Anglers are an industrious lot and despite rain, wind and cold conditions quite a few large fish were caught right across all categories. Congers, pike and salmon made the headlines and shore competitions brought out good numbers of participants….
After Currane’s first salmon of the season last week, the Drowes anglers came back fighting with a lovely salmon just under 8lbs caught by Ballybofey angler Eddie Roulston on Saturday. This week’s stormy weather on the Currane meant little action for those fishing. However, the Drowes wasn’t finished with the good news. To crown the week off Eoin Mc Manus caught and released the second fish of the season from the river yesterday. This beautiful bar of silver weighed approx 8lbs and was taken on a 15g yellow Mepps flying c from the corner of the Blackwater. A quick photo by Joe Broderick and Eoin gallantly released his fish safely into the river.
Some excellent pike were caught this week. A frosty cold Lough Derg saw a nice 14lber caught on a big 34 cm Dexter shad for James McGurrin. While tackle shop owner Florian Peter has a superb pike weighing 28lb 8oz on a trout deadbait. Dublin Pike anglers fished their winter league in Cavan with 23 anglers taking part. Heaviest bag winner was Joey Bonnie and heaviest fish of 10.5 lbs went to Ste Farrelly. Angler Aaron Black and friends had a couple of nice small pike from the Royal Canal.
The Corrib got off to a great start with Przemek Markowski claiming a 103cm pike while out fishing with guide Jacek Gorny. And over at Lough Ree as the floods started to recede, one angler reported a pike of 107cm, 23lb 2oz. Popular angler Lloyd Lynch won the Leinster Pike anglers league for a second year running. Larry McCowen got the heaviest fish and Dave Moody angler of the year.
Cormack Daly made the most of difficult conditions and caught two pike in quick succession at Melview Lodge in Longford. But the heavy weight winner of ‘Catch of the Week’ had to go to a cracking monster pike caught by Dennis Coyne from Tullamore. A super 33lbs 6oz pike which he caught on Sunday at the Pallas Angler’s competition.
The Ballybay Angling Association held their open Knock-up on Namachree. Windy weather didn’t help and weights were modest. Robertas Zilaitis won with 2.750kgs. Oaklands in New Ross continues to fish well and the owner’s son John Browne is a hard one to beat as he lands some fine size carp.
Lady angler Sandra O’Shea out fished all her male colleagues at Cork Harbour angling clubs winter league. 74 fish earned her a total of 455 points and first place. Sunday saw anglers line up for the Carty’s Land and Sea Sports cup on Tullan strand in Bundoran. The 2016 cup went to Cathal Donnelly and the junior section was won by Keeva O’Brien.
Hamish Currie was delighted to report the biggest conger in 10 years caught onboard the Predator in Red Bay. Billy McMichael landed this 47lb beauty and his luck didn’t stop there as he also landed a lovely 21lb spurdog in very deep water using whole coalfish for bait.
There is a Status Orange Wind Warning in effect at the moment for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Longford, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, Meath, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Waterford
Southwest winds later veering westerly will increase 65 to 80 km/h overnight and will gust 110 to 130 km/h at times. The strongest winds mainly in northern and western coastal areas.
Counties Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon, Limerick and Tipperary have a Status Yellow warning with Southwest winds later veering westerly will increase 50 to 65 km/h overnight and will gust 100 to 110 km/h at times.
Anglers are reminded that because of flooding care needs to be taken on river banks as they can easily give way.
We wish you a good weekend and remember what Ernest Hemingway said “My big fish must be somewhere.”
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Nancy Hearne
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].
Headlines
Salmon fishing reports
- High water on the Munster Blackwater
- Stormy weather keeps angler quiet on the Currane
- First C & R salmon of 2016 on Drowes
- Plenty of strong wind on Currane, but no more salmon
- Salmon no. 2 of 2016 caught on the Drowes
- Week one report from a celebratory Lough Currane
Pike fishing reports
- Two Pike in short succession at Melview Lodge
- Winner Lloyd Lynch retains his title at the Leinster Pike Anglers winter league
- Lough Ree water levels dropping, some pike about
- 33lb 6oz pike tips the scales for Dennis
- 28lb 8oz beauty from Lough Derg for tackle shop owner
- Good pike fishing on Corrib to kickstart season
- Dublin Pike Anglers Winter league results
- Frosty morning sees pike take trolled lures on Derg
Coarse angling reports
- Some nice fishing in Oaklands, New Ross
- Modest weights at Ballybay weekend knock up and Dromore winter league
Sea angling reports
- Biggest Turnout in Years for Tomorrow’s Winter Shore Angling Festival 2016
- Sandra O’Shea wins Cork Harbour Winter League
- Great fishing at the Carty’s Shore competition on Tullan Strand
- Big conger and spurdogs for anglers at Red Bay
News clippings
- Exciting new moves are net gain for Ulster anglers – Belfast Telegraph
- Inland Fisheries Ireland Issues Statement On Response To Flooding Crisis – Afloat.ie
- Two Convicted of Poaching on Clare River – Afloat.ie
- Connemara Man Convicted of Illegal Fishing At Spiddal Pier – Afloat.ie
- Seasons appear askew and out of sorts, Irish Examiner
- First salmon of 2016 season caught on Lough Currane, Irish Times
- Limerick-based scientist calls lower Shannon a ‘sick’ river, Limerick Leader
- Building a Shannon flood relief canal could avoid future chaos, Irish Independent
Other news
- Spey Casting Course at Fortwilliam Fishery on Sunday 10th April
- Carp and perch – advice, how to and opinions…
- Inland Fisheries Ireland statement re response to flooding crisis
- Two Men Convicted of Poaching Offences
- Connemara Man Convicted of Poaching Offence
