Paddy Halpin reports from the Feale where bitterly cold conditions couldn’t stop anglers from having a go over the weekend…

We had a good number of anglers out since the last report. Most were out over the weekend in the very cold conditions we were having at the time.

Salmon
William Fuller with his salmon

On Friday the 16th William Fuller traveled over from Co Clare and was rewarded with a lovely fish of 9.5 lbs caught on the spinner in the Killocrim/Finuge waters. On St Patrick’s Day we had a lot of anglers out and we had 2 fish reported for the day. John Scanlan from Glin had a grand fish of 9lbs caught on a fly in very cold conditions in the North Kerry Anglers waters, while Stephen Prendiville had another lovey 9lber from the Killocrim/Finuge stretch.

Spring salmon
Stephen Prendiville
Spring salmon
John Scanlan

Since then it has gone a bit quiet and no more reports. The water levels have dropped and only the odd angler out in the very cold weather we are still having. We have rain forecast for tomorrow Thursday and temperatures are set to rise for a couple of days so hopefully we will have good fishing water for the weekend.

Go fishing…

More about the Feale

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

Clubs

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.
Permits are available from Brendan Danagher on +353 (0)64 663 6267

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. 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