There was a wintry feel to the last week and depending on the day or where you were it was either cold and settled or cold and windy. The odd heavy fall of rain (and even snow) saw a few rivers rise again. Overall it was a productive enough time for anglers here in Ireland. A few more trout rivers opened, charterboats were able to fish comfortably, particularly over the weekend and coarse and pike anglers had some good catches.

There were no more reports of salmon from Lough Currane in the last week, though one good trout (possibly an over wintered sea trout) was caught and released on the troll. There was one salmon taken on spinner from the Lower Lee. Another 10 pounder was caught at Delphi bringing their total for February to 3 fish. Things are starting to liven up on the Drowes, two more springers were caught over the weekend. With the water levels as they are, prospects look good for the coming days. On Thursday, Melvin Schofield, fishing on Lough Melvin had a 10lb salmon trolling off Ward’s Point. This is the first salmon of the year for the Rossinver Fishery.

The final round of the Canal Pairs League was again fished on the Grand Canal at Daingean. Fish were mostly small but a few bigger specimens helped make up the weights. Julian Kendrick and Colin Oliver won with 32lb 4oz between them. On Sunday 31 anglers attended the inaugural Romanian C&R Angling Association coarse angling competition at Oaklands Lake. The fishing was harder than anticipated but some good looking carp were landed.  Polish Poll AC fished their first match of the year at Athy on Sunday. On the day 17 anglers caught and safely released 66.092kg of roach, dace and perch.

Another good pike from Lough Derg
Anthony Glbert’s Derg pike wins Catch of the Week

IFI staff on patrol witnessed some good pike fishing on Lough Derg last week. Pike to 18lb were reported by anglers out on the lake. Catch of the Week goes to Anthony Gilbert for a good looking fish from the lake. Further up the Shannon system around Longford there were more good pike reports where anglers fishing with Kevin Lyons had fish to 24lb.  In Fermanagh some pike seemed relucant to hit the soft plastics on offer by one angler over the weekend. Although a few were caught the decision was make to tackle down and target perch to keep things exciting. There were also reports of some entertaining pike fishing on Loughs Garadice and Rathadaire.

After 4 months of looking at his boat on the pontoon, charter skipper Max Coque was delighted to be back on the water over the weekend. Fishing with his daughter and a friend they had some lovely pollack to 5lb under the cliffs of the Aran Islands. Staying Galway Bay, John Fleming reports that the pollack, coalfish, haddock and whiting were thick on the ground. His anglers had coalies up to 5lbs, and pollack averaging 8lbs and three whooping fish of 10.2lbs 12.5lbs and 13.4 lbs. Down in Co. Kerry, Tomasz Ekert and a friend had some great bass in glorious sunshine. Fish to 59cm were caught, tagged and released as part of the bass tagging programme. In Cork Harbour we’re back on the boats to report on the lasted round of fishing in the Cobh SAC Winter League. Myles Howell won by a point on a day crowned by the sunshine. Back east there were flounder to 36cm for the Bannow Bay anglers at Carne where all the competitors enjoyed fishing in the fine weather and good sea conditions.

As we go to press there are Status Yellow weather warnings in place. The first is a snow-ice warning  in Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal and the second is a small craft warning on all Irish coasts as west to northwest winds will reach force 6 or higher this afternoon and evening. The outlook over the weekend and into next week is for cold, breezy weather with some scattered showers. It’ll take more than that to stop the anglers getting out this weekend.

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

Myles Kelly

Catch, Photo, Release

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Bassing in Co. Kerry
Bassing in Co. Kerry. Photo: Tomasz Ekert