It has been a funny old week for the first week in May with all sorts of weather conditions prevailing from downright cold frosty weather with some hailstones on some days to lovely soft fishing weather.  There has been quite a lot rain falling over the past week and many watercourses have had a bit of flooding.  The broken weather is forecasted to continue into next week so anglers check your weather before embarking on your fishing trip.

Ian Walker wins Catch of the Week for this sea trout estimated at 7lb
Ian Walker wins Catch of the Week for this sea trout estimated at 7lb

Peter Cunningham from the Drogheda angling centre enjoyed some lovely sea trout fishing on the River Boyne at Oldbridge with the best fish weighing over 2 lb.  Over the May Bank holiday, some fine sea trout were reported including a fine specimen of 7 lb. which Ian Walker caught and quickly released after a quick photo on the River Bandon and wins our Catch of the Week.   Another specimen sea trout was recorded on Lough Currane and nine year old Jayden Fogarty caught her first salmon.  In the Cork Kerry area, the first salmon of the season from the Laune anglers stretch was captured and fishing was patchy on many of the other fisheries.  Salmon fishing on the River Moy is improving as the season goes on and Pat Loughnane landed the heaviest fish of the week at 17.5 lb.  Further west salmon fishing was mixed on Carrowmore Lake but six salmon were taken on Friday last.  On the Ballisodare Fishery, a total of 100 salmon were taken in the past month which is a big improvement on previous years. There was some cracking salmon landed on the River Drowes last week with a best fish of 15.5 lb. recorded during the week.  Some fine salmon up to 12 lb. were reported from the Gweebarra River in Co. Donegal over the last weekend.

Martin McKenna Pro of the Emy and District anglers reported some fine catches of trout at the annual Eugene Mulligan / Pat McMahon competition on Emy Lough on Sunday last.  Members of the Gormanstown and District Anglers enjoyed some good trout fishing at the Wavin Lake in Balrothery in North Co. Down over the weekend.  Weather conditions were described as rotten on many days for anglers fishing on Lough Sheelin but there were nice fish caught along with good hatches of Olives when the conditions allowed.  Angling guide Mick Flanagan had a client Alan Thomas from Carrickfergus out on Lough Lene where they caught some wonderful trout and some pike later in the day.  The White Lake anglers ran a very successful competition on the lough with some fine trout recorded on the day. Paul McNamara reported some good trout fishing on the Killarney Flesk on nymphs.  The mayfly hatches are improving on Lough Corrib where anglers enjoyed some frantic fishing when conditions allowed in different weather conditions on some days.   On Lough Mask, good hatches of olives and some mayfly brought good trout catches for anglers on the calmer days in a mixed weather conditions. Trout fishing is improving on Lough Conn and Cullin where sporadic hatches of mayfly are bring more fish to the net.  Good hatches of olives brought better trout fishing on Lough Arrow in recent days. The best trout of the year so far at 16 lb. 9 oz. was caught and released on Lough Melvin by a salmon angler who was trolling for salmon.  There was a good turn out on Lough Anure by members and other anglers at their first open trout competition on the lough.  Maurice Brolly won the first trout competition of the year to be held on Lough Fern in Co. Donegal.

On the Co. Louth coastline, the strong winds did not deter some hardy anglers catching some nice flounders in the tough conditions.

There was some fine catches of Bream and Tench recorded by anglers fishing with angling guide Kevin Lyons on waters near Melview Lodge in Longford.

It is nice to report that an eight year old Dillon Keogh fishing with his uncle on the River Suck caught and released his first fish ever a nice pike of 7 lb.  The Lough Glore anglers held a pike competition on the lough and Joe Murray took the honours with the biggest pike of 8 lb. 13 oz.  A group of Italian anglers completed their pike fishing holiday on Lough Ree fishing with Angling guide Mick Flanagan and they all enjoyed more big pike in a memorable holiday.  Four French anglers had a great week’s fishing with angling guide Kevin Lyons catching 116 pike up several fish over a metre on several venues near Longford.   The Predator Team Ireland Qualifiers took place to form the Irish Team at Craigavon Lakes and 100 pike were recorded and the winners formed the new Irish Team.

There are many other news items, clippings and competition notices in this week’s angling update.

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

Paul Bourke

Catch, Photo, Release

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Sheelin
‘Lough Sheelin was wet, wild and windy but still wonderful’
Battling the elements – Lough Sheelin Guiding with the English & Welsh group