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.
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
Headlines
Coarse angling reports
- Quality roach caught at the Erne Anglers Float Only on Ballyconnell Canal
- Oakland Lake New Ross – Gathering Festival May 25th and 26th 2013
Pike fishing reports
- Inniscarra pike weighing 16.5lb caught by Guide Sydney
- Deadbaits tempt doubles at Carton House
- The predator becomes the prey – a beautiful marked jack made the day
- Big pike on the move again in Lough Rowan
- Big pike in West Cork still biting
- Big pike possible despite high water on Shannon
Salmon fishing reports
- Big floods clear the Slaney as fresh fish trickle into the river
- 8lb Salmon caught on opening day on the River Lee while Killarney draws a blank
- 2 salmon on the Drowes last week
- No salmon on Lough Melvin – levels high, water coloured
- First salmon from Currane caught on the troll by ghillie Bob Priestly
Sea angling reports
- IFSA National & International Fixtures 2013
- The battle of Beautiful Glenariff where the 2013 Fish offs were held
Trout fishing reports
- Spring in the air at Carton House rainbow fishery
- Southern County Fishery, Carlow hold Fly Fishing Competition on Feb 24th
- Great Angling Opportunity as Curragh Springs Continues to Subsidize Anglers Travel
News clippings
- Neglect of Safety Procedures Led To Leg Injury on Fishing Vessel – MCIB
- Salmon Farming – The Irish Times
- War of words over salmon study – The Clare Champion
- Survey Shows 250,000 Anglers in Ireland – Afloat
- Fishing Is Good For You! – Total Sea Fishing
- Met Éireann Launches New iPhone Weather Update App
- We’re a wet country, so why aren’t we more interested in our wetlands? – Irish Times
- Sea lice mortality in salmon link to if fisheries are open or closed – Irish Times
- New ‘Scorpion Marine’ Anti–Theft Product from Killen Marine – Afloat