So that’s another month done as we March through 2017. The weather has been a bit topsy-turvy, but that’s what March will do. Unseasonably wintry and unseasonably summery. Sometimes at the same time. Sometimes the fish don’t mind and other times it can be a pain. Coarse anglers found their quarry to be shy of the sunshine at the weekend, while other fisheries enjoyed great sport in the sun. Go figure…

There were a few salmon from the Munster Blackwater in the last week. Amongst the lucky anglers was Keith Barry fishing on the Blackwater Salmon Fishery beats. Next up is the Bandon where another salmon was taken on spinner last week. While the Laune Anglers are not getting any salmon the other fisheries on the Laune are producing a few fish, including sea trout to 3lbs. The sun really smiled on Lough Currane and there were 7 salmon to 12.5lb reported. There has been good fly water on the Feale but only one more fish fell to the anglers trying their luck there. Anglers at Delphi have seen every sort of weather imaginable in the last couple of weeks and only a couple of salmon have been forthcoming. Heading further north into Mayo we have a couple of firsts from our lake fisheries. Lough Beltra produced an opening day salmon on March 20th and this was followed by a couple of more fish last week.  There were 2 salmon to open the account for Carrowmore on Saturday as fish of 12.5 and 14.5 lbs were landed. The Moy produced a few more fish last week with salmon landed at Foxford and East Mayo waters. The Drowes reported high water last week but the fish were loving it and a dozen or salmon were landed by anglers.

Lough Sheelin was another place where anglers were subjected to everything mother nature had to throw at them last week. Christmas card scenery followed by idyllic, summery conditions and the fish obliged more than one angler. Gary McKiernan had 8 trout to 62cm on wets and Gina Tanczos was back on the lake with guide, Christopher Defillion to mark her birthday with a 6lb trout. Other midlands lakes like Owel and Ennell also produced a few trout on fly and lure. There was a big increase in duckfly hatches on Corrib over the last week and the beautiful weather of the weekend saw a lot of anglers take to the lake to have a go. Catches have increased in the wake of all the activity and some fine trout to 5lb were reported.

Ireland’s International Feeder Friendly Challenge took place on Loughs Sillan and Namachree on Sunday. The flat calm conditions and clear water made it a tough day and the Irish anglers did well to take the title on the day. Munster Coarse Anglers endured similar fishing at O’Brien’s Bridge. Last week they had big bags, but on Sunday just 5lb 9oz was enough to win the day.

There were some good pike to almost 20lb from the River Inny last week. In the Longford area two groups of anglers had lovely pike fishing with plenty of doubles recorded. The best fish was a 22lb pike for an angler visiting from the UK.

Shore anglers reported good bass from venues in Wexford, Waterford and Kerry in the last few days. Some fine fish to 78cm were amongst the fish caught and released by the lucky anglers. Fishing at the first leg of the Tubertini West Coast Shore League in Renvyle was reasonably good, with 93 fish caught, including coalfish, dogfish, rockling and pollack. Although wrasse have not made much of appearance elsewhere around our shores, up in Donegal Bay they were the source of good sport for an evening session or two by the Killybegs Mariners. The weekend saw a few charter boats hit the seas too. It’s great to see reports in from the Clare coast, Galway Bat and Clew Bay. It’s from Clew Bay that our Catch of the Week comes from – a 201cm specimen sized Skate for Darragh McGee.

Angler poses with 210cm skate
A specimen sized skate from Clew Bay – first of 2017 and Catch of the Week.

Friday will start with a bit of rain, but the day will brighten with good sunny spells in many places for the morning time. However heavy thundery showers will also break out, these becoming widespread through the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15C in moderate southwest breezes. Saturday will be fresh and there will be more rain, mostly in the west, and possibly hail. It will be a cold night in many parts. Sunday will be mostly dry and bright, with good sunny spells in all areas. Pleasantly mild by early afternoon, with top temperatures of 12 to 15C, in moderate southerly breezes. Maybe not the summery conditions of last week but not a bad way to welcome April, what is the old timers say about March “…out like a lamb.”? Oh, and don’t forget that extra hour in the evening, all the better for a last, last cast….

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

Myles Kelly

Catch, Photo, Release

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Playing a trout in the last light on Corrib. A wonderful shot from Larry McCarthy.
Playing a trout in the last light on Corrib. A wonderful shot from Larry McCarthy.