The weather was very unsettled as a variety of weather fronts approached the country over the last number of days which probably had an impact on the fishing. Certainly the colder weather over the weekend put coarse fish at many venues off the feed, but nonetheless some good pike fishing was reported and sea anglers also enjoyed some notable successes.

Ree pike winter
Robert wins Catch of the Week with this lovely pike of 25lbs

We had great pike reports in this week with a number of 20’s landed from venues in the Midlands and and border counties and one from the River Barrow. The River Barrow fish was an interesting capture, its weight was helped by having recently gorged itself on what appeared to be a kelt. Lough Rowan in Co. Leitrim is fishing particularly well with a number of anglers recording good double figure pike there over the last week.  However Catch of the Week goes to Robert Smith for his 25lb pike caught on Lough Ree over weekend.

 

Sea anglers are also reporting good fishing. Terry Jackson and friends had some excellent, if unseasonable, fishing recently off the Antrim coast in his small boat. Amongst the many big congers, good bullhuss and spurdogs was a 30lb tope. What made it all the more interesting was that they were fishing into 500 feet of water. Cod to 14lb were taken by charter boat anglers in Cork Harbour, but overall the cod fishing has been a bit patchy so far this year. Bass anglers have had a good start to the year John Quinlan reports that in Caherciveen the bass can be caught in sheltered corners of bays despite the continuing rough conditions there. While in Wexford Sean Jordan has had his first bass of the year – a small one that fell for a plug.

On Lough Ennell perch were the quarry for English angler Marty Smith and he had a number of these handsome fish on muddler head lures. The cold weather impacted on the coarse competitions fished on Saturday. Small roach and some perch dominated catches by competitors from Cavan Coarse Angling Club at Patrick’s Lake. While over at Lough Muckno the Carrickmacross club had similar results with roach, hybrids and small skimmers making up the catches.

No more salmon have been reported on the Drowes or anywhere else since opening day. High water on the Drowes did not help matters there, but now as levels fall there is hope for more fishing. Good luck to anglers fishing the opening of the Laune today. Conditions were described as beautiful this morning with no rain, very mild temperatures and lovely conditions for Opening Day.

Trout anglers will have one eye on their local river’s opening day, but that’s not to say they’ve been idle over the winter. Many rainbow trout fisheries have had winter leagues and at Rathcon 27 fish to 57cm were caught at their latest heat.

Finally, please remember to stay safe while out fishing. Eyewear is essential as one angler found to his cost on Tuesday when he got a hook stuck in his eye while charter boat fishing off Clare Island. Luckily the RLNI were training in the area at the time and he was swiftly transferred to hospital. Less fortunate were the men thrown from their boat last Friday, one of whom drowned. With sea temperatures at the moment of about 8C suitable clothing as well as a life jacket is crucial for anyone going afloat in the winter months.

Tight lines,
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release

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