The weather has changed drastically since last week. The long, dry, bright days gave way to colder, windy weather which was very wintry in places (sleet, snow and hail!). This in turn has developed into wet, windy grey days which are often bemoaned by others, but suit the angler’s needs a good deal more.

pike
Gerard wins Catch of the Week for this monster pike which weighed in at 39lb 2oz

Last week was really all about the pike. Some huge fish were reported from the Monaghan area, Lough Ree, Lough Derg, and Lanesborough with pleny of other respectable fish coming off of waters in Longford, Derravaragh, Killeshandra, and Lough Oughter. It will come as no surprise that Gerard Smyth wins catch of the week for his 39lb 12oz fish from the Monaghan area. Upstream of Lanesborough near Kilnacarrow a lovely fish of 28lb 2oz was landed, this beauty had already spawned. The Fishmaniaks held a competition on Lough Derravaragh on Sunday where 66 pike to 98cm were returned. Big numbers of French and Belgian anglers holidaying in Co. Cavan report some of the best fishing they have ever had with loads of pike around Lough Oughter, including 4 over 100cm. German anglers in the area also report good piking as do the German anglers staying at Melview Lodge in Longford. Italian anglers on a return trip to fish with Michael Flanagan are also having the fishing of their lives with pike to 122cm landed on Lough Ree including some great fish to 24lb on fly. Other pike anglers on Ree also encountered good sport, especially junior angler, Callum Rickard who had pike to 8lb on the troll and a huge trout to cap it all off.

Salmon anglers were entirely fed up with the continually bright, sunny days which were made worse by low water conditions on most rivers. Even the lakes were effected. Anglers on the River Boyne have had some good fish recently with salmon to over 2olb reported this season and the 7 fish caught over the last week weighed between 7 and 17lb. The Slaney missed what rain was on offer over the weekend so fishing has been slow but some good fish to 25lb continue to be caught, though more water is needed. Two salmon were caught on the fly on Saturday at Ballyduff Bridge on the Munster Blackwater, one weighing 6lb and the other 8lb, both were returned successfully. There will be a Spey Casting course run at Fortwilliam on the river next 17 May.  Salmon anglers found Currane in a dour mood over the weekend but on Tuesday things picked up again a few good fish were taken, all on the troll. Spring fishing has begun to improve in Galway, with 7 fish landed for the week, and a remarkable number of fish hooked and lost. Delphi fished against a backdrop of snow at the weekend, and a few fish were taken last week. The meltwater is bringing up the water levels and hopes are high that fishing will improve. Carrowmore Lake did well last week. Despite the changing weather, the fishery produced a total of 11 salmon, 4 of which were released. Salmon were caught throughout the Moy system last week and the first fish of the year was landed on the Ridge Pool. There were only 5 salmon on the Drowes last week as water levels fell each day and all through the weekend.

Reports from Inishowen, Co. Donegal are that the trout fishing is picking up as hatches improve, though most fish continue to be caught on intermediate lines. Staying in Donegal, Lough Fern saw 39 anglers turn out for a competition on Sunday. The freezing temperatures and driving rain and hail made for gruesome fishing and the trout were not impressed either. Lough Melvin was so foreboding few took to the water and no catches were reported. Lough Arrow did a little better with some good trout landed, but again conditions were off putting. It was a slow week for trout angling on Loughs Conn & Cullin as bright, hot, calm conditions were superseded by a sudden return to winter weather. Some good catches were recorded by a few lucky anglers and the first mayfly were seen. Strong winds coupled with single figure temperatures battered Lough Mask’s shorelines over the past few days, making angling extremely difficult but surprisingly anglers reported some great fishing with best results on wet fly. Anglers throughout the Corrib are reporting good hatches of olives and Campto buzzer, with reports of early mayfly in the Corr na Mona area. Anglers are getting trout on dapped Mays and the lake fished well over the weekend. Last week’s mixed weather did not suit Lough Sheelin and though some good fish were landed the return for the week was poor. Lough Owel is producing some lovely trout of late but a sharp easterly wind has made things tough at times.

The wintry weather had an impact on coarse fish too. Many of the big spawning shoals retreated from the shallows as water temperatures fell in some areas. At Lanesborough good tench and roach were taken over the weekend and anglers were excited to see some really big carp in the area, perhaps feasting on the roach spawn. Anglers endured some freezing weather at Lough Sillan where bags to 6.3kg were  mainly made up of roach. We have had a lot of kayak angling reports recently, but this is our first coarse angling kayak trip. Enterprising Gary Robinson drifted some likely spots while trotting for roach on one of Lough Corrib’s tributaries. He got there a little early though and the spawning shoals were not yet in attendance.

Sea angling reports were scarce last week, though what we have is worth reading. In Co. Kerry a French angler had a bass of 15lb. There were a number of witnesses to this feat and the fish was safely released. In the Cork Harbour area good fly fishing for pollack was reported, smaller patterns did best and late reports of good cod were also taken by the office, though the weekend’s weather forecast will mean anglers will have to wait a little longer to get out on the water again. Charter fishing reports from Killala are that there are some lovely cod and pollack, as well as some good ling, are on the fishing grounds at the moment.

There is a Small Boat Warning in effect today. Easterly winds will reach force 6 or higher today on Irish coasts from Carnsore Point to Valentia to Erris Head, veering southeast to east tonight and increasing to force 6 at times on all coasts. Tomorrow, Saturday, will be mostly overcast, with occasional rain, heavy at times, with a risk of thunder. Maximum temperatures 8 to 13C, in a moderate to fresh southeasterly wind. The outlook for Sunday and next week is for very unsettled weather. Breacaimsir as we say in Ireland…

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 contact@fisheriesireland.ie.

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24lb pike
Stefano Balisario had a fish of a lifetime on the fly weighing 24lb, Lough Ree.