Heavy Rain, Storm force winds and even some snow have certainly impacted on angling in Ireland in the past week as well as any other outdoor activity. At times it was dangerous to be out and there were a few small lulls in the weather and there were a few foolhardy anglers who managed to get a fish or two.  Water levels on rivers and inland lakes are at an all-time high with much of the Shannon and Erne catchments and other rivers covering a lot of the adjoining countryside.  Some coastal cities and towns like Limerick and Cork have had high tides along with storm force winds culminating in a lot of flooded properties as well.  We can only hope that the storms from the Atlantic will soon come to an end and anglers can enjoy a bit of normal fishing especially with the trout season just upon us.

Sean English with his well deserved pike wins our Catch of the Week
Sean English with his well deserved pike wins our Catch of the Week

At this time of year, it is hard to stop the hardened pike angler and up in Monaghan there was some good pike fishing along with some nice perch for a group of anglers using soft plastic baits on flooded loughs.  Persistence paid off for two Dublin anglers pike fishing with angling guide Kevin Lyons from Longford.  Sean English wins our Catch of the Week with a fine pike just under twenty pounds taken in a very flooded lough. Another party of Dublin anglers enjoyed good pike fishing on the River Erne at Belturbet taking and releasing fish to 13 lb.

There were some hardy salmon anglers out trying to catch fish this week but with the extreme water levels and stormy weather only a few fish from Lough Melvin were reported up to 9 lb.  Anglers were out on Lough Currane, the Drowes, Delphi and on the Cork Blackwater but with no success.

There was some sea angling to report including some shore fishing for a group of junior anglers out on the south beach Arklow hosted by the Leinster Provincial Council of the IFSA.  Up in Antrim, charter skipper Hamish Currie had a party of anglers out in sheltered waters on one day last week and they enjoyed some good sport for Congers near Red Bay.

Elsewhere, trout anglers are eagerly anticipating the new season beginning this weekend on Loughs Corrib, Mask and Conn in the west of Ireland.  It is nice to report some excellent Rainbow Trout fishing with fish to 14 lb. reported from the Cashel Trout Fishery.

Two major events are happening this weekend.  The Ireland 2014 show takes place on Saturday and Sunday next the 15 & 16th of February at Cloghran near Dublin Airport and IFI and the Dublin Angling Initiative will have stands there along with many major fishing tackle items etc.  Alongside this event, the annual presentation of the awards for the Specimen Fish Committee takes place in Bewley’s Hotel near the Airport and the Ireland Angling show on Saturday next.

Anglers please heed the weather forecast before venturing out.  We all want to catch the big fish but please be careful and always wear a lifejacket while afloat

Tight lines especially in Ireland,

Paul Bourke
Angling Information Officer

Catch, Photo, Release

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The Rock Pool
The Rock Pool on the Delphi Fishery