With a historic super moon shining down, the beaches on our Wexford shoreline is an ideal setting for this year’s World Shore Angling competition. The so-called ‘supermoon’ means the planet will be closer to Earth than it has been since 1948 and our super men’s and ladies’ teams will be on home ground. Indeed this is the first time we have a ladies team competing. This event will showcase Wexford and bring significant angling tourism to our country….
The latest results available are from yesterday day 3 which saw the Irish Men 4th on the day and 2nd overall and the Ladies 2nd on the day and holding 1st overall. Lisa Gormley 3rd overall and Anne Whitty 4th, while the men are Alan Mulcahy 2nd and Harry McKee 4th overall. The final day is today. We wish all the 11 Ladies Teams and 18 Mens teams which are competing the very best of luck and especially our own Irish team.
An interesting article caught my eye during the week when I realised that three members of one family are competing on an international team. Janet and Jim Snoddy and their daughter Lisa Gormley, from Glengormley, travel as members of the Irish Ladies team. Janet and Lisa battling some of the top shore anglers from around the world while Jim is the team manager!
Leaving the east coast and heading up the country it was a case of wooly jumpers and Winter fishing keeping the Killybegs Mariners SAC busy at their league outing on Friday night. Conditions were difficult after heavy rain dumped tonnes of leaves on the beach from the swollen river Eany. A wise Stefan Martin cast out well past the obstruction and was rewarded with a nice treble shot of 37cm and two 31cm flounders. This gave him the longest fish and a prize of €80.
Cork Bass guru, Richie Ryan made us all jealous at the weekend with 10 bass on one short afternoon session with a further 12 the following day. Leave some for the rest of us Richie!
A delighted Martin Moffatt raised the Murtagh Cup high on Lough Derravaragh. A long wait and well deserved. No monster pike on the day of the competition but the craic was great. Across at Longford, Melview Lodge guests were very pleased with their catch. Pike measuring up to 107cms using both lures and dead baits were the order of the day.
The Newbridge and District Pike angling association are holding an open pike competition at Poulaphouca lake in Blessington, Co. Wicklow on Sunday 27th Nov with a prize fund of €750, so that gives you all an opportunity to catch your own monsters. Christopher Delaney can sit back on his laurels because he already caught his giant at the weekend. His Killinarden Angling Initiative friends caught the full event on video and watched Chris sweat as he landed a super 22lb specimen pike on a 6lbs line on a drop shot rig. Well done KAI angler, you are our ‘Catch of the Week’ winner.
The Shannon was invaded by the Portumna Coarse Angling Club for their annual knock-up. 20 bream and some good hybrids on the tip saw popular angler Bill Cassidy take first prize, followed in 2nd place by Kevin Leahy with 15 bream. At Inniscarra, the Sensas Challenge took place last weekend. Cathal Hughes took the individual winner title and the Sensas Dennetts team bagged the team prize. Another competition on Sunday was the Oaklands Fishery event at New Ross. This turned out to be a tough day for the competitors, but yet great weights were eventually recorded for this time of the year.
Guide Michael Flanagan caught some cracking perch on Lough Ennell. He had to fish jigs very slow as the fish weren’t easy to find. A lovely little beauty weighing 1lbs 8oz brightened his day, a quick photo and off it went.
If it’s trout fishing your prefer, then a trip to Ballyshunnock reservoir which is run by the Waterford and District CAC. They inform us that the lake is now re-stocked and some excellent rainbows await. Many of you back from the recent Irish Fly Fair at Salthill will be eager to try out new equipment and practice all the advice given at the show.
In other news Aasleagh Lodge, Leenane, Co Galway will see a visit from Freshwater Detective Ken Whelan on 18th to 20th November. Annamoe in Wicklow has a Single Hand and Double Hand Spey Casting Workshop on Saturday 19th which will be given by the capable Paddy Mc Donnell from Co. Mayo who is a fully qualified and experienced Casting Instructor and Salmon Fishing Guide.
Or take a friend fishing and head to the Mossy Roche open competition on Woodstown beach on Sunday Nov 27th run by the Tramore-Waterford SAC.
This weekend will see the weather turn quite cold, so layers of clothing advised. It looks like there will be a lot of dry weather on both days with sunny spells and just light winds. Most of the shower activity will be in coastal regions of the west and north. The nights will be very cold with widespread severe frost on Saturday and Sunday night and air temperatures as low as minus 3 or minus 4 degrees. Daytime temperatures will be low as well, between 4 and 7 degrees at best.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Nancy Hearne
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Headlines
Sea angling reports
- Difficult conditions for Killybegs Mariners at Inver
- An abundance of salt water beauties for the bass guide in Cork
- A hive of activities as the World Shore Angling Championships commences
Pike fishing reports
- Dead baits produce good pike for fishing pals
- Cracking Pike of 107cm for Dominque at Melview Lodge
- The Murtagh cup goes to Martin Moffatt
- Cracking 22lb pike on a drop shot rig for KAI’s Christopher Delaney
Coarse angling reports
- Hard work pays off at Oakland’s competition
- Good spirits and banter at the Inniscarra annual Irish Sensas Challenge
- Perfect picture of pristine Perch from Ennell
- 20 bream and good hybrids for Bill at cracking Portumna knock-up
Trout fishing reports
News clippings
- Charlie wins All-Ireland silver medal – Leitrim Observer
- Altagoan River: Rain hampering fish kill investigation – BBC.com
- Shore is a family affair as girls make debut on world stage – Belfast Telegraph
- World Shore Angling Championship under way – Irish Times
Other news
- Single Hand and Double Hand Spey Casting Workshop at Annamoe, Wicklow Nov 19th
- Freshwater Detective course with Ken Whelan in Connemara 18th -20th Nov
- 21st Century Game Angling Weekend – an offer not to be missed
- Old friends, newcomers and experts mix at the Irish Fly Fair in Galway
- Wild Salmon And Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations for 2017
