Happy Valentine’s Day to all our anglers. I’m sure your thoughts are on the love of your life……fishing that is !
Ghillie Bob Priestly got Lough Currane off to a start with his 8lb salmon caught on the troll. The fish was a fresh fish albeit a little coloured. Lough Melvin didn’t fare as well with water levels high and coloured. Only a few boats ventured out and no catches were reported. The Drowes had 2 salmon landed earlier in the week. On Wednesday, regular rod John Parkinson landed a 7½lb salmon from the Old Sea Pool on a Flying ‘C’ and the following day John O’Neill landed a 10½lb salmon on a fly from The Meadow. Down at the Orchard Pool in Cork another 8lb salmon was caught while over in Killarney we still have no reports of any catches although the water levels were good.
The Slaney awaits the arrival of opening day March 17th on a catch and release basis. A fresh fish was seen a few miles below Clohamon and others have been reported up stream. The floods of late January helped clear the river.

Greg Carr with his 'Catch of the Week' 24lb 13oz pike on Lough Rowan
Greg Carr with his 'Catch of the Week' 24lb 13oz pike on Lough Rowan

Two and a half year old Charlie Kay helps his Dad Paul while fishing at Curragh Springs on Sunday. He’s surely our youngest angler. Let’s hope we see lots more of Charlie in the years to come. Favourite patterns there this week included Dancer, Damsel, Cat’s Whisker, Nomad and Black Fritz. Shaun Hegarty of Curragh Springs tells us they will subsidize your travel costs from Monday-Friday. They normally charge Euro 30 per person for a full days fishing, however now 3 or more persons per car will get a full days fishing catch & release for Euro 20 per person during the month of February.

Spring is in the air at Carton House with fish rising. An ideal place for anglers to get their casting practice in before the season opens in the next few weeks as this is a stretch of water more resembling a river than lake. Another place to shake off those winter cobwebs is Southern County Fishing Resort in Garryhill, Co. Carlow. They are holding a fundraising competition for the Irish Fly Fishing Team on February 24th.

But if you are looking for big fish this week, you have to look to pike. Two Corkoians fished at Melview Lodge. Weather conditions weren’t great and Kevin Lyons advised them of a spot on the banks of the River Shannon. Dan from ‘The Rebel County’ banked a cracking Pike to finish a long hard day. Down in his own county Sidney Kennedy of Lee Angling caught some fine fish during the week. First he was out at Shreelane Lakes in Skibbereen where while trolling a Red/White 120 Duo Tide minnow Sydney struck into a fine fish that turned out to be a 22lb pike. And later in the week he landed a 16.5lb fish on Inniscarra Reservoir.
However ‘Catch of the Week’ goes to Lough Rowan angler Greg Carr with a super 24lb 13oz pike. Lough Rowan has proved to be a great venue over the years and there are some fantastic pike to be had there.
So get out there, there’s fish to be had.

 

Tight lines to all,
Nancy Hearne
Catch, Photo, Release


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