Every salmon angler loves to talk of a bar of silver. Not many have actually caught a genuine bar of silver, and Jackie McErlan is certainly the first I’ve reported on. Jackie took all the honours on the Drowes Salmon Fishery on February 5th. Spinning a luminous yellow flying-C Jackie hooked, landed and released the first fish of the season on the river. For his efforts he received a host of awards; the Drowes Perpetual Cup and the newly commissioned Thomas Gallagher Conservation Cup. But he also was awarded a 1 kilo bar of fine silver by fishery manager Shane Gallagher in honour of International Year of the Salmon.
In other salmon news Lough Currane also had its first salmon of the year as did Delphi. Delphi followed this with a second fish this week.
Sea anglers are doing well and as one set of winter league matches come to close the next set of competitions are kicking off. We have reports in from Wexford, east Cork and Donegal and there is some nice fishing to be had. We also have a bit of charter fishing news in from Co. Clare. Anglers hoping to get afloat will find that there are a number of boats which operate through the winter months, weather allowing, so why not make a booking for the next good day now!
In coarse fishing we have reports in from counties Monaghan, Leitrim and Wexford. The fishing in each report is quite different but the one thing they have in common is cold conditions. Nonetheless, some good catches were reported with bags to 30lb in Leitrim and over 55lb in Wexford.
When anglers are not fishing they love a fishing book, to help them reminisce about seasons past or help plan the season coming. Over the last 4 years Brian Bohan has worked tirelessly with Martin Allington to update their previous book on coarse fishing. The newly published The Ultimate of Irish Dreams will be launched at the angling show in Swords on 16 and 17 February. It weighs in at 2kg and is stuffed with information on new and old waters. To find out more and buy a copy visit http://www.irishdreams.co.uk/
The Ireland Angling Show will take place in the National Show Centre Swords, Co. Dublin from 16-17 February. The Ireland Angling Show is a great weekend for all the family with something for everyone, all ages and abilities catered for. Inland Fisheries Ireland will be there as will the Irish Specimen Fish Committee. We will be running the family zone with aquariums, creepy crawlies from the rivers and an angling simulator – the kids (old and young!) are sure to love it.
Irish Specimen Fish Report
Four new Irish record fish were caught by anglers during 2018 according to the just published Irish Specimen Fish Committee (ISFC) report.
New records were set for four marine species – Golden Grey Mullet, Thin Lipped Mullet, Black Bream and Tope. The mullet species were taken in Cork while the Tope was caught off Greystones, Co. Wicklow. Kilmore in Co. Wexford was the venue for the Black Bream. To find out more about these and all the specimen fish reported in 2018 see Four new Irish record fish caught by anglers during 2018
And now the weather…
Yellow and Orange wind and rain warnings are in place today as Storm Erik lashes the Atlantic coast and makes for gusty conditions across the country. Flooding is likely in many places so take this into consideration if you are planning to fish over the weekend. Winds should ease through Saturday with good sunshine and just scattered showers, these mainly confined to Ulster and north Connacht. However, there is the risk of rain moving into southern counties later in the day. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in moderate to fresh westerly breezes. There may be cold rain or sleet in the south but this will clear for a largely chilly, bright Sunday with sunny spells and a few showers in Ulster. Weather for next week will be dry and cold to start but rain is likely on Tuesday and temperatures will increase.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release
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Headlines
Salmon angling news
- Jackie Mc Erlean catches a bar of silver on the Drowes
- Currane gets its first salmon of the year
- Munster Blackwater opens, some big kelts caught but no springer yet
- Delphi Opens New Season In Style
Sea angling reports
- West Cork anglers off to flying start at east Cork venue
- Killybegs Mariners wrapped up and catching in Donegal
- West Coast Shore League Coming Up
- Pollack and dogs for Co. Clare’s Lady Gwen
- Paul Whelan wins again on Wexford’s beaches
- Irish Anglers to Participate in Data Gathering for Blue Fin Tuna
- Rig Up Right in Galway!
Coarse angling news
- Shamie Winters wins CM Lakelands winter league
- Good winter fishing in Leitrim with catches to 30lbs
- Cold and ice makes for tough fishing at Oaklands
Other news
- Galway Angling Centre owner convicted for illegal netting on Lough Corrib
- Inland Fisheries Ireland prosecutes Irish Water for fish kill on the Ballycorrigan River in Tipperary
- Four new Irish record fish caught by anglers during 2018
- Protecting the Fisheries Resource – A Day in the Life of a Fisheries Officer
- FERMOY WEIR: Damage to weir cap and supporting structure
- Canney acclaims new project to improve angling access on River Easkey
