Michael Flanagan gives a round up from the angling scene in the Midlands…

As readers are well aware we are in serious trouble with flood water, and here in the greater Mullingar area we are getting away light compared to down around Athlone. Hopefully in the coming weeks we will get a dry spell and water levels just might start dropping.

BRIGHT LURES IN FLOOD WATERS

colourful lures
Not a big pike for but colourful lures will work well in muddy waters.

It’s tough going on the Angling scene, and its Canal fishing, or on some of our smaller lakes not affected by floodwater from rivers. Mind you Owel, and Lene are worth a trip for pike and perch, as long as we dot have gale force winds. Bright colored lures are the order of the day, and we had some nice pike over the Christmas break on, yellow, red, and silver lures. Plus my fist pike of 2016 fell to a small dead Roach. The Byrne families were back in Mullingar for a few days, and enjoyed some pike action. Also Ronan Fox of Lakepoint tells us Midland Pike & Predator Club members are looking forward to the coming season. They have a Fish of the Month competition up and running, and its sponsored by Brian Conlon of Wild. Total Outdoors. There’s lots of talk about the rising water levels on Derravaragh, and its up a good 3 meters on May 2015 Levels. Plus we were contacted by more illegal dumping out at Tullaghan.

FIRST PIKE FOR YOUNG DANNY BOY

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Young Danny Byrne and his Uncle Hugh pictured with a beautifully coloured pike. Danny is really hooked on his fishing ,and this was his first Pike.

Mullingar lad Hugh Byrne dropped down for a few days over the Christmas break, and brought his Nephew Danny from Killiney for a days fishing. It was young Danny’s first day at the pike, and he was really excited about the angling adventure. We were blessed with good luck, and got a few hours before Storm Frank belted across the Midlands. On the day the lads boated 3 nice pike on very colorful lures, as the water in places now is very discoloured. The Danny Boy is really hooked on his angling, and when the weather improves will be back in Mullingar visiting his Gran, and spending a few hours fishing.

MIDLAND PIKE & PREDATOR CLUB

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Ronan Fox of Midland Pike & Predator Club with cracking pike

Ronan Fox of Lakepoint tells us Midland Pike & Predator club members are fired up for the 2016 season, and have a fish of the month competition on line. Brian Conlon of Wild/ Total Outdoors Angling Center is sponsoring a monthly prize for the best fish caught each month. The club is in its early stages Ronan told me and all can be checked on their Facebook page, or drop into Wild/Total Outdoors.

DERRAVARAGH WATER LEVELS

Derravaragh is up 3 meters we are told and this is the Moneen/Bishops river just outside Crookedwood on the Castlepollard Road. The River flows betweed the posts, giving you some idea of the flood water. Just imagine what's coming down the River Inny.
Derravaragh is up 3 meters we are told and this is the Moneen/Bishops river just outside Crookedwood on the Castlepollard Road. The River flows betweed the posts, giving you some idea of the flood water. Just imagine what’s coming down the River Inny.

Lough Derravaragh is making the news across the Midlands, as water levels on a daily base. The River Inny is carrying some volumn of water into Derravaragh, along with the many spawning streams. Just outside Crookedwood heading for Castlepollard the Moneen/Bishops River is all over the place and it hard to pick out the River except for the tops of the paling posts. Water levels have also made its way back to the Cooloure Boat House, and local people told me its way back in the early 60ies that they scene water in Cooloure Boat House. Plus Karl Meehan of Donore had to move some caravans to higher ground as Derravaragh hit high water marks. Its certainly going to take some time before Derravaragh settles down, as its up on 3 meters higher than May levels when we were pike fishing in 2015.

LAKE SHORE DUMPING

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Not a wet week into the New Year and illegal dumping taking place at Tullaghan Lough Owel

Yes we are not a wet week into 2016 and we got news of illegal dumping at Tullaghan on the shores of Owel. Some bags of rubbish were left beside the bins, and the rest was dumped out of sight down the Tullaghan Shore. Every year illegal dumping is highlighted here in Westmeath, and it’s certainly a sigh for sore eyes especially when you have visiting anglers coming to fish our lake and rivers.

Midlands litter hotlines

  • Westmeath Litter Hotline 1890 320 005
  • Laois Litter Hotline 1800 32 32 30
  • Longford Litter Hotline 1850 434 450
  • Offaly Litter Hotline 1800 242 673

National Environmental complaints hotline

  • 1850 365 121

THAT’S IT

Its hard to know when our water levels will settle, and I reckon we will have many different fish species dropping into new water, plus the Invasive species will certainly go with the flow. Looking at some of the Arial footage of Ireland during the floods, many lakes and rivers have being connected by floodwater.
Tight Lines till next week.

Michael Flangan
Midland Angling

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