There was a flurry of salmon catches last week but since then flurries of snow have stolen the headlines and wintry showers and blizzard conditions have seen many fisheries return to flood levels…
The Rivers Lee, Munster Blackwater, Delphi and Butler’s Pool in Waterville have all recorded their first salmon of the season. The Drowse was also back in the news as they had another springer at the end of last week.
In general the cold conditions made coarse angling slow as fish were not in the mood for feeding. There were some notable exceptions though. Catches to over 17lb were recorded at Alberts Lock in Roscommon at the weekend. Lower Bann AA did better than this at the Movanagher Canal with weights to 11kg recorded. But it was Tooman’s fishery that defied all expectations as carp to 8lb made for massive bags to over 93lb on Sunday. Incredible stuff given the freezing conditions and blizzards that punctuated the day.
Pike fishing has been fairly quiet of late but there were a couple of good reports earlier in the month. Pat Healy had a pike of 107.75cm on Lough Derravaragh and Damien Culliney of Anglers Paradise Ireland reported some great fishing on Lough Derg where his clients had pike to 113cm. Chris Barry from Meath was the lucky angler and his beautiful fish wins him Catch of the Week.
Ireland Angling Show
The Ireland Angling Show take place in the National Show Centre Swords, Co. Dublin this weekend. The Ireland Angling Show is a great weekend for all the family. There are a number of activities for kids and budding anglers of all ages as well as plenty to keep the most experienced angler entertained. The show is open each day from 10am to 5pm.
Met Eireann tells us that there will be a few light showers on Saturday but it will be generally dry for the day with highs of 7 to 10C in moderate southwest breezes. Rain will spread eastwards during the evening /early night. Sunday is to be mainly dry but also with some light rain at times. The outlook for the first half of next week is dry and cooler (max 7 to 9C) weather with good sunshine during the day, but frosty and cold at night.
Unfortunately I close this week’s Irish Angling Update with the sad news of the death of Professor Martin O’Grady. Martin recently retired from Inland Fisheries Ireland after a career of over 35 years. He was a passionate scientist and deeply committed to fisheries habitat restoration. As one of the most preeminent fisheries biologists of his time he worked tirelessly to improve our understanding of brown trout. He left behind a wealth of research papers, a couple of books and a seat in a lake boat that will probably never feel full again. He is missed by us all in IFI.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].
Headlines
Salmon angling news
- Spring salmon fishing in Delphi’s paradise
- High water on the Drowes but another springer landed
- A couple of springers on the Butlers Pool but Currane still quiet
- Munster Blackwater reports its first salmon of the year
- River Lee gets its first salmon of the season
- Hopes of a springer on Munster Blackwater rise as river falls
- Curranes salmon anglers still wait for their first of the season
- Delphi salmon season starts with a bang
Coarse angling reports
- Lower Bann Anglers bag weights to 11kg despite winter weather
- Decent fishing at Albert’s Lock for Sheemore Anglers
- A blizzard of catches at Tooman’s Fishery
- Oaklands carp sit tight in bitter cold
- All to play for as CM Lakelands look forward to league final
- Fishing improves, but conditions not easy at O’Briensbridge
Pike angling reports
- Big pike being met on Lough Derg
- 107.5cm pike wins Finian Darby Memorial on Derravargh
- Challenging fishing for Tullamore anglers on Grand Canal
