Keith Barry helped to launch Fisheries Awareness Week which starts this weekend and with almost 60 events across 18 counties it’s got to be the best way to get some new started in angling. There are events dedicated to sea angling, pike angling, trout angling and coarse angling and salmon angling as well as family fun days, school days and more. With so much going on there’s sure to be something happening near you, so why not find out more inside the FAW website…

Josh Higginson who caught his first specimen 1.35 kg Twaite Shad last weekend wins Catch of the Week

At this time of year trout anglers are firmly focused on Mayfly but the weather has set back hatches and everything seems to be running almost 3 weeks behind. At Lough Derg, which is normally Ireland’s earliest lake there have been very sparse hatches and no real fishing to the Mayfly yet. The hatches in general are poor on Corrib, but Mask has come alive and is really firing. Some great fishing was also reported on Lough Conn with anglers landing up to 7 fish over the 13 inch limit. Some big trout were reported from Lough Arrow and on Lough Sheelin the lack of hatching fly is frustrating anglers though some good fish have been caught.

There are reports of some great spring salmon starting to show on the Erriff, and the first salmon off Costello.  Ballisodare Fishery continues to produce good sport, as does Lough Beltra and on the River Moy where very good catches have been reported from the East Mayo Anglers’ water. The Drowes was quiet recently though there was an improvement over the Bank Holiday weekend when salmon to 15lb were landed. There are reports that the Lee has a few good salmon in it at present and the ESB fishery has seen a few fish landed.

The 2013 Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival came to a close on Friday 4th May, after a week of extremes. The two hundred and sixteen anglers shivered in the cold on Monday, got sunburn on Tuesday and put the waterproofs on again for Friday.  Second day winner Peter Vasey, from Stoke Newington in London, won the competition with a total weight of 39kgs 510gms, netting him the top prize of £5,000, a Crystal Chalice and a Diawa rod and reel.  The NCFFI Senior Canals Championship took place on 4th and 5th May on the Royal Canal near Enfield. 29 anglers took part in the now annual event which proved to be a very tough match with results being lower than was expected. Sean Ward was the eventual winner with 7.23kg. Better fishing was reported from the River Erne near Belturbet where mixed bags up to 70lb were caught on Inishmuck.

There were more reports of bass from Kerry and Cork but what was more encouraging to see was the capture of a fine bass from the Louth coastline.

The weather outlook is not great for the time of year.  Temperatures will be below normal for the time of year. Saturday will be a cool, breezy and fairly cloudy day, with further rain or showers at times, some heavy. But there will be some bright or short sunny spells too – probably best in the late afternoon and evening. Top temperatures just 10 to 12 C, in fresh and gusty westerly winds. Some bright or sunny spells for a time on Sunday morning, but cloudy, damp weather will push in from the Atlantic as the day progresses. Top temperatures 12 to 15 C., in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.

The early days of next week will also be unsettled and changeable.

Tight lines,
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release

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Keith Barry launches Fisheries Awareness Week with help from Siofra and Fionn
Keith Barry launches Fisheries Awareness Week with help from Siofra and Fionn.