May is always one of the busiest months in the angling year and this year has been no different. The last seven days have seen everything May has to offer, including some unpredictable weather, and all branches of angling from coarse to deep sea have enjoyed some great catches.

Pat Swan, Irish International Angler, caught a Specimen Spurdog of 16.4lb last week
Pat Swan, Irish International Angler, caught a Specimen Spurdog of 16.4lb which wins him Catch of the Week

In Donegal, Rosguill is back on the water and with plenty of fresh mackerel in the boat it was not long before really good plaice, dabs, gurnards and the other usual suspects followed. Hamish Currie was back plying the waters off the Antrim coast and his anglers had some fine fishing with 2 really impressive skate landed. The Irish Boat team fished with Kit Dunne out of Wicklow last week on a training session. Local team member proved his worth by landing a 16.4lb spurdog. This specimen sized fish wins Pat Catch of the week. Austrian anglers fishing from the Sioux in Valentia had great fishing in fine weather for ling, pollack, coalfish, pouting, cod and gurnards with some quality fish landed. After a difficult April May saw charter fishing improve off the Clare coast and anglers on the Clare Dragoon even tried for 6 gill shark last week.  None were caught but no one was disappointed with the congers to 20lb, bullhuss to 10lb and an unusual 40lb Skate. Galway Buccaneers were also on the water and they enjoyed a good variety of fishing at anchor and drifting over mixed ground, rocky ground and sand. This produced 11 different species on the day. Anglers fishing at Killala Bay with charter skipper Donal Kennedy had good coalies, ling, pouting and cod into double figures. The fishing was so good Donal had to drop a line himself and it wasn’t long before he had some of the big cod in the boat. Sea anglers are reminded that the bass close season is in place until 15 June – if you inadvertently catch one over the weekend simply release it unharmed.

Last week water levels were better on the Drowes and the fishing reflected this with good numbers of salmon caught. No one was giving Melvin much of a go and there was little to report from that lake. The Owenea was also quiet, as water levels have gone very low. With a total of 68 salmon, anglers on the Ballisodare Fishery enjoyed their best week of the season so far. Most fish were released and averaged 7 lbs. Some good fish were reported from Lough Beltra and Newport and with the recent rise in water levels, prospects for the coming days are looking good. The Moy had its best week of the season, so far, with a reported catch of 197 salmon. However, it was a difficult week for anglers as water levels fluctuated for most of the time. Fishing picked up last week with some nice conditions on the Erriff, frequent rain brought some good water levels and fresh fish running the river provided some good sport. The Delphi has also been reporting good fishing where a mix of grilse and double figure fish were landed. Water levels on the Galway Weir have returned to something approaching fishable with some nice fish caught and the early grilse starting to appear.  A 20.5lb salmon was caught on the Laune, but the river has been quiet apart from this great fish. Some great specimen sea trout and not a few salmon were landed at Lough Currane in the last week and visiting anglers seem to be outfishing the locals. This week’s banner photo was taken from the shores of this great fishery. The River Bandon has produced some great fishing for individual anglers but things should improve as grilse are starting to run the river. On the River Lee there were 15 salmon reproted for week ending 25 May but there were some better fish caught. The Blackwater Lodge reported fishing on the Blackwater improved and they had 4 fish on 24 May. Fishing on the Slaney was a little hit and miss due the heavy rains but some anglers did well in particular Andy Kelly who landed a 37″ (estimated 20lbs) fish on Tuesday at Clohamon.

After a fantastic mayfly season, Lough Corrib has seen the slow end of the main hatch over the last few days, with hatches diminishing and the current warm sunny conditions probably seeing off the last of the big hatches.  Lough Carra is fishing very well with good action being enjoyed by anglers, and no blank days reported, despite a poor mayfly hatch. The strong north westerly winds that pounded the eastern shorelines of Mask this week produced some of the best wet and dry fly fishing we have had reported for years with rods averaging 10 trout over the limit. Despite the poor weather conditions with high winds, thunder & lightning and some heavy rain, Lough Conn saw another very good week. Mayfly and olive hatches were still plentiful and good numbers of trout were caught throughout the lakes.  Lough Arrow has been pretty good for the past week with most of the action taking place in the evenings. Anglers reported a good fall of spent and the buzzer fishing was also productive. Lough Sheelin has continued to report big fish and good catches as the mayfly season there continues to amaze anglers. Some great individual catches were recorded with on angler netting 17 fish in a session and another catching and releasing a 27 inch monster. There were some great reports from the River Fane also where olives and sedges are taking trout off the top. Similar reports were received from the Suir, but streamer fishing produced some great looking trout to a remarkable size. In the Midlands anglers are enjoying modest success on Lough Ennel and Owel.

231 pike were caught over three days by Dutch anglers fishing in the Longford area with Kevin Lyons. Three members of the French Salmo Team fished with Kenny Sloan in the Foxford area they enjoyed some great fishing and came within a couple of ounce of a 20lb pike on a number of occasions. Italian anglers fishing with Bodo Funke had no difficulty breaking the magical barrier and fishing around Boyle they had some great pike to 26lb. This was quite an achievement as Bodo had just guided angling journalists to similar success only days before. Elsewhere on the Shannon system some enjoyable pike fishing was reported around Mullingar and at Portumna.

There was some great tench and bream fishing reported in the Cavan area and one angler had 150lb of bream in a day at Dromore. 29 junior anglers competed in the Junior Canal Championships at Daingean. Some good bream and hybrid fishing was also reported at Portumna. Congratulations go to Darragh McKenzie, Harry Whitehead and Rhys Walsh who won each of their sections. The recently fished Ballinamore Festival was won by Roscommon angler Dara Finnegan, Ballyhaunis AC with 101lbs 07 oz. The festival was fished  entirely on Garadice Lake. The upper pegs at Haughton’s Shore and D section at Church produced the top weights of 26lb and 33lbs yet the catches were fairly consistent all round.

It’s the Habitat Stupid

“It’s the Habitat Stupid” was one Australian fisheries manager’s reworking of Bill Clinton’s famous quote. IFI is currently participating in an international survey of anglers opinions on the importance of habitat. Have your say… https://fishinginireland.info/other-news/international-angling-survey-its-the-habitat-stupid/

Stay safe

This June Bank Holiday there are a number of simple steps you can take to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable time on the water. If you are wading, kayaking, fishing from a lake boat or small boat; wear your lifejacket or PFD. Make sure to check weather forecast and tide tables. Above all don’t take needless risks with your life and keep an eye out for the safety of others around you. See the angling safety checklist here.

Tight lines especially in Ireland,

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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Double rainbow at Lough Currane, Co. Kerry
Double rainbow at Lough Currane, Co. Kerry