The last week has seen a real mix of weather – bright, sunny winter’s days, heavy snow and blizzard conditions, teeming rain and storm force winds followed one after the other, so it is not surprising that there are only a few reports in this week’s Irish Angling Update.

Two weeks in to the new salmon season and the first salmon of 2015 is still proving elusive. Another fish was lost on spinner from the River Drowes’ Mill Pool on Friday. The Laune, Lough Currane and some other Kerry systems open on Saturday – maybe anglers there will do better?

Michael Flanagan reports that there is some good sport to be had with perch. On Ennell they are feeding in the deeps at the moment and can be hard to locate, but will take well once you are over a shoal. Ballybay Angling Association have announced that this year’s 4 man team event event will be held on Lough Muckno on 29th March 2015. Daingean Match Anglers had a good day on Sunday and the chosen section fished very evenly with everyone enjoying a few fish. Gary Robinson has been desperate to get a fish recently but high water at many venues has thwarted his efforts. Determined to succeed he decided to dropshot for perch in the small canals of Galway city. Unfortunately the water was high even here, but the day was not a write off as he scouted many likely locations to try again when the water levels drop.

pike
Joe McDermott’s young nephew Jason wins Catch of the Week for his competition winning 10lb 8oz pike

The Lough Glore Anglers fished their first competition of the year on a very blustery Sunday last weekend. Michael Flanagan reported fishing to be tough with many dropped runs and missed hits on lures. Better fishing was reported by the Camlin Anglers. Joe McDermott and his young Nephew Jason took top spot in their first competition of the year with a pike of 10lbs 8oz. This lovely fish wins Jason Catch of the Week. Some enjoyable fishing was also reported at Lough Muckno where fish pushing double figures were taken on the troll. The fish were said to be in excellent condition and there is a lot of interest in getting back on the water once the winds die down.

Sea fishing is reported to be extremely difficult in the North East at the moment. 62 anglers from Wexford to Dundalk battled the elements in what could only be described as very tough conditions to compete for the first leg of the Leinster Shore League. The fishing was slow and the eventual winner was Ciaran O’Toole. The conditions along the east coast saw some anglers from Louth and Meath travel as far as Wexford and Waterford in search of action. Peter Cunningham and John Baker were well rewarded for their efforts with some good catches of flounder, whiting, dabs and codling at Ballyhack and Passage East. A group of Dubliners also traveled to Wexford where they fished with some local anglers and good flounder and bass were recorded in the catches.

Last week saw some great fishing at some of the put and take trout fisheries. Unbelievably at Lough Ardaire fish to 15lb were taken on dry fly. Good fishing was also reported at Laoise Angling Centre and at Rathcon. Trout anglers will also be interested to read about the Kilbride Anglers who took 2nd place in the Canon Ellison Awards for their rehabilitation works on the Kells Blackwater.

As we write today’s Irish Angling Update there is a still a Status Red weather warning in place for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo with southwest veering west winds of mean speeds in excess of 80 km/h., and gusts of 130 to 150km/h possible. Status Orange and Yellow warnings cover much of the rest of the country. Tomorrow will be cold and bright and far less windy. There will be further showers especially in the morning and some will be wintry, but will tend to become more isolated in the afternoon. Moderate or fresh west to northwest winds and afternoon temperatures of just 3 to 7 degrees C. It will be cold and largely dry over the weekend, but there will be wintry showers in some areas and early next week may see a return of sleet and snow.

Take care and fish safely!

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 [email protected].

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A snowy dawn
A snowy dawn on the Drowes