After a cold start to April, temperatures are beginning to show a big improvement. Mean temperatures are about a degree down since the start of the month, but this is about to change very quickly as warm air arrives over Ireland. Rainfall has been localised with up to 625% of normal rainfall measured on the south-Munster coast (over 90mm) in the last week while only 21% of normal amounts was recorded on the north-Ulster coast. Winds were up across the country though, and it seems that once again the weather played a big roll in anglers lives…
Much of the southwest was inundated by heavy rain during the weekend storms and further heavy falls of rain this week. Many rivers saw huge floods as levels jumped over 1m in some places. The Munster Blackwater, Bandon and other rivers are expected to fish well over the weekend as their levels drop. Parts of Kerry dodged the worst of the rain and some decent salmon fishing was enjoyed on Lough Currane before the winds stopped anglers getting out on the lake. The Owenmore Fishery saw a great run of sea trout and some good salmon following the spate there. It was a similar story from Carrowmore Lake in Mayo, good fishing was halted at the weekend by strong winds. Staying in Mayo the Ballisodare fishery reports a good start to the season on the river. Finally, the Slaney saw its fishing slow down as cold upstream winds made for unpleasant conditions and put the salmon down.
In trout angling we have reports from the Nore and the Liffey and fishing is picking up considerably as the temperatures are now rising again and hatches increase. Despite the sudden change in weather and drop in air temperatures with the recent easterly winds, Mask has been fishing reasonably well. Reports of early olive hatches in sheltered bays have come in during the week and fishing is expected to be good over the weekend.
Coarse reports continue to be scarce but the Shannon is fishing well in places now that levels have come down again with good reports from Shannon Harbour and Shannonbridge.
The Shannon is also performing for pike and predator anglers. Once again there are good reports from Shannonbridge, this time for perch and pike fishing. Some really excellent perch fishing was also reported from the River Barrow where fish to 2lbs were caught and released. This year’s Lough Ree International Pike Festival and World Cup saw exceptional catches with loads of 1m plus measured in. Rafal Pelc and Igor Klosowski won the World Cup with their 3 best pike for 313.50cm. The biggest fish overall was caught by Tomasz Kurman and Jacek Gorny, a smashing pike of 113.5cm.
We have just one sea angling report. It is in from the Killybegs Mariners who had great fishing for sea trout, turbot and flounder from Erris beaches.
Inland Fisheries Ireland launches 2019 Funding Call
Inland Fisheries Ireland has announced a new funding call for 2019 with three funding schemes now open. The funding has been made available for fisheries conservation projects and development projects nationwide through the National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD). Applications are invited from angling clubs, local development associations, tidy towns and others who may be looking to carry out projects. For more information see: https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/funding
And now the weather…
Indications are that this mild and warm weather will continue into the Easter weekend, however there a degree of uncertainty to the details even yet, with the possibility of some showers later in the weekend. The further outlook for next week is for changeable conditions in warmer than average temperatures. Not quite the fabulous forecast the papers went with a couple of days ago, but a lot better than what was dished out last weekend.
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 contact@fisheriesireland.ie.
Headlines
Salmon angling news
- Good fishing marks opening week at Ballisodare
- Big flood in the Bandon no salmon reported
- No salmon reported from the Laune
- Munster Blackwater coming back into order after weekend floods
- Cold upstream winds make fishing tough on the Slaney
- Salmon and storms for Currane anglers
- Some decent fishing on Carrowmore before the weekend winds
- Nice flood in the Owenmore and fish moving
Trout fishing reports
- Good fishing on Mask after tragic spring
- Large dark olives hatching on Liffey, trout rising
- Scierra Pairs fished in Waterford at weekend
- Nore doing well with trout coming nicely to the fly
Coarse angling reports
- Coarse fishing at Shannonbridge picks up as water levels drop
- Bitterly cold for Belmont April Open, May Open should be warmer
Sea angling news
Pike angling reports
- Horrible weather fails to dampen Connacht Predator Anglers spirits on the Shannon
- Good pike fishing reported from Shannonbridge area
- Fabulous perch fishing possible on the Barrow
- Lough Ree is piker’s heaven for World Cup winners
Other news
- Canney welcomes signing of MOU between Inland Fisheries Ireland and Trinity College Dublin
- Funding available to angling clubs and community groups for fisheries conservation and development projects
- Salmon fishing course, River Erriff – 24 to 26 May 2019
- Salmon, bass and pike angling courses this summer
- Irish Bass Festival moves to September for 2019
- Canney appeals to anglers to become citizen scientists as part of the National Salmon Scale Project
