Rain, rain and more rain…that’s whats needed at the moment by our rivers. Anglers are beginning to sound like Father Jack “Drink !, Drink ! more Drink !” But hopefully you will have better luck than our fuzzy haired, goggle eyed, toothless friend as rain is forecast later today and intermittently over the weekend.
Low water levels on the Moy meant this salmon River didn’t come near the figure of previous weeks. 436 were recorded in the week ending August 11th with most of these taken on the fly. Ballisodare held it’s head up with a respectable 86 salmon landed. Again most taken on the fly and safely released. Further down the country on the Munster Blackwater Ian Powell reports 18 salmon caught last Thursday averaging about 9lbs in weight. While just over from him on the same river Ballyduff Bridge Fishery had their old friend ‘Tiger Tooth’ Pengally out with local ghillie Connie Corcoran. Hard working Tiger managed to land and release 9 salmon on the fly upriver at Ballincurrig and at Magner’s Beat last Sunday.
On the Lee as with other rivers anglers are encountering a number of coloured salmon which have been in the system for some time. A new flush of fresh fish is needed. Jason Nash and his uncle, a seasoned angler headed to the Bandon last Friday. The outcome was a cracking 16.5lb salmon for Uncle Winston, who played the fish like a pro before landing it.
Lots of good coarse fishing this week with Lough Muckno displaying it’s magic. Fifteen teams of 5 anglers took part in it’s inter club competition. The weather was ideal and top weight off Yellow Island was won by Nick Howell with 17kg 670g. Templemore shone again with 292 rudd being caught by Francis Cummins in their competition. Young Siobhán Green took a good third place behind Ned Kinnane and Jamie O’Meara in the junior section.
Star of the week has to be 14 year old Ben Healy who today landed a Mako Shark off Cork’s Union Hall. Ben was on board the Jorree Jade and skipper Tom Collins couldn’t believe his luck when they landed this beauty while fishing for Blues. The shark measured almost 2 metres and 1 meter in girth. About 30 feet from the boat the mako came like a bullet across the top of the water and took the mackeral bait. Ben is our ‘Catch of the Week’ winner for this rare visitor.
Some Angling competitions to look forward to in the coming weeks are the World Pairs Competition which starts 8th Sept and the Donegal Treble Hook which is on from 22nd Sept to 27th.
Weather wise…
Warm and humid today as rain becomes widespread. Rain will be heavy in many areas through the afternoon but in the northwest it will be drier with brighter spells. Afternoon temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees in a moderate or fresh south to southwest wind. The drier brighter weather in northwestern areas will extend southeastwards this evening.
Some dry clear weather in places early Friday night, but rain in the west will spread east to most places overnight.
Cloudy and damp in many areas on Saturday morning with spells of rain, but the rain will clear by afternoon. Brightening up generally with sunny spells developing, but scattered heavy showers also mostly in the west and north. Breezy or windy with a blustery westerly winds and turning cooler especially in the west and north with afternoon temperatures of 15 or 16 degrees, but still up to 19 or possibly 20 degrees in some eastern areas. And a much cooler night on Saturday night.
Cool bright and breezy on Sunday with sunny spells but some scattered showers also, mostly in the west and north. Highs of 15 to 18 degrees.
Tight lines,
Nancy Hearne
Catch, Photo, Release
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Headlines
Sea angling reports
- 14 year old Ben captures Mako shark off the coast of Union Hall
- Cod, pollack and many other species for the Leah on Killala Bay
- BIG ones, little ones and in-betweens, a fish for everyone in the audience on Wicklow charter trip
- Bass by moonlight for Sid
- The Dubs win this time with excellent catches in Kerry
- Flounders on the feed grab the red grub tail in Kerry
- Four days sport with bass on hard lures in Wexford
Salmon fishing reports
- The Moy a little quieter as water levels drop low once again
- A very respectable week at Ballsiodare, with 86 salmon recorded despite low angling effort
- Sea trout to be had at Carrowmore, with the Owenmore needing another rise
- Fishing prospects looking good for next week on the Munster Blackwater
- Good action at Waterville’s Fly Fishing Championship with 35 plus Sea Trout caught on first day
- An explosive coloured salmon on the Lee
- Nine salmon for ‘Tiger Tooth’ Pengally and Connie on the Blackwater
- Big water equals big fish on the Bandon
- 3 sea trout and a salmon for angler on River Laune
- Best week in 25 years for Ballynahinch with 17lber landed
Trout fishing reports
Coarse angling reports
- Fine catches of Bream being caught in the Cavan area
- “Donegal Treble Hook” – the place to be from Sept 22nd to Sept 27th
- World Pairs Angling Championship, with € 30,000 in prizes starts 8th September
- Big fish, Big smile for young John at Oaklands
- East Belfast CAC enjoy the craic at Oaklands in New Ross
- A little lady gives the men a run for their money in Coarse Angling Competitio
- Exceptional fishing from two great lure anglers wins them the first Qualifer of the NCFFI Team Ireland event at Lough Erne
- More Muckno Magic
Pike fishing reports
News clippings
- River Shannon film Nominated for Award – Afloat.ie
- Return of traditional summer weather sees welcome rise in water levels on our lakes and rivers – Leitrim Observer
- Ballinrobe buoyed by fishing and festival – Mayo News
- Six freezing anglers clung to capsized boat for 40 minutes – Hearld.ie
- New sculpture celebrates Glin’s fishing past – Limerick Leader
- Ten rescued in separate incidents off Waterford, Dublin coasts – RTE News
