Paddy Halpin, IFI Limerick, reports on the salmon fishing on the Feale…
After a very long dry spell with water levels very low and no anglers out due to the conditions we had a small rise in the Feale last weekend and it brought out a few anglers and we had 7 Salmon reported for the weekend.
Lucky anglers were Mark Loughnane and his son Shane had a fish each on Sunday morning spinning and on the fly, the fish weighed in at 16lbs for Mark and 10lbs for Shane on the fly in the North Kerry Angler waters around Listowel town.
James Allman had a nice fish of 8lbs caught on a single handed fly rod in the Finuge stretch of the Feale and also in the Finuge stretch Brendan Joy had a lovely fish of 8.5 lbs.
On Monday Michael Loughnane had a nice fish of 7.5lbs also caught in the Listowel area. Since then things have gone quiet as water levels have dropped back and we are badly in need of a good flood to clear the river and move a few more fish up.
Go fishing…
The River Feale is among the outstanding salmon and sea trout rivers of Ireland. The River rises in the mountain district of North Co Cork and flows westerly for 75 km (46 miles) through the county towns of Abbeyfeale and Listowel and enters the sea south of Ballybunion. For the final 10 kms (6 miles) of its course, it is known as the Cashen River. Throughout its meandering journey to the sea it flows through a picturesque landscape of heather bog land, fertile valleys and rolling hills. Its main tributaries, flowing from both North and South, combine to add in excess of 160 kms (100 miles) of fishable waters.
About 50% of the main River Feale and the Smearlagh River is controlled by 5 angling clubs. These clubs are some of the best angling waters and each club offers day tickets for visiting anglers.
Download: River Feale angling map – River Feale Angling Map
AbbeyFeale Anglers Association
The Abbeyfeale Anglers Club controls parts of the river between Abbeyfeale and Duagh.
Web: abbeyfealeanglersassociation.wordpress.com
North Kerry Anglers Association
North Kerry Anglers Association issues daily & weekly permits for fishing on 9 miles of the Feale & Smearlagh rivers.
Web: www.northkerryanglers.com
Killocrim/Finuge Angling Club
Killocrim/Finuge Angling Club control approximately 6.5 kms (4 miles) of water downstream of Listowel.
Web: killocrimfinugefishingclub.com
Brosna / Mountcollins Angling Club
Brosna / Mountcollins Angling Club control about 13 kms (8 miles) of double bank fishing from below the Owveg River confluence, up past Mountcollins, to within a short distance of Ahuan Bridge.
Tel: +353 68 44251
For any angling query please contact the Limerick office at [email protected] or by phone 061-300238.
Brown tags
Brown tag fishery: Under the salmon tagging regulations, this year the River Feale is designated as a brown tag fishery.The brown tags for the River Feale bear the code F3. Anglers must affix a brown tag along with a blue tag to any salmon which is retained. This means that salmon retained on the River Feale will have two tags attached. All brown tags (including 1st tag) will be issued from IFI officers ONLY . Please ring 087-7639236 to arrange to receive your first brown tag prior to commencing fishing
- Additional brown tags will only be issued by IFI staff, they may be contacted at 087-7639236 and they will arrange to meet and issue an additional tag upon verification that the previous brown tag has been used, i.e. a fish has been caught and recorded in the logbook.
- 1 brown tag will be issued at a time to each angler.
- If you acquired a 1 day or 21 day licence which has expired, or you have finished fishing for the season, and you have not used the brown tag then this must be surrendered to an IFI officer prior to departure by phoning 087-7639236. IFI would like to thank you for your co-operation with this.
- If an angler has used his brown tag or doesn’t have a brown tag in his possession to use then he must fish catch and release methods, i.e.single barbless hook and no worms.
- Brown tags will continue to be issued until the angling quota is reached.
To report a suspected pollution or poaching activity please contact the 24 hour hotline on 0818 34 74 24
