The jest stream express is in full flow over Ireland this week, steering in one Atlantic depression after another – on Monday we had the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which was a bit of a damp squib. Followed on Wednesday by Storm Ali, the first named storm of the winter season and a fierce start it was, with trees down in many places. Storm Bronagh affected the UK more on Thursday night, but brought heavy rain to Ireland during Thursday, and the weekend looks set for more of the same, with heavy rain and high winds in places and possibly Storm Callum if forecasts don’t improve.

 

The weather has resulted in a dearth of angling reports this week, with many anglers taking a break from the weather, but some intrepid anglers have taken advantage of windows in the storms and enjoyed some great fishing. The Killybegs Mariners club, in particular, have had some great fishing this week, including some nice bass, and the Catch of the Week – not for its size but its rarity – a Connemara Clingfish for Christopher Noctor.

 

Catch of the Week – A Connemara Clingfish

 

It has been a busy time for festivals also, with the Cork Small Boats and Daiwa Irish Pairs both dodging the weather this week, and reports to follow next week. The Rosslare Small Boats Fesival was won by ‘Screaming Reels’ for a record ninth time, and Declan Moran was top rod at the Newport Sea Angling Festival. Mark Gannon’s clients have also been enjoying good sport lately out of Courtmacsherry, with blue shark and other species providing busy sport, as well as some fine Common Skate.

 

A fine Common Skate
A fine Common Skate

 

Trout fishing has been quiet the last few days with the weather, but there are great reports from Lough Corrib, Lough Mask, Lough Sheelin and the Midland Lakes, with trout feeding hard before leaving the lakes to spawn, and anglers taking advantage of the late season sport.

 

Marty Smith with a fine Lough Lene trout
Marty Smith with a fine Lough Lene trout

 

The rain has been good for many rivers, and reports are trickling in of good fishing all around the country, from West Cork to Donegal and places in between. Rivers in West  Cork are providing good sport at the moment, Lough Currane continues its recent good form, and the River Erriff in Mayo has also been producing good fishing for salmon and sea trout. Further north the Drowes is getting a late run of fresh grilse, while the Owenea produced a nice 10lbs fish for a French journalist fishing for salmon for the first time. I have also heard rumours of good fishing on the Munster Blackwater, and hope to have these reports for next week’s update.

 

Probably due to the weather, we have no pike or coarse fishing reports this week, but hope to have some updates next week.

 

And now the weather…

After a truly awful start to Autumn, with 2 and possibly 3 named storms this week and the remnants of a hurricane, the weekend looks wet and possibly very windy for some, but next week looks set to improve somewhat. Water levels in many rivers have improved, and salmon and trout anglers will hopefully get the right conditions for good sport in the last week of the season for most. In the meantime

 

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

Kevin Crowley
Catch, Photo, Release

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Headlines

Salmon angling news

 

Trout angling reports

Sea angling reports

Coarse angling reports

None this week

 

Pike angling reports

None this week

 

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