The heat, the sunshine, the red faces and the red heads – not something we are used to here in Ireland.  With water levels low on our rivers and the sun sparkling on the surface trout anglers are finding the fishing hard.  Most are finding the best fishing in the evening time and Sheelin is no exception.  The murrough started to hatch this week and some good trout were caught by the few who ventured out.

On the Corrib anglers battled the heat but reported good hatches of mayfly and sedges in many areas.  Early morning fishing did the trick for Guide David Connor on the Mask where he witnessed a good rise of fish to sedges before the morning sun came up.

The Ballina Annual Salmon Festival is in full swing at the moment.  Despite low water conditions the Moy still produced 550 salmon for anglers this week.  Fresh grilse are in the system but they seem reluctant to settle in large numbers in the lower river fisheries.  Kylemore recorded it’s best week on record with 32 salmon landed for just 21.5 rod days.  Last week’s rain in Galway rose the water enough to give a decent run of fish and anglers were only delighted to take advantage of this Godsend.

The Italians are doing the business at the Delphi Fishery.  Giovanni Mazzoleni landed 5 fish this week.  His best being a fish of 8lbs off Finlough on a Red Frances. Hawaiian sunshine was the order of the day on Lough Currane.  This didn’t deter Ken Towner who caught a fine 5 ½ lbs Sea Trout on the fly.  The Lough Currane Fly Fishing Championship, the annual sea trout catch and release fly fishing competition will be held this year on Friday the 9th and Saturday the 10th August.

Ballisodare Fishery boasted some cracking fishing this week with nice catches of 10lbs, 12.5lbs and 16lbs recorded.  Ronnie Berwick had a 10lb prawn caught salmon on Friday while on Sunday Michael Gallagher and Sean Callaghan had two on the fly weighing 16lbs and 12 ½ lbs respectively .  Not bad going lads in this sunshine!

Big bass can be caught on hot days - Catch of the Week - Jim Hendrick
Big bass can be caught on hot days - Catch of the Week - Jim Hendrick

Jim Hendrick is very optimistic about the bass fishing this year and tells us that the water quality is extremely good and remains clear on the coasts. Fellow Wexford guide Sean Jordan echos Jim’s comments saying that early morning and evening sessions should be productive with the high pressure coming in, along with a spring tide cycle the next week looks promising. Jim has shown great insight  and given great advice over the years and for that reason he is our ‘Catch of the Week’ winner.

Donegal’s Findlater , Interprovincial , Irish home nations team qualifier and Cartys Land and Sea Sports open comps which were held in Mullaghmore last weekend and saw approx 3,000 fish caught and released over the two days of fishing made up of 17 species. Winners of the Findlater cup were 1st Padraic Clear and 2nd Michael Patton.  The winners of Interprovincial team event were 1st Leinster and 2nd Ulster.  Carty’s Land and Sea Sports Open saw Mark and Pat Shortt as winners.

Oaklands Fishery in New Ross held their Dunbrody Festival amid the sweltering heat.  Alan Alphadine won with a bag of 75kg.  Owner Adrian Browne said it was so hot that even the Carp headed up to the shop for a cool coke!  Templemore town lake is making a name for itself as an excellent coarse angling spot.  Some superb bream, tench and rudd have been caught on this well patrolled lake, well done to all involved.

Survey of Recreational Anglers

In January 2012, Tourist Development International (TDI) was appointed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to carry out a Socio-Economic Survey of Recreational Anglers. The overall objective of the survey was to establish the current volume and value of domestic and overseas recreational angling in Ireland. Next Thursday 18 July Inland Fisheries Ireland will publish the findings of this survey. If you really believe that angling  is important then encourage your local T.D. to attend the launch of the Socio-Economic Study of Recreational Anglers next week. Following the launch of the report it will be available to download on our website.

Warm water and angling

Inland Fisheries Ireland are seeking the help of anglers and the general public to report any sightings of distressed fish due to high water temperatures or  low water levels. Inland Fisheries Ireland would also request that anglers voluntarily cease using keep nets during this period, so as not to cause unintentional distress to fish kept for long periods in these nets. As the temperatures for salmon and trout are perilously hot at the moment, anglers practising catch and release during this hot spell may wish to consider desisting from fishing until conditions are more favourable.

Weather outlook….

Temperatures should fall back a little this weekend.  But they will still be above normal. Values more typically in the high teens to low twenties, by Monday.  Saturday morning will be rather cloudy and misty over Ulster and north Connacht, with a little drizzle and fog in places. But it should dry out and brighten up somewhat during the afternoon and evening. Top temperatures 16 to 20 C. There will be a mixture of cloudy periods and sunny spells elsewhere, but it should be dry, with highs in the low to mid twenties.

Sunday will be a warm day, with some sunny spells at times, but there will be some cloudy periods too. Most places dry, but a few showers could break out, here and there, in the afternoon. Top temperatures 21 to 25 C.

Not as warm for the first half of next week, as moderate, later fresh southwest winds set in. But it will still be mild in many places, with temperatures still a little above normal. Overall, a lot of dry weather, with a mixture of sunny spells and cloudy periods each day. But not completely dry, as the latest charts indicate that there is likely to be some light rain or showers about at times. But rainfall amounts should be small.

Tight lines,

Nancy Hearne
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to contact@fisheriesireland.ie.

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    Templemore tench