The fine summer weather continued over the past week but low water conditions and hot conditions are impacting on angling in many of our inland fisheries around the country.  This weather is of course suiting sea anglers in particular and many anglers did venture out to sea after sharks and other varieties of fish.

Specimen pollack
Mark Gannon win Catch of the Week with a 12.5lb pollack

There was an improvement in salmon fishing reported at Blackwater Lodge where some rain helped anglers catch some nice fish from 8 to 11 lb. There were less anglers fishing on Lough Currane in the past week but those anglers who did venture out were rewarded with steady sea trout fishing and some grilse.  Frank Maunsell from the Owenmore Fishery in Dingle reported another good week for night fishing for sea trout on the river.  It was another great week on the Galway Weir Fishery where 86 salmon were recorded for the week with many on fly.  A few nice salmon were reported at Delphi despite the hot weather conditions. There were a few grilse reported in the low water conditions on the River Erriff but the sea trout fishing was superb with one French visitor recording 77 sea trout for the week which were all released.  The low water conditions did not help anglers catch salmon on the River Moy but nonetheless 250 salmon were recorded from the many fisheries all along the river.  It was another good week at Ballisodare where the big run of grilse is providing great sport but the best catch was a 4 lb. sea trout for a French Visitor.  Low water conditions did hamper good salmon fishing on the River Drowes in Co. Donegal but nonetheless fair numbers of grilse were taken on most days.

At sea, there were reports of some fine bass captured along the Co. Louth coast in the past week up to 8.5 lb. Angling guide Jason O’Riordan brought clients out night fishing for bass and they were very successful using soft plastics.  Anglers fishing from the Bellavista angling centre in Cobh enjoyed some excellent blue shark fishing in the past week.  Charter skipper Mark Gannon caught a fine specimen pollack of 12.5 lb. which is our Catch of the Week and anglers fishing with him deep sea fishing enjoyed some good conger fishing and blue shark with some of them measuring up to 2.20 metre (circa 100 lb.).  All sharks were tagged and released.  Anglers fishing with charter skipper Siegy Grabher off Valencia Island enjoyed some very good deep sea fishing with some cracking Ling to 21 lb. recorded.  Angler’s deep sea fishing with charter skipper Donal Kennedy out from Killala caught a great range of species including ling, pollack, coalfish and cuckoo wrasse.  At Rosses Point, there was an unusual catch of a garfish reported from an angler fishing from a small boat.  54 anglers from around the country fished the master boat competition at Mullaghmore at the weekend and Tony Santry from Cork was the winner and will captain the Irish International team in 2015 at the World Championships.

On the coarse angling trail, there were some nice catches reported from the fourth round of the Ballybay summer league held at Baird’s Shore where Liam O’Brien was the winner on the day.   A great day out on the Grand Canal near Edenderry was enjoyed by a party of young anglers who caught some nice roach and skimmers while being coached by some senior anglers.  Some nice bream featured in daily catches between 30 and 60 lb. recorded on the River Shannon at the Salmon Run above Portumna for English visiting anglers.  Alan Fitzjohn from Lancashire enjoyed some nice fishing with Kevin Lyons from Melview Lodge catching some nice tench and roach.  A group of special anglers got some expert help in catching some nice fish in a lough at Killeshandra.   70 anglers took part in the Breffni Challenge fishing waters in the Arva area over five days and despite the hot weather conditions, Keith Greensmith from UK won with 58.590 Kgs. of bream, roach and hybrids.

Emy and District Fly Fishing Club ran a youth angling program on fly fishing for junior anglers from both sides of the border in an EU sponsored initiative.  The hot and still weather conditions certainly deterred many anglers to fish on Lough Sheelin but a few did catch some nice trout on sedges in the late evenings.  Down on the River Maigue in Co. Limerick an American family enjoyed some trout fishing with angling guide Paddy Dunworth.  Small dry flies were the order of the day for the few anglers who ventured out on Lough Corrib and some nice catches of trout were reported.  There were few anglers out fishing on Loughs Conn and Cullin but small dry flies worked for the few who did to good effect.

Angling guide Paul Bourke is using deep trolling and jerk baits methods for his clients who continue to catch some good pike on Lough Derg.  Visiting father and son from Boston fished with angling guide Kenny Sloan last week and they caught some lovely pike on several waters near Foxford in Co. Mayo on lures.

Sadly it has not been a good summer for people drowning and a few of these were anglers.  Please wear a life jacket at all times when you go afloat whether you are fishing on an inland lough or at sea.  Enjoy the great fishing Ireland has to offer safely,

Tight lines especially in Ireland,

Paul Bourke

Catch, Photo, Release

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Shark fishing
Bending into a blue shark – small boat fishing for sharks has been producing some great results for anglers out of Cork Harbour