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.

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
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].
Headlines
Salmon fishing reports
- Good fly water on Feale, just one fish reported last week
- A dozen salmon from the Drowes in high water
- A couple of salmon from Blackwater Salmon Fishery
- Another salmon on spinner from the Bandon
- A few salmon and some good sea trout on the Laune
- Warm weekend weather revitalises salmon fishing on Currane
- A few more Salmon from the Moy
- Season on Carrowmore Lake kicked off with a magnificent 14.5 lbs. Salmon!
- First Salmon of the Season on Lough Beltra!
- Changeable times at Delphi
- Another couple of salmon from the Feale
Trout fishing reports
- Improved weather brings on the duckfly on Corrib
- Some good fishing on Lough Ennel last week
- Beautif-Owel trout on troll
- Trout fishing continues to pick up on Melvin
- Knockaderry trout feeding in the shallows
- Hot and Cold fishing at Sheelin last week
Coarse angling reports
- Tough fishing at O’Briens Bridge in Munster CAC Winter Final
- Ireland wins International Feeder Friendly Challenge
Pike fishing reports
- Pike to 22lb for UK anglers visiting Longford
- Doubles for Dubs in Longford
- River Inny fishing well, good pike landed
Sea angling reports
- Good pollack and coalfish for charter anglers on Galway Bay
- Wrasse off the rocks under red skies in Donegal
- Lady Gwen at it again – charter fishing the Clare coast
- Great bass fishing and more from Kerry shores
- Specimen skate for lucky angler on Clew Bay
- Aidan takes early lead in Tubertini West Coast Shore League
- Big bass comes early for Wexford angler
- Ardmore anglers report excellent shore fishing
Other news
- April Opens on Inniscarra – Feeder Only Matches
- Man convicted of illegal net fishing for Bass off Wexford Coastline
- Public consultation – Lough Furnace
- Public Notice – Gweebarra Fishery
- Local Fishermen celebrated by Inland Fisheries Ireland
- IFI Managed Lakes Cork and Kerry Update
- Fly fishing Open Day on Moy – 8 April
News clippings
- Angling for Inclusion, InTallaght.ie
- Westmeath fisherman celebrated by IFI, Westmeath Examiner
- River Lee to host world’s top anglers, The Corkman
- Dace have spread their fins, Irish Examiner
- Oil spill on Allaghaun River in Abbeyfeale is ‘contained’, Limerick Leader
- Inland Fisheries Ireland Announces Angling Initiatives In Tipperary To Receive Sponsorship, Tipp Tatler
- Huge turnout on Tolka for St Patrick’s Day opener, Irish Times
- Limerick authorities deal with oil spill on Allaughan River, Limerick Leader
- Fermanagh County Council to be contacted about 12km foam slick on Lough Melvin, Leitrim Observer
- Six angling initiatives in Leitrim to receive sponsorship, The Leitrim Observer
- Athlone angler catches giant trout on Lough Ree! Westmeath Independent
