The weather has been sunny and warm in recent days, which has suited sea anglers and river fishing improved wherever the rain that fell brought a bit of a rise in water levels.

There were 30 salmon caught on the Owenea last week, mostly over the weekend following a good flood on the river. The Drowes did not see any improvement in water levels and had a quiet week with 12 salmon reported. Good sea trout fishing was on offer at Glencar Lake during the Sligo Anglers competition where fish to 44cm were caught and released. With 514 salmon reported, the River Moy saw a pretty good week. Rising water levels during mid-week resulted in good fishing conditions over the weekend, particularly at mid- and up-river fisheries. Meanwhile at the Owenduff sea trout fishing was described as excellent. The rains improved things on the Delphi fishery too, and apart from salmon there was some great sea trout fishing on the lakes. At the Erriff, anglers had some great days on the water, except during a 3m spate on Thursday. It was a similar story at both Ballynahich and Lough Inagh where the long awaited rains did not disappoint. The improved conditions were not restricted to the west and good reports also came in from the Mulkear and in Co. Kerry, from the Laune and Lough Currane. Fresh water has also improved fishing on the east coast and at the Oldbridge Fishery on the Boyne some good sea trout fishing has been reported.

Specimen tuna weighing 16kgs
Mike Dennehy wins Catch of the Week for his specimen albacore tuna weighing 16kgs

Towards the end of last week charter skipper Mike Dennehy led a merry crew on an albacore expedition and the fishing did not disappoint with a few specimens to 16kg landed. Staying in Cork good bass fishing was reported from Cork Harbour, Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry. Good bass fishing was also reported from Waterford and some enjoyable sessions were had by anglers in Wexford. Charter boat angling in Donegal is going well this year, particularly at Downings, and small boat anglers are also enjoying good catches. At Red Bay big porbeagles are making their annual appearance and one angler tagged a fish estimated at 306lb. With interest in big game fishing growing at this time of year, anglers are reminded that the Bluefin Tuna recreational fishery remains closed for the 2014 season.

Trout anglers will be happy to hear that the sudden change in weather conditions over the past few days brought a welcome improvement to the fishing on Mask and prospects for sport on the lake before the season’s close are very good. Fishing also improved at Lough Arrow and though there was an increase in catches at Lough Conn it did not do as well. There were fireworks on Lough Sheelin recent days, sadly all of the pyrotechnic type, and the trout fishing is still quiet despite the huge hatches of buzzer and sedge. Congratulations go to Basil Shields who won the Lennon Trophy for the best overall angler at the Irish Trout Fly Fishing Associations Interprovincial Match. Basil landed 11 trout all, on dry fly, on a top from Lough Lene. Basil was fishing for Team Connacht who won the Interprovincial Challenge Cup with 58 trout.

A record 46 Junior anglers, including 7 girls took part in the NCFFI Junior All Ireland Championships on Saturday at Garadice Lake, Co Leitrim. Congratulations go to winners Eoin Rogers, Novice Section, James O’Doherty U18 and Ryan Brady U14. At the Lough Gowna Festival Wayne Easter, Scunthorpe, amassed 106.740kg over the 5 days to take first place. Average daily weights at Inniscarra Reservoir are exceeding 9kg at the moment and Trevor Platt won the Guinness Open Cup with 16.650kg of roach and perch.

There’s not much to report from the pike angling quarter but reasonable fishing was had on Skeagh Lake, Cavan, during a competition last week.

Friday will be mostly cloudy. Rain and drizzle will continue to move southeastwards and will mainly affect Leinster and Munster in the afternoon and evening. This weekend will feel Autumnal and much cooler and fresher than recently. There will be good sunshine and a lot of dry weather but some scattered heavy showers about also. Daytime temperatures will reach between 15 and 18 degrees, coolest in Northern areas with mostly light to moderate Northerly breezes. Monday looks like being mainly dry and still rather cool and fresh. There’ll be very light winds with early mist and fog gradually clearing to give some sunny spells. Tuesday and Wednesday of next week look like bringing a return to warmer weather with sunny spells and it should continue mainly dry.

Tight lines,

Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release

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Excellent sport on the fly: hard fighting Mayo pike!
Excellent sport on the fly: hard fighting Mayo pike!