With air temperatures down to -11°C at times throughout the country, angling activity was down a little in the past week as bitter cold northerly winds prevailed. It is calm again now and temperatures are hovering above freezing. The current high pressure system is to stay around for a while, so there should be more angling activity this weekend. As I have said many times in the past, anglers are a hardy bunch and there were still a fair bit of activity in the icy conditions to report from the past week.
Despite day time temperatures of – 3°C last Sunday, for the second week in a row, there was no stopping Duncan Lennox from winning again on the upper lake at Inniscarra. Catches were well down but over 12 kg of small roach gave Duncan plenty of action on the day.
There was more pike action this week and clients fishing with angling guide Mick Flanagan had very good pike fishing on the midland waters and on the Royal Canal over the weekend. Kevin Lyons reported that his bunch of anglers fishing venues near Longford did struggle in the cold conditions but managed a few nice pike and one long trout of 6 lb. which was quickly returned after a quick photo. Anglers are reminded to release any trout caught during the closed season as safely as possible. Over on some smaller loughs in Co. Clare, Kevin Murphy had good pike action while fishing lures from his kayak. Despite the weather, there was some fine pike fishing reported from Lough Derg including some very good fish for a group of Dutch visitors fishing with angling guide Herman Mollenaar. One of the group, Maurits took the best fish of the week measuring 111 cms and this wins our Catch of the Week. Greg Latour from Tir na Spideog reported some fine pike fishing for his French clients fishing in Lough Allua in west Cork including pike to over 20 lb.
The salmon season opened on more salmon fisheries on the 1st of February and four fish were reported on the Delphi Fishery which is an opening day record on the fishery. Another salmon was taken on the following day. On the opening day there were many anglers out on all parts of the Munster Blackwater with many anglers actually fly fishing in the good water levels but in very cold conditions at Fort William and Blackwater Lodge in particular. It was however at Careysville, that the first two salmon were taken on spinner reported by Fishery Manager Patrick Devennie. Down on Lough Currane, many anglers tried hard in the freezing conditions to catch a salmon but only a few kelts were encountered and quickly returned. In the dropping water levels on the River Laune in Co. Kerry, anglers are asked to be careful to return any kelts carefully if anglers catch them in coming days.
Despite the artic weather, a group of anglers managed to fish with charter skipper Hamish Currie out from Red Bay and they captured some fantastic big skate along with conger and other species.
There was only one trout report this week from the Rathcon Fishery where there was some fine rainbow trout over 10 lbs. taken by anglers as reported by Dermot Page, before the final leg of the winter league takes place this weekend.
The Irish Specimen Fish Committee are asking all recipients to reply to their invitation to the awards which will take place in Bewley’s Hotel near Dublin on the 21st of February. This coincides with the ever popular Irish Angling show at Cloghran which is on the 21st and 22nd of February nearby.
There are as usual, many competition notices and other news and clippings in this week’s angling update. As always I would urge anglers to be careful when going fishing in the next week or two as water temperatures are also extremely low and dangerous.
Wear a lifejacket if going afloat and enjoy the best of Irish Fishing,
Tight lines especially in Ireland,
Paul Bourke
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].
Headlines
Coarse angling reports
Pike fishing reports
- Mullingar pike from lake and canal
- Cold in Longford but enough pike feeding to make things interesting
- Kayaking Clare’s lakes for pike
- Pike anglers on Derg report fishing going well
- Some good catches for pike anglers on Lough Allua
Salmon fishing reports
- A few kelts but freezing anglers failed to procure the Wild Atlantic Salmon on the Currane
- Opening day reports from the Munster Blackwater including two salmon at Careysville
- A river fish for the lake man at Delphi on day two
- Water levels dropping on the Laune
- 4 fish catch breaks opening day record at Delphi
Sea angling reports
Trout fishing reports
News clippings
- Farmers cast lot in with anglers, Irish Independent
- BIM tightlipped on Galway Bay fish farm investors, Connacht Tribune
- Affordable Ireland: Cash in on the weak Euro to enjoy a trip to the Emerald Isle, The Mirror
- Priceless sprat stocks must be saved now, minister, Irish Examiner
- Community group bids for Erriff River fishing rights – Mayo News
- Former fisheries’ officer Jerry Looney (80) takes first wild Atlantic salmon of the year at Killarney Lakes – Irish Times
- Counting down the days to March – Leitrim Observer
- Documentary highlights the ecological pressures facing the River Lee – West Cork Times
- Cllr Logan concerned over Lough Rinn flooding – Leitrim Observer
Other news
- Irish Specimen Fish Awards – are you going?
- Fishmaniak Competition Scheduled for Lough Egish on 15th February
- Join the ranks of the super anglers at Killinarden Angling Initiative
- Sandeels on the up??…get to know them…
- Inniscarra First Festival of the year – St Patrick’s Weekend Open
- Upper Erne European Predator Challenge 2015 – 18th & 19th April
- Two weeks match fishing on the Grand and Royal Canal
