
It’s been a wet and windy start to June. The rain was needed at most fisheries, but the wind has been a bit contrary at times…
The rain and grilse runs were timed well for a change, but those rivers getting their first dirty floods of the summer were not great for fishing. Many of West Cork’s spate rivers fell into the latter category, but the Ilen was not amongst them racking up 30 salmon last week. The Bandon also improved with the drop of fresh water it received. The Laune, Currane, Owenmore and Feale all had positives to report, but the wind undid the chances of many on Lough Currane. The Galway Fishery did well as the grilse run and favourable water levels saw 137 fish landed with some anglers getting 4 and 5 fish a session. Fishing on the Moy continues to improve and 340 salmon were reported as salmon are now spread all through the system. The Munster Blackwater also recorded a few good days and further east anglers on the Suir had some really exciting catches before the rain put the river out of order. Many had the prized double figure fish from this river, but one angler was witnessed catching and releasing a super springer estimated at 26lb.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has launched a public consultation focusing on the development of a national sea trout policy and is now inviting submissions from the public. Sea trout has significant economic and cultural importance in Ireland with the potential for further development. For more see: http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Public-Consultation/sea-trout-policy-development.html

The weather did not really suit late season mayfly fishing for trout and all the big loughs struggled. Despite big hatches of fly on Sheelin any trout caught here were hard earned as anglers negotiated wind changes and temperature drops. Over on Corrib the Mayfly is done and changeable weather did not make for enjoyable fishing. The “but” was that Caenis did offer some great early morning sport and some anglers had 8 and 10 trout a morning! There were a few trout reported from Lough Ree and some of the midlands stocked fisheries offer a great antidote to a tough day on the big loughs.
The Grand Canal at Daingean was producing good catches of bream and tench earlier this week, unfortunately the weather has been playing havoc with the canal fishing for the Edenderry 3 Day Festival. The CM Lakelands Feeder Only 3 day festival produced plenty of hybrids and skimmers. The festival was fished over two County Cavan Loughs, Barnagrow and Skeagh, during the Bank Holiday weekend was won by Robertas Zilaitis with 42.280kg.

Ken Golightly’s first day catch of almost 29kg from the Garden Centre in Inniscarra’s Ottewill Cup gave him an unassailable lead and he easily took 1st place despite two tough days after that. Pleasure anglers are reporting some great bags of fish between Portumna and Shannon Harbour with catches reaching 30 – 40kg for some.
Lough Derg saw some great pike catches last week as the Irish Kayak Angling Club fished the first leg of their championship from Portumna. Reports from the angling guides on the lake are that the bite is on and 1m plus fish are feeding well.

The poor conditions often made life difficult for sea anglers hoping to get out on the waves. Killala Bay is fishing well and charter boat anglers onboard Leah landed some fine fish (15 species) despite the windy conditions. Shore anglers and charter boat skippers are getting good fishing from Donegal’s shores. Donegal Bay is once again up in highlights following more Killybegs Mariners trips and anglers on Rosguill from Downings had a great mix of fish as new marks from last year continue to produce this season. Galway Bay is also fishing well and tope and blue shark are expected to put in an appearance there soon. Anglers fishing on Loch an Iasc in West Cork had good wreck fishing with their star fish a 15lb pollack. East coast anglers also had good fishing to report. Specimen smoothhounds are starting to come onboard Kit Dunne’s boat and despite some awful weather and trips being cut short they are getting great fishing.
Other news:
Inland Fisheries Ireland has launched a Fish & Film competition to encourage young people to spread the word about fishing. Junior fishing clubs, youth clubs, projects and centres from across Ireland are invited to apply to the competition by taking film footage of their fishing adventures and promoting it online. The top three groups with the most views on their film will go forward to a junior fishing competition where the overall winner will receive a €1,000 fishing tackle voucher for their club with the two runners up each winning a €250 voucher. To enter visit: http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/fishandfilm
The forecast is for a blustery weekend with some rain, some heavy, in warm daytime temperatures on Saturday, but cooler on Sunday. The outlook for next week is for warmer weather to develop after a fresh start with showers. There are gale warnings and small craft warning in effect so check the forecast before heading out.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Myles Kelly
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].
Headlines
Salmon fishing reports
- Great salmon getting caught on Suir as fish to 26lb caught and released
- Grilse run Currane but wild winds prevent anglers making most of it
- Some decent fishing on the Munster Blackwater
- Rising water spoils weekend on Laune but some good fish about
- Just a few salmon from Inniscarra last week
- Ilen River doing well after rain, 30 salmon to 15lb reported
- Good salmon fishing on the Bandon following the rains
- Anglers enjoying the sea trout at Owenmore, river and lakes
- 340 salmon reported from the Moy last week
- A few salmon on the Feale as conditions continue to improve
- Grilse running the Erriff, prospects good
- Summer grilse run in full swing at Galway
Trout fishing reports
- A Dutch of Class on Mount Dalton
- Moya and the Rainbow – a Whitewood adventure
- Jewels of trout for Jade on Ree
- Knockaderry fishing well, nymphs doing best
- Mayfly done on Corrib, but good trout to Caenis
- Super hatches but May trout hard earned on Sheelin
Coarse angling reports
- Big bream catch wins Ken Golightly Ottewill Cup on Inniscarra
- Robertas Zilaitis wins CM Lakelands Feeder Festival with 42.280kg
- Inclement weather evens the field in Edenderry 3 Day Festival
- 86lb catch leads the way in first leg of Oaklands Junior League
- Irish Kayak Angling Club holds first round of Championship at Portumna
- Portumna, Meelick, Shannon Harbour fishing well nets to 80lb reported
- Royal Canal produces the good for novice anglers
- New research reveals current state of fish stocks in Ireland’s second longest river
- Nice Practice Session for Dave Harlow at Daingean
Pike angling reports
- Irish Kayak Angling Club holds first round of Championship at Portumna
- Stunt man tackles pike on fly at Derravarragh
Sea angling reports
- Kerry, Donegal, Waterford, Wexford fishing well for the Irish Kayak Angling Club
- Great fishing even in tough conditions for Wicklow anglers
- Mini species, massive fishing, marvelous Donegal
- Galway Bay fishing well as shark season set to start
- Rosguill back on the water, some good fishing on reed, wreck and sand
- 51st Cobh International Deep Sea Angling Festival
- Pollack to 15lb in catches for West Cork charter boat anglers
- Sea anglers get a good haul of species from Killala Bay
Other news
- GAIA gets Carrick on Suir casting
- Inland Fisheries Ireland and An Taisce host nature walk at Glenties Hatchery, Donegal
- Inland Fisheries Ireland launches public consultation on sea trout policy development
- New research reveals current state of fish stocks in Ireland’s second longest river
News clippings
- Longford anglers set to take part in Go Hire National Pike Championships qualifier on Sunday, June 11, Longford Leader
- Kildare fishers and youth groups encouraged to apply for film competition, Leinster Leader
- Donegal youth and fishing clubs urged to enter Fish & Film competition, Donegal Now
- How to make the most of trout season, Irish Times
- Conviction for fish kill in Glenamaddy highlights consequences of pollution, Galway Advertiser
- Crayfish Plague is endangering the River Suir species in Kilkenny, Kilkenny People
- Galway farmer convicted and fined for polluting river with silage effluent, AgriLand
- Efforts to locate source of oil pollution on Limerick river continue, Limerick Leader
- Crayfish plague threatens to wipe out stock in Rathkeale’s River Deel, Limerick Leader