Sea pinks
Sea pinks – a sign summer is on the way.

The weather has really improved in the last few days and the warm days are in for the next week or so. This should help get the season back on track and already we are seeing better reports from some of the trout lakes, a jump in charter boat reports and tench starting to feature in coarse catches. The only problem is for those fisheries that need a bit of rain, but it looks like there might be a bit of that to come too…

releasing a salmon
#CPRsavesfish at the Blackwater Salmon Fishery

The Owenea and the Drowes in Donegal are both running low. The only difference is in catches, the Owenea had none but the Drowes continues to perform and produced 20 salmon. Angling effort on the Moy increased last week and 134 salmon were reported caught. The river is back in good order after the flood on the 22nd. Despite the warm and bright conditions Carrowmore Lake fished exceptionally well for most of last week and a good number of spring fish and grilse were landed. Delphi was not so lucky and the fine conditions did not help angling there despite fish running the river. Galway fished well and more fish seem to be running the system. Water levels suited fly best and the fly anglers took the largest portion of the catch on the fishery. Salmon fishing across the south west seems to have been poor enough though there were a few fish reported from Lough Currane, and some West Cork rivers. The Munster Blackwater is running gin clear at the moment and some fine salmon were  caught and released with fish to 13lb returned over the week.

Bob Clark & Jonathan Lee with a cracking 9lbs 3oz trout before release
Bob Clark & Jonathan Lee with a cracking 9lbs 3oz trout before release. Catch of the Week. #CPRsavesfish

Mayfly reports continue to come in from Mask, which described the fishing as good, Corrib, which had patchy mayfly fishing, and Lough Arrow, where the hatch is on and fishing are starting to move to the fly. Sheelin, Derg, Conn and Lough Erne are also producing fish to Mayfly. The Mayfly might have been patchy on Corrib but Campto buzzer have hatched consistently in some bays and buzzer fishing has produced some great trout this week as conditions were ideal for it on several days. Amongst these is our Catch of the Week, a stunning 9lb 3oz fish caught and released by lucky angler Bob Clarke. There were also a number of 6 pounders reported. Larry McCarthy boated 48 trout of a very big average size which all swam away. He had his own PB which was weighed at 6lb 10oz before being released.

Bonanza tench catch
Bonanza tench catch in Leitrim – all over 4lbs

Coarse anglers from the UK and elsewhere have been in touch recently to ask where the tench reports are. We haven’t had much to say about these popular fish this year but it looks like things have really improved for their fans. This week we have some smashing reports in from venues in Leitrim, Longford and Offaly where lake, river and canal have all produced some great fish. On the competition scene congratulations go to Tony Hopkins for winning the 2018 Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival, sponsored by Waterways Ireland, with a total over the three days of 36kg 240g, netting him the winner’s cheque of £5,000 and the coveted crystal chalice. Congratulations also go to Nigel Hirst of Leeds whose day one catch of 16lb 4oz in the Fermoy Spring Festival saw him good for the rest of the week and take the win with a three day total of 25lb 12oz.

Anglers are reminded that Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid remain closed during the outbreak of carp edema virus (CEV) at the Lough and Belvelly until 31st May at least, pending the outcome of further monitoring and virological screening.

pike
Dave was thrilled with his 114cm pike from an East Clare lake

Bright weather is not normally associated with good pike fishing but more than a few anglers have had some great fishing in the last week. Lough Derg was back in the headlines again as were venues in Longford and the East Clare lakes.

Adrian with Father and one of their Tope
Adrian with Father and one of their Wicklow Tope

It was great to be able to bring you so many sea angling reports this week. We have charter boat reports from Wicklow, Dungarvan, Courtmacsherry, Clonakilty, Clare and Killala Bay.   Good tope, hounds, huss and spurdogs feature in these reports along with ling to 26lb off the wrecks, big skate and some lovely cod. We also have a couple of shore and small boat reports from Cork Harbour and Donegal. It was cod and mullet on fly for some and turbot, plaice and dabs on bait for others.

And now the weather…

Warm humid weather is set to continue tomorrow and Saturday. Top temperatures 20-23C. That’s worth repeating: 20-23C.  The outlook is for it to stay warm and humid until the middle of next week with continental air continuing to feed in across Ireland. It will be dry generally with light to moderate easterly breezes, however scattered thunderstorms will develop at times too. A bit cooler in coastal areas, perhaps, with some hazy conditions possible on Sunday and this may turn to coastal fog along the south coast. It sounds like a great weekend for some family fishing but if you hear thunder, do the sensible thing; stop fishing (rods=lightning conductors) and get yourself out of harm’s way.

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

Trout angling reports

Coarse angling reports

Pike angling reports

Sea angling reports

Other news