It has been another wet and windy week across Ireland as the effects of storm Desmond continue to be exacerbated by gales and heavy falls of rain. Not surprising there was not much angling activity to report this week as floods and high water levels are impacting nearly every river, lake and estuary in Ireland…

conger
Phil Ord wins Catch of the Week for this shore caught conger of 21lb

Despite the widely reported floods the Madcaps found the fish were still biting at Shannon Harbour, which was good news for the club ahead of their match to be fished there at the weekend. There was a good turn out at the Royal Enfield Coarse Anglers Fur & Feather Christmas match last week. Roach and perch made up the catches.

Pike anglers on the Royal Canal at Mullingar observed good shoals of fish and, of course, pike were in attendance. Light spinning gear is all that is needed and double figure fish were landed over weekend. The canals are a great resource for anglers as a venue that does not suffer from floods and high water like our rivers and lakes. Some good fish were caught by the Leinster Pike Angling Club in the 4th leg of their winter league last week. Club member Philip Dang had a lovely 17lb 14oz fish from an undisclosed venue..

Tralee Sea Bay Angling Club fished the Christmas Competition from Fenit Peir last week. Between junior and senior members 28 anglers took part and 91 fish were caught and released. The fish were not playing ball but a few dabs were being caught. Phil Ord decided to pin his hopes on a conger and with just an hour left he finally struck into his target species and managed to land a fine eel of 21lb. This lovely fish won him the competition and also wins Phil Catch of the Week.

In a couple of weeks the salmon season will be open and all eyes will turn to the Drowes and Liffey to see if the first salmon of 2016 will be caught on January 1st. The final regulations of the 2016 have not yet been published but as soon as they are we will make them available on this website.

As we go to press there are Gale and Small Craft warnings as south to southwest winds will increase to gale force 8 today on all Irish Coastal Waters and on the Irish Sea. There will be widespread, heavy rain tonight, clearing early tomorrow morning in the east. Saturday will be a showery and very windy day. The showers could turn heavy or persistent in the west. Sunday is to be a bright day with dry spells in all areas but some heavy and possibly thundery downpours will occur also. Fresher than at present with highest temperatures of around 10 degrees in blustery southwesterly winds. Cool and dry Sunday evening with temperatures falling to 4 or 5 degrees but mild, wet and windy weather will move in from the Atlantic overnight. There will be a wet and windy start to next week and the mixed weather will continue through Christmas.

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here 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].

Headlines

Coarse angling reports

Pike fishing reports

Sea angling reports

Salmon fishing reports

News clippings

Other news

Saturday saw Sheelin covered in a blanket of snow. Photographer Brenda Montgomery, IFI, tells us that the meteorological gods like to confuse us
Saturday saw Sheelin covered in a blanket of snow. Photographer Brenda Montgomery, IFI, tells us that the meteorological gods like to confuse us