A strange month that started with a heat wave that turned to torrential downpours and ends with showers.  Fresh water anglers suffered at the beginning of the month and sea anglers excelled.  This week we have a switch around with sea anglers complaining about the harsh conditions.  Our Irish weather is as unpredictable as the Euro Soccer results and the British voters….

Rain was a welcome visitor to all of our salmon lakes this week. On the Erriff, Paddy Donegan caught a cracking 9lb fish on a Willie Gunn and other anglers were pleased with some nice grilse up to 4½lbs.  3 sea trout were also recorded in the ¾ to 1lb bracket. Fresh water also brought good fish to the Costello fishery.  Beat 1 produced 2 cracking fresh fish of 6lbs 12oz and 6lbs 8oz for one angler. The Galway Fishery had its best week of the season with 121 fish logged, as well as many more lost. Both Shrimp and Fly landed some beauties in the 5 to 6 lb range. A beautiful fresh grilse caught and released by John Moloney on the Galway Fishery is our ‘Catch of the Week’ winner.

John Moloney releasing a nice fresh grilse on the Galway Fishery is our 'Catch of the Week' winner
John Moloney releasing a nice fresh grilse on the Galway Fishery is our ‘Catch of the Week’ winner

On the Drowes grilse were caught from all areas of the river on fly, spinner worm & prawn/shrimp. Prospects are looking good for the coming week with water levels at a nice height. The river is averaging a dozen a day at present. Lough Melvin however, had little angling activity despite the fact that there were quite a few grilse about. There were 10 grilse caught for the week, all by trolling. On the Owenea Fishery spinner and fly landed 5 salmon on beat 8 ranging from a 10½lb fish to a fine 15lber which was caught and released by Martin Harvey.

The super Moy lived up to its name with over 600 salmon reported caught.  The Ridge Pool, Cathedral Beat, Weir Pool, Mount Falcon and Foxford all performed well.  Cloongee gave French anglers some lovely catches on spinners.  Average weights on the Moy were 3 to 6 lbs but there were some cracking double figures recorded too. Ballisodare Fishery had 255 salmon; most were caught on fly or worm with only a few caught on the prawn at the Falls.

Dropping down the country to Cork and Kerry, we saw tough Corkonian fish on the River Bandon putting up quite a battle. Some lovely sea liced grilse are making their way up the river. The majority of the 25 grilse reported were caught on worm shrimp and fly. On the Lee 14 salmon were landed this week mostly around the Kingsley Weir, the best weighing 11lbs. The flying C worked best on the River Ilen where 6 fish were reported.

A cracking 8½ lbs sea trout for Dublin fly angler Eoin O’Reilly was among the catches on the Currane. Other catches included a 6½lb grilse and a good few 3 – 4lb sea trout. Beat 3 on the rive Laune reported 9 and 7lb beauties for Thomas Ward and an 11lber on the Laune Anglers waters plus a 10lb salmon at Johnstons. Ted O’Riordan, secretary of Laune Salmon and Trout Anglers Association passed away on Thursday. Ted did great work for the association and will be badly missed. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

The Munster Blackwater is in fine condition and had a good week. They recorded a number of fish caught on the fly including one cracking salmon at 12lbs from the Ballincurrig beat. Black spinners with copper blades seem to be the favourite at the minute for anyone spinning although the fly is working better than the spinner.

Donegal crooner Daniel O’Donnell paid a visit to Andrew Ryan at Clonanav in Ballymacarbry Co. Waterford. No doubt he serenaded the fish into submission ! Himself and wife Majella were out filming the new series of Daniel and Majella’s B & B road trip. At Sheelin this week, no amount of singing could coax the trout. They are caught between the dregs of the Mayfly spents and the beginning of the sedges and were in no mood for feeding till late evening. 32 fish was the tally for the week, the biggest being 6½lbs which was taken on a murrough.

Lough Corrib worked well for the early risers. James McDonnell of Cashel fishing at Cornamona had an excellent trout of 4lbs while trolling. Caenis fishing proved fruitful with a Scottish angler getting 10 fish over one early morning trip. On Sunday last Cairde Loch Coiribe hosted The Federation Cup (Catch & Release competition) out of Annaghdown. 56 Anglers participated, between them recording 40 trout caught which were measured and released back into Lough Corrib. Well done to all involved.

It’s not only soccer the Germans excel at. Coarse angler Thomas Wolf made Killeshandra his home for a few days fishing and totted up a nice bag of 22 tench between 4 to 6 lbs. Massive weights were also the order of the day at Lurgan angler’s annual club carp trip to Toomans Carp Fishery. Kevin Maguire won with an unbelievable weight of 271lb 2ozs over the two day event. The Breffni Arms Festival took place recently too. Bags included Bream, Skimmers, Roach and Hybrids and top weight went to Kevin Rowles with 74.290kg.

The blue sharks made their way early to Galway and waiting for them was skipper John Fleming of the Brazen Huzzy 2. John kicked the season off in style on Saturday with a fine blue of 84lbs. Sligo Boat Charters chased the spurdogs and Daryl Ewing reported a couple of nice specimens at 17lbs and 13½lbs. He tells us there were great amount of big pollack, mackerel, coalie, cod, codling, ling, pouting and poor cod about.

The last 3 weeks on the Wicklow coast was very busy for skipper Kit Dunne as he had a total of 47 specimen smooth hounds, 13 in one day alone ! Co Clare had some rough seas this week but the estuary did yield some fine lumps of pollack and an 8lb bull huss.

Anglers are reminded that the closing date to register for the IFSA shore species hunt in July 31st. Application forms can be had from their site. Congratulation to Greystones Ridge Angling Club who officially opened their new club rooms this week and tight line to all.

The outlook for the coming week is for changeable and unsettled weather to continue over the weekend and throughout next week.   It will be cool at first, but temperatures will increase a little next week.  Winds will fall light on Saturday night, with rain developing in south and southwest coastal areas, but dry elsewhere, apart from a few scattered showers. Rain and drizzle will become more widespread Sunday night.

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

Nancy Hearne

Catch, Photo, Release

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The Galbally National School explore the wonders of the River Aherlow with IFI staff.
The Galbally National School explore the wonders of the River Aherlow with IFI staff.