January may see the salmon season reopen but it is really the month of the pike and despite the wet and windy weather, which is improving, there have been some great pike reports. Sea anglers have also got in on the action and on the calmer days have even got out to fish from small boats and kayaks to good effect. Coarse angling is a bit quiet, as it always is at this time, though the huge floods will not have helped those who like to start “maggot drowning” as soon as possible in the New Year.

pike
Caoimighn wins Catch of the Week  this pike, a beauty of 26lb from Lough Derg

Caoimhghin Phelan wins Catch of the Week with a lovely pike of 26lb. It was one of 3 doubles he caught last weekend on Lough Derg. Caoimhghin had had even better luck on the lake just before Christmas when he caught 6 doubles including 2 over 20lb. Caoimhghin was fishing both fly and deadbait and though the biggest fish came to the deadbaits he had pike to 18lb on fly. Cuan Muyllaert had some exciting sport in the midlands last week. Fishing from a float tube he also had pike into double figures on the fly.  As the water levels drop back pike fishing should continue to improve with improving access.

East Cork angling blogger RockHunter reported one of the first bass of the season at a local mark last week. This was soon followed by a second report of bass from Stephen Brennan who was targeting specimen flounder on the east coast. The flounder fishing was very productive and the specimen was logged – crab was the essential bait. Tralee Bay SAC members also were out after specimens last week.  Though none were caught conger to 20lb were landed, along with some good dabs and grey gurnard. The winter storms put a stop to bass fishing along most of the Kerry coast, but Kevin Brain reports that the fishing has picked up now. Small boat anglers in Cork Harbour also report an improvement now the weather has settled, a bit, and some fine whiting in particular are being taken. Some good congers and juvenile skate featured in early season trips from Red Bay in our first charter report of the year. Stephen Brennan reports that Kilgorman Beach fished well for last weekend’s RNLI charity match. Anglers caught from the start with Flounders, Dabs, Whiting and Rockling making up the bulk of the catches. This good news for the Irish Winter Beach Festival which will be fished there in a couple of weeks. The banner image in this week’s Angling Update was taken at Kilgorman, courtesy of Stephen Brennan.

Salmon anglers will have to wait a bit longer for news of another springer. Levels at the Drowes are still high, but hopefully there will be some fishing over the weekend. Anglers who fished the opening day on the Lackagh reported lovely water, but no salmon. This river will fish better later in the year. The floods should have helped most of the kelts out to sea but as more rivers open over the next few weeks anglers are asked to take care in identifying their fish as fresh or a kelt. All kelts must be recorded in your logbook.

Trout anglers fishing the Rathcon Winter League had best results on fast sinking lines. Ger Fogarty took 1st place with 6 fish.

More rain is forecast for tomorrow with scattered heavy showers, mostly in western and southwestern coastal counties. The weekend looks to be cold and wet with more broken weather coming in from the Atlantic next week.

Tight lines,

Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to contact@fisheriesireland.ie.

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Kilgorman Beach
Kilgorman Beach, Courtesy of Stephan Brennan, IrishSportFishing.com