There is a definite autumnal feel in the air now, with cooler, showery conditions prevailing this week and night time temperatures taking a tumble. With the cooler weather has come some rain, which gave good water levels in some rivers, although the east coast rivers are still at a low ebb and need a lot more. Salmon angling has picked up with the change, with the Munster Blackwater producing good sport. Lough Currane showed a welcome return to form after a tough summer so far, and hopefully the last few weeks of the season will bring more good sport there. Salmon fishing in west Cork also picked up, while the Moy had a good week with over 200 fish recorded.
Trout fishing season is drawing to a close shortly also, and fishing has really improved on most trout fisheries since the weather cooled, with Corrib the pick of the big lakes performing at the moment. River fishing is also picking up, with the Suir producing some good evening on the evening hatch of olives and sedges.
Cooler weather suits pike angling, as pike tend to sulk in the warmer summer months and are waking up now and feeding hard. Mick Flanagan reports good pike fishing on the midland lakes, and with pike anglers also waking up from their summer siestas, we expect a lot more pike angling sport, and reports, in the coming weeks.
Coarse angling has been full speed ahead of late, with several large festivals and competitions being held around the country, and great fishing reported from many venues. The Daiwa World Pairs Championship, fished across a range of venues in Cavan and Fermanagh, provided great sport and stiff competition, eventually won by Lee Kerry and Rob Wootton with a bag of 175.96kg, including Lee’s 114.020kg catch, which won him the Daiwa Cup for best individual angler. Phil Bardell took the Arva International with a fine haul of 73.400kg, where daily weights over 20kg were common. Good fishing was also reported from Tullamore, and Portumna ahead of their upcoming festival, while a huge congratulations goes to the Garda Siochana team, who took top honours at the European Police Championships in the Netherlands.
Sea anglers have been enjoying good sport of late, with water temperatures at their best at this time of year and fish feeding hard ahead of the winter. The weather has been hampering offshore trips a bit more, but there are still plenty of blue shark being caught around the coastline. Great pollack and mixed species fishing is also reported from Cork and Galway, where skipper John Fleming had our Catch of the Week, a rare stone bass, or wreckfish.
A very happy John Fleming with his first stone bass
And now the weather…
The forecast for the week ahead is a very unsettled picture, with plenty of showers and longer spells of rain, with moderate to fresh winds at times, and a chance of very unsettled, even stormy conditions early next week. Remember to check the forecast before going fishing, and if in doubt, sit it out!
Saturday
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Kevin Crowley
Catch, Photo, Release
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Headlines
Salmon angling news
- Fishing on the Munster Blackwater picks up
- Catches improve on Currane, sea trout and salmon
- Big improvement on West Cork rivers following rain
- Over 200 salmon reported from the River Moy
Trout angling reports
- Lene trout feeding hard on the surface
- BWO and sedges for Suir trout as fishing picks up
- Shane Stephens wins McCarthy Cup on Lough O’Flynn
- Brosna and Camcor getting some croneen fishing
- Great fishing and a blue wave on Corrib as Irish win Police Competition
- Sheelin trout tough to tempt but some good fishing had
Coarse angling reports
- Phil Bardell wins Arva International with 73.400kg
- Lee Kerry and Rob Wootton win the World Pairs
- Tony Kersley wins Belturbet festival with 67.690kg
- UK anglers have great week fishing in the Irish midlands
- Ballyshunnock fishing well, Tom Power wins junior comp
- Garda Coarse Angling Club win European Gold
- Good canal fishing at Tullamore
- Good fishing reported at Portumna ahead of festival
- Dutch anglers do well on their first visit to Ireland
Pike angling reports
Sea angling reports
Other news
- Try out fishing at the National Ploughing Championships
- Appeal for voluntary cessation of catch and release salmon fishing is now lifted
- Salmon and sea trout anglers reminded to submit 2018 logbook and gilltags
- Rosslare Small Boats Festival returns with competitors from all over Ireland and UK to attend
- Kyne announces new angling bye-laws for Galway and Mayo
- Learn to fish with the Dublin Angling Initiative
