Out on Cork Harbour as the sun sets…

Half the country was scalded in the last week as each day was proclaimed the hottest day of the year. Some Irish anglers were amongst that number but hopefully suncream, sombreros and sense were applied by most. Needless to say the hottest and brightest days (weren’t they all?) were not the best for anglers, but you’d be amazed by some of the catches that came in all the same…

The Munster Blackwater did well following recent rains and some great days were had by a number of anglers as fish to 18.5lb were landed. The River Lee also had a good week and over 50 salmon and grilse were reported from club waters and the Inniscarra fishery. Heading west we come to the Bandon which recorded 40 salmon last week. Other west Cork rivers were not as prolific. The Laune was quiet again and not many salmon were reported. Currane could have done well but the days that weren’t eye squintingly bright were more than a little windy. On the Goldilocks days anglers did well enough though. The Feale had been fishing well, but unfortunately levels are low again now. The Grilse run in the west is continuing to boost catches and Costello and Fermoyle and the Erriff reported successes for a number of anglers. The Burrishoole Fishery opened with a couple of salmon caught but it was the Moy that hit all the high notes again. Over 500 salmon were reported and fish are being caught all through the system. Given the conditions of the last week its a good number. The Drowes had been holding its own, but levels there are low now and catches have fallen.

trout
Ted Wherry with a stunning 7lbs trout – Catch of the Week Winner

Sheelin hummed and buzzed with hatches of fly but the shifting winds put paid to consistent fishing. So it was that luck and skill were needed to make the most of the fishing on offer. Angling regulations on the lake and other water across the Shannon catchment have been updated and anglers are advised to make themselves familiar with the new regulations. Lough Owel was the venue for the Monasterevin Angler’s Timmy Meredith Memorial Cup on Saturday. It was tough going in the sunshine and calm, but a few trout were landed. Anglers on Mount Dalton had better fishing earlier in the week landing 10 trout to over 3lbs.  Trout anglers were scarce enough on Corrib and though the fishing was not easy some very good fish were taken. Ted Wherry of Mayfly Lodge and guest Andrew Wain caught and released trout of 7lb and 6.5lb in the bright sunshine. The fly was not named. Once again Catch of the Week goes to Lough Corrib – Ted Wherry is the worthy winner for his 7lb fish. Catch Photo Release.

Canal angling in Ireland offers some great fishing and the Royal Enfield two-day Festival showed just how good the fishing can be as the anglers returned some cracking catches of skimmers and bream. Paul Hughes had a fantastic second day and won the event on 38lb 10 ozs. Despite the high temperatures there were good catches of coarse fish from Shannonbridge down to Lough Derg.

Lough Derg was also the scene of some more incredible piking exploits as visiting anglers were guided to some of the best fishing on offer in Ireland. There were strong winds to contend with, as well the hot weather but the lake’s guides really proved their worth providing no shortage of excitement and big fish. The biggest reported was 114cm caught by Cedric Charpentier. A group of Dutch anglers staying at Melview Lodge had lots of pike between 70-80cm but the bigger fish were hard got due to the bright weather. That said they did get a couple of 90’s and biggest measured was 106cm. On Ennell first time anglers fishing with mick Flanagan had great sport landing pike to 10lb in blistering sunshine.

Brendan and Bream
Specimen Black Bream

Sea anglers probably had some of the best fishing despite the winds and particularly on the brightest days. Wicklow Boat Charters had up to 15 specimen smoothhounds in a day, tope to specimen size and specimen black bream. In bass fishing news Cork Harbour provided good angling for German anglers fishing with Richie Ryan. Bass and pollack were caught on a mix of fly and lure. The Awesome Angling team had ling to 30 lbs, conger to 25lb and coal fish to 14.5lb with Mark Gannon out of Courtmcsherry. Charter boats Lady Gwen II and Clare Dragoon are reporting good fishing in the Shannon Estuary and off the Clare coast. A little further up the coast in Galway Bay specimen spurdogs and more provided the excitement for anglers fishing with Blue Shark Angling Galway. Once again it is Donegal Bay that provides the shore angling highlights. Everything that swims in the sea from conger eels to 27lb to tiny 3 spined sticklebacks seem to be on the feed up there.

Don’t forget about the Fish & Film competition. 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

Bright breezy weather, a little cooler than what we have been getting, is forecast for the weekend. There will be a few showers on Saturday developing into widespread rain on Sunday. Next week is to be a little cooler again. And wetter. Sure aren’t the days drawing in already. Well, that’s our summer over. Give up the beach and go fishing…

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

Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release

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