Mike Murray of Murray’s Angling Services reports on the pike fishing around Portumna recently…
Andy and his friend Richard from Hereford had 2 days Pike fishing and 1 day Coarse fishing with us last week. Weather conditions were not good with wind and heavy rain. Lough Derg was too rough to fish but in Portumna we are fortunate to have both the lake and The Shannon on our doorstep. the river can be fished in all but the most severe weather. So opting for the Shannon the first day produced a few pike. The next day we went coarse fishing. The last day we went Piking again and had a dozen fish with 8 being caught on a sheltered backwater in the space of an hour. The session also produced a bonus Trout.
A couple of days later Roland Meeuwisse and 3 friends from the Netherlands had 4 days Pike fishing alternating between Lough Derg and the Shannon landing approximately 20 pike the first 2 days and 70 over the next 2 days with numerous Perch and 2 Trout to add to the tally.
None of the Pike were huge but the group had great sport and will be returning to Ireland again. The final picture shows the group celebrating after 4 days of great fishing.
Mike Murray
Murray’s Angling Services
Go fishing in Portumna…
Murray’s Angling Services
Portumna
Tel: +353 (0)909759596 Mobile: +353 (0)873121595
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.shannonfishingholidays.com
and www.murraysireland.com
Guidelines for handling pike
Download: Pike Handling and Conservation [.pdf 850 KB]
When landed, the fish should be laid flat preferably on a protective mat and the hooks removed with a suitable tool such as long handled artery forceps or a long nosed pliers. Anglers may find it useful to wear protective gloves. Sometimes it can be easier to release the hooks by working very carefully through the gill covers.
The use of pike sacks can be used for the short time retention of fish enabling them to recover prior to weighing or photography. When weighing and photographing fish, the pike should be cradled and supported properly to avoid injuring the fish. A pike sized weigh sling should always be used if the fish is be weighed.
When being released, the pike should be held carefully in the water to promote recovery until it is ready to swim away. At all times, the pike should be returned to the water in the shortest possible time.
