And they’re off – 135 boats set off into the mists of Sheelin on Saturday October 5th

Lough Sheelin Report By Brenda Montgomery, IFI – September 30th – October 6th 2013

Angling is tightly woven in a fabric of
moral, social, and philosophical threads
which are not easily rent by the violent
climate of our times.
A.J. McClane

Sheelin’s heaviest trout of 2013 caught on Friday October 4^th by Toby Bradshaw, Moycullen, Co.Galway comfortably tipped the scales at over 12lbs!

‘Nothing Compares To You’ the 1990’s Sinead O’Connor hit song came to mind on Sheelin during the week as this lake stepped up to the mark and beyond, with superb trout catches being reported on all days with the heaviest fish of the season and indeed for the past number of years being landed by Galway man Toby Bradshaw – a beautiful trout weighing in at over 12lbs caught about 500 yards NE of Church Island on a Size 10 Green Peter, Intermediate Line, 8lb BS leader, Sage 10ft rod.  Toby’s fishing partner, another Galway man, was Joe Creane and both men have fished all over the world including Iceland and New Zealand but commented that ‘never has a fish be it a brown trout, sea trout or salmon given us such cause for delight and excitement but perhaps the best sight was to see him swim off after his visit to our hands’.  These two anglers returned to Sheelin after a ten year absence and were griped once more by the magic of this lake and the absolute belief that ‘it is no doubt once again one of Ireland’s premier wild brown trout fisheries and as such is a piece of heritage nearly unique in the world today’.

And they’re off – 135 boats set off into the mists of Sheelin on Saturday October 5th

On Saturday October 5^th the local angling club the Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association hosted their annual Stream Rehabilitation competition on the lake.  The day started off with mists of rain and low heavy skies but this soon cleared to give near perfect fishing conditions with temperatures hitting the late teens.  This is a popular competition and this year saw an increase in participants to an impressive 274 anglers from all corners of Ireland.  Sheelin in its own special way left nobody disappointed as over 50 fish were weighed in with all anglers seeing plenty of trout on the move certainly enough to wet everyone’s angling appetites and convince even the most cynical that Sheelin is a lake out on its own for quality, quantity and sport.  The top twenty trout all weighed in at over 3lbs with the overall prize going to local man Frank Kelly with a lovely trout of over 5lbs caught on a Green Peter Hedgehog, on his heels and coming in at a close second was Fermanagh man John McGurl with a fish just light of 5lbs.  There was great comradeship and good humour throughout the day and credit should go to this seemingly tireless club in their persistent support and vision of this great lake.  All proceeds of this competition are invested back into the rehabilitation and enhancement of rivers within the Lough Sheelin catchment.

Frank Kelly with his 5lb winner at the LSTPA Stream Enhancement Fly Fishing competition – October 5^th

We are fast approaching the end of the trout season – October 12^th and the Sheelin trout are seemingly restless and on the move, heading towards the mouth of the feeder rivers with their minds turning to running the rivers to spawn.  The trout are rising to flies and appear hungry as if wanting to stock up on lake feeding before this annual journey.  The western shore up along by Plunkett’s point and Orangefield fished very well but around by Church Island, Lynch’s point, Kilnahard and Crover also featured as good places to fish, it all depended on what shore the wind was blowing in on.  There are plenty of small fish showing in the middle of the lake giving anglers a lot of sport but for the bigger more serious weights, anglers should keep along the shore and sheltered bays.  It is important particularly now more than ever for anglers to practice catch and release as the female fish will be full of eggs and need to be allowed to head up to their spawning sights in comfort.

The most popular flies used for the week were the Green Peter, a variety of Daddy Long Legs, , sedges – brown and chocolate drop, the Octopus, the Cock Robin, the Sooty Olive, The Dabblers – Claret, Silver and Golden Olive, the Silver Invicta, Gorgeous George, Humpies, the Terminator, the Chernobyll, the Raymond, the Alexandra, the Red Tailed Green Peter, , a Claret Snatcher, a Claret Hopper, Klinkhammers, Stimulators, the Watsun’s Fancy, Bumbles, Hoppers and a Red Ended Peter type Sedge fished wet style on a floating line.

The weather was mild throughout the week with no real drop in temperature at night fall so anglers in general fished successfully right up to darkness, around 7.30 – 8pm.

Sunset at Kilnahard, October 5th

 John Murphy, Crover lies back relaxed with his impressive 7 ½ lb trout caught on a Silver Daddy

Martin Allen, Derry with his 5 ½ lb trout

Richie Meacle, Tullamore with his superb Sheelin trout 2/10/13

Martin Connor, Armagh with his specimen 10lb 2oz trout caught on a Claret Hopper

Jack Egan’s Sheelin Lady and Jack with his 3 ½ lb trout caught October 4th

Paul Douglas, Derry smitten with his 2 ½ lb Sheelin trout

Enrico Fantasia with his Sheelin trout

The Cavan/Monaghan Garda Divisional Fly Fishing Championship and Open Competition – Sunday October 12th from Kilnahard Pier, fishing from 11am to 5.30pm.  Competition is for the heaviest fish (visitors) and the heaviest fish (Cavan/Monaghan Garda members), presentation of prizes and refreshment dinner at Crover House Hotel at 7pm sharp.  Any queries please contact Dessie McEntee on 047 77216 or 086 8937568.

A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times

 Please remember anglers to abide by BYE-LAW 790 – we need to keep our small fish alive……………

 There are a good selection of Sheelin ghillies/guides available and they are well worth investing in if angling visitors are unfamiliar with the lake, or perhaps haven’t that much fly fishing experience or maybe are a little ‘cut for time’ due to work or other commitments.  If one guide is unavailable it’s an absolute certainty that there will always another capable one to step into the breach.

Total number of trout recorded : 122

Selection of Catches  

Gary McKiernan (www.loughsheelinguidingservices.com) – 1 trout at 4lbs wet fly fishing.

John McGurl fishing with Pat Greene – October 3^rd 3 trout heaviest was 2.3 lbs, other 2 averaged 1 ½ lbs.

Gerhard Troester, Germany – 1 trout at 2lbs.

Martin Allen, Derry – 8 trout in total heaviest weighed in at 5 ½ lbs, rest averaged 1 ½ – 2 ½ lbs.

Paul Douglas, Derry – 1 at 2 ¼ lbs

Thomas Lynch and Frank Kelly, Cavan – October 2^nd, 6 trout heaviest weighed in at 3 ½ lbs.

Gerry Doyle, Dublin – October 6^th 4 trout heaviest weighed in at 2 ¼ lbs.

Sammy McHugh, Lisburn – 2 trout averaging 1 ½ each using small dry sedges.

Paul Stevens – October 5^th – 1 trout at 3lbs 11ozs.

Cian Murtagh, Cavan – Saturday October 5^th 1 trout at 3 lbs 11ozs.

Kevin Sheridan, Mayo – 1 trout at 3lbs 2ozs.

Paul O’Drissoll, Wexford –October 3d  1 trout using a Green Peter at 4lbs fishing at Plunkett’s p.

Paddy O’Faul, Newtowngore – October 2^nd 2 trout at 3 ½ and 4 ½ lbs using Dabblers.

Brenda Montgomery IFI