishing.  To finish off February on a high, Roly Byrne landed a double from the Barrow.  Himself, The Biker Piker (aka Alan Burkie Burke ) and Frank the plasterer scour the river like combo fighters.  Their mission to land old esox  and boy what an effort they put in !  Patrolling with a 30g WaterWolf Scud float on Wednesday Roly landed another fine double figured pike.

Carton house fished well also with Andy Scully landing and releasing a magnificent pike on Tuesday morning.  Andy was fishing at the lower end of the lake between the island and the salmon weir where the water is deeper.

“Catch of the Week” this week goes to Brian O’Donnell from Lucan Co. Dublin for a very impressive 31lb Pike which he caught at Shercock area of Co. Cavan .  Using ledgered half mackerel, Brian hooked and landed this fish of a lifetime.   He quickly weighed the fish on certified scales and it weighed 31 lb. or 14.06 Kilos.  Photo taken and the fish was returned to the water.

Brian O'Donnell holding a super 31 lb. pike at Shercock. This impressive fish wins "Catch of the Week"
Brian O'Donnell holding a super 31 lb. pike at Shercock. This impressive fish wins "Catch of the Week"

Trout fishing kicks off well with the start of the season.  Sheelin put its stamp on 2013 with a 5lb Brown Trout caught by Peter Boyle, Monaghan.  Early in the season on Lough Sheelin the trout are mainly fishing on freshwater shrimp and freshwater louse.  Carton House recommends weighted nymphs especially in low temperatures while Eamon Conway tells us the Fane can boast small hatches of olives appearing when the day heats up.  Some trout were being adventurous and were moving to the dry fly, surprising for this time of the season. Lough Leane was cool and calm and reports two fish weighing over 4lbs.

Tinnahinch Fishery owner Hugh Duff in Enniskerry had some well rewarded anglers.  They enjoyed a run of rainbow trout from 5 to 10lbs. Rob Love of Carton House stocked fishery and Knockaderry Fishery in Waterford echoed his comments and said things are improving. While Emy Lough had stocked up with over 1,000 fish at the end of 2012 and they are eager to feed and will put on a lot of weight during the coming few months.

On the Drowes Eoin McManus had a 8lb 9ozs Salmon on Rapalla on Sunday and Seanie Carty had a  13lbs fish from Briney’s  yesterday morning.  The opening of the River Boyne saw a good number or anglers out. Colm Lynch from Navan Anglers Association reports that the water was very fishable for the time of year and levels are dropping nicely from day to day. There is no confirmation of any fresh fish be taken at this stage.

High water levels in Galway dropped off and local angler Eoin Trill, from the Claddagh in Galway City landed the first Salmon – a fresh-run 4.5lbs fish.  Overall a good week’s fishing with a positive outlook.

Tight lines,
Nancy Hearne
Catch, Photo, Release

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