What of time they have
They stretch out taut and thin and ringing clear;
So we, whose strand of life is not much more,
Let us too make our time elastic and
In consequently dance above the dazzling wave.
‘Mayfly’ by Louis MacNeice
The weather remained stubbornly cold right up to the end of this week, producing wintery showers of hail and temperatures below par for the time of year, this coupled with sharp north westerly winds cutting across the lake, effectively slowed down the progression of Lough Sheelin’s mayfly season. As temperatures increased on Friday and during the weekend so too did the hatches of fly and Sheelin shifted up a few gears as the number of trout being landed increased dramatically.
Cathal McNaughton, Antrim with his 4lbs 10ozs trout, May 22nd
There is no doubt that fishing can be tough going on this lake at a time when things should be easier with the onset of the mayfly but this is all down to the weather of which we have no control. Despite the temperamental weather, this is an exciting and exhilarating time to be on Lough Sheelin, a time of huge anticipation for this lake has the largest trout carrying capacity of any lough of comparable size in Ireland and because it also contains a vast food source for the fish, Sheelin has a large number of ‘the heavy weights’ – trout weighing from 4 ½ up to above and beyond the specimen weight of 10lbs. In the month of May the trout will be hungry. A large proportion of the trout feed on the bottom of the lake on hog louse, shrimp and other lower water column food. However, the mayfly, at its greatest intensity of hatching, tends to lure the trout up to the surface where there is now an abundance of food. Some anglers firmly believe that some of the bigger fish in the lake only come to the surface to feed on the mayfly and otherwise spend their lives feeding in the lower regions of the lake. It is for this reason that Lough Sheelin is a very attractive place during May and June as it generates an annual opportunity for the trout of a life time.
The hatches…
Lough Sheelin had an abundance of fly life on its surface particularly over the past few days, prolific hatches of mayfly predominantly in the sheltered areas as well as prolific buzzer numbers with olives and hawthorn in evidence as well. Despite the copious amount of food the Lough Sheelin trout seem still reluctant and wary and more than a little cautious of the outsized mayfly duns, it seems we need some consistent seasonal ‘warm’ weather to get these trout to lock on to the natural properly.
The ideal weather conditions for mayfly hatches is a soft south west wind, mild temperatures and a drizzle as the drizzle will keep the freshly emerged fly on the water longer as they dry their wings.
Marco Orsi, Wales with his Sheelin heavy weight (released)
Although it’s been a week since the first hatch of mayfly were sighted along the western shore, the mayfly season is still at the early stages on this lake. Any of the anglers who have fished this lake for over 30 or in some cases 40 years are adamant that traditionally Lough Sheelin’s mayfly hatch does not begin till the twenties in May and dates vary from May 23rd to May 26th . When the hawthorn blossom or whitethorn blossom is at full bloom then Lough Sheelin’s mayfly will be at its peak and for now these flowers are late and are just starting to appear in the hedgerows around the area.
Mayfly’s lifecyce…
The mayfly’s lifecycle is one of the most fascinating and fleeting stories of the natural world. One of the many characteristics that makes mayflies the unique insects they are is the potential of two different winged adult forms in their life cycle. As the critical hatch period approaches, nymphs do become restless and are thought to make dummy runs towards the surface. Vulnerable now, this helps explain why mayfly nymphs turn up in trout weeks before the season’s first dun are even seen. Nymphs ascend with a vertical undulating actions and once at the surface the nymphal shuck splits down a predetermined line.
The actual emerging process takes but seconds. While they rest here to dry their newly exposed wings, they are at their most vulnerable to attack form fish. Those duns that do become airborne seek safety on the underside of broad leafed trees before transforming into adult spinner. Mature now, male spinners gather to perform their mating dance in a bid to attract nearby females. Taking place towards evening time with mating complete, female spinners return to the water to deposit their eggs for the next generation. Once the eggs are laid the female litters the water’s surface, lying motionless, with her wings flat on the surface, where the trout pick them off at their leisure. The male fly rarely returns to the water but instead he goes off to die on the nearby land. Spinner falls are notoriously difficult to predict, if you can get the right conditions, the activity can be so intense that it overshadows the daytime hatches.
The Catches…
The heaviest fish for the week was a 9 pounder caught by Welsh angler Marco Orsi using a Dry May fly.
Total number of trout recorded: 371
Each day this week saw fifty boats or more out on the lake and it was certainly a week of contradictions as clashing reports came in from various anglers, the only common dominator from both those that did and those that didn’t catch was that it was difficult fishing. Each day was different and just because one area fished well one day was no guarantee that it would be good the next. Gaffney’s bay had a spectacular hatch with a heavy natural rise of trout on Wednesday and Thursday reflected by some great trout catches but then the following days drew blanks. Spent started to go out on Saturday evening and then a wind blew up changing direction and the spent went back in, it’s a real game of cat and mouse and for anglers who have blocked off their holidays for this week, it was a two edged sword – success paralleled by disappointment as the weather played havoc with what should have been a spectacular weeks fishing.
Selection of catches…
- Eamonn Ross, Cavan – 1 trout at 5 ½ lbs on a Claret Wulff
- James Rushe, Longford – 1 trout at 6lbs on May 21st on a dry May.
- Michael Pollin, Lurgan – 2 trout at 6.2 lbs (Buzzer pattern) and 6 ½ lbs on a dry May. 11 trout on May 22nd, 2 at 5lbs, 1 at 4lbs and 8 averaging 2 ½ – 3 ½ lbs.
- Denis Goulding – 1 trout at 6 ½ lbs fishing drys, May 21st.
- Coleman Counaghan, Galway – fishing with Grey Duster Guiding, 1 trout at 2 ½ lbs.
- Des Donnelly, Swords, Co.Dublin – 2 trout weighing in at 3 and 5lbs using Buzzer patterns
- Peter McArdle and Ken Kearns, Dundalk – 12 trout for 2 days fishing, 4 using Buzzer patterns and 8 using Dry Mays. Fish averaged 2 – 3 ½ lbs.
- Gerry and Raymond, Sheelin View – best trout for the week at 4 ½ lbs.
- John Reddin, Dublin – 1 trout at almost 6lbs using a Golden Olive Bumble.
- Eamon Ross, Cavan – 1 trout at 3lbs on wet flies with a sinking line, May 19th, 1 trout at 5 ½ lbs on a Claret Wulff on May 21st.
- Frank Kelly, Cavan – 3 trout, best was 3 ½ lbs (returned).
- Dermot Dunne, Co.Offay – 1 trout at 3lbs using a Sedgehog on the top dropper.
- Brendan Corr, Belfast – using a selection of Wulffs, 3 trout averaging 1 ½ – 2 ½ lbs.
- Malachey Trevors, Wexford – on wet Mays 1 trout at 3 lbs.
- Aidan Rush, Kells – 1 trout at 3 lbs plus fishing a dry May.
- Andrew Nicholl, Antrim – May 20th , 1 trout at 4 lbs using a Green Stimulator.
- Stephen Clarke, Portadown – 1 trout at 3 lbs plus using a Green Stimulator.
- Andy Duncan, Mullingar – 5 trout heaviest weighing in at 4 ¼ lbs on May 20th
- Geert Verdonk, Holland– 1 trout at 3lbs fishing wet mays on May 20th.
The flies..
There are all sorts of treats in and around the water for the fish and there are thousands of dressings that imitate these flies and every angler is constantly searching and designing flies that lure the trout from the naturals to their imitations. Nymphs, wets and dries can all give a fly fisher the chance at catching that dream trout during this time of the year. This week most of the heavy weights were caught on dry Mayflies. The Wulffs have made an appearance with the Grey, Royal and Claret bring the most successes. Touted as one of the greatest dry fly searching patterns, the Royal Wulff simply catches fish. Over the years several patterns have been developed that follow its basic format yet use different colors or some different materials. These flies work well and can save the day when the exact match of what the trout are eating can’t be found in that fly box. They will also draw strikes when there doesn’t seem to be any insect activity on the water.
The favourite flies for this week were the Dry Mayfly, the Stimulator, the Silver Invicta, the Green Peter or Murrough, the Royal Wulff, the Claret Wulff, the Grey Wulff, the Dabblers (Silver, Claret and Green), the Spent Gnat, the Red Humpy, Golden Olive Bumble, Cock Robin, Gorgeous George, Octopus and Buzzer patterns.
Despite a slow cold start to the mayfly season at Lough Sheelin the area is buzzing with activity and fishermen from all corners of Ireland as well as from England, Wales, Holland, France, Italy, America and Tasmania are heading out on to the lake.
Crover House Hotel which overlooks the lake is now offering dinners up to 11pm to cater for anglers who might late evening fishing and newly established self-catering Chestnut Lodge is open for business at very reasonable rates (including the use of a boat) (enquires to 087 9060331)
Catch and release
A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times.
The fun of fishing is catching ’em, not killing ’em.
Norman Schwarzkopf
Go fishing…
A permit is required to fish Lough Sheelin. Buy your permit online at:shop.fishinginireland.info or from any of the permit distributors listed here.
Guides and ghillies
Grey Duster Guiding
Kenneth O’Keeffe
Tel: 086 8984172 Email: [email protected]
Lough Sheelin Guiding Services
Tel: 087 1245927 Web: www.loughsheelinguidingservices.com
D.C Angling & Guiding Services
contact David @ 087 73946989
Michael Farrell
Tel: 087 4194156 or +353 43 6681298
Email: [email protected]
Michael Flanagan,
Trout and Pike Guide.
Email: [email protected] Web: www.midlandangling.com
House Rules
All anglers are required to have a Fishery Permit to fish Lough Sheelin which must be purchased before going out on the lake.
Please remember anglers to abide by BYE-LAW 790 which strictly prohibits
- All trolling on the lake from March 1st to April 30th (inclusive).
- From May 1st to June 15th – no trolling between 7pm –6am and no trolling under engine between 6am – 7pm and
- June 16th – October 12th – no trolling under engine between 7pm – 6am.
- No trout less than 14 inches should be taken from the lake
Lifejackets
Please put on and keep on that life jacket until you are back on dry land.
Life jackets are required by law – SI No 921 of 2005 – Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations 2005.
Water rarely gives second chances and a life jacket is just that – it saves your life, so we would implore anglers and all other users for their own safety as well as it being the law.
Please put on and keep on that life jacket until you are back on dry land.
