If you think the weather has been miserable and changeable you’re on the money. In the last week its been colder than normal, wetter than normal and strangely sunnier than normal. And there’s been the odd storm too. There is plenty of flooding out there now. Rainfall to over 64mm was recorded at Claremorris and there’s more to come with over 40mm expected in the south west. Good weather for ducks…

Bo Donaldson
Bo Donaldson with with 24.000kg of mostly roach from the Bann

Before the worst of the rain there were some good reports coming in from the coarse anglers. The River Bann fished very well at the start of the month with nets of fish to 24kg reported in the Bann Anglers winter league. The winter leagues are a great excuse to get anglers out over the colder months and we have reports in from O’Briensbridge in Co. Clare, Lough Muckno in Monaghan, Lough Erne in Fermanagh and Oaklands in Waterford.

pike
Brendan Jervis with his 21lb 7oz pike from a Cavan venue

There’s no shortage of pleasure anglers out there in the piking world, but many pike clubs hold competitions too and we have reports in from the Midlands, Galway and Cavan. There were a few different reports in from the Midlands and Cavan and some good fish in them, but it was Brendan Jervis’s pike from Cavan that caught the eye. Fishing with Newbridge Pike and District Anglers at the weekend Brendan had a lovely 21lb pike. This fine fish wins Catch of the Week.

Duncannon Flounder
Good fishing at Duncannon for Menapia anglers athe weekend

In sea angling news we have a small bit of shore fishing to report. We’re hearing a little bit of cod around Cork Harbour and Waterford and the usual fishing on the east coast. In the south east though, Menapia anglers had some great flounder fishing in their competition at the weekend. Staying with sea angling, Kit Dunne held his annual awards at the weekend and it was a great night with loads of prizes given out. Well done to all the winners there.

Laois Angling Centre
Laois Angling Centre

At this time of year many fly anglers take to the rainbow trout fisheries and venues like Annamoe, Rathcon, Ardaire Springs, Southern County and Laois Angling Centre to name but a few are reporting some great fishing recently. We have a list of put and take fisheries if anyone needs a fly fishing fix…

Finally, on the angling front, we have the salmon licence shop up and running and ready for your orders, though be advised, with Christmas postage you would be better going to one of our offices or your local distributor to be sure of getting a licence in time for Christmas morning… In other salmon news recent research has discovered which way east coast smolts migrate to their feeding grounds – they swim north and hurry along on the way. If you want a little more salmon data then have a look at the recently published 2018 catch statistics.

Christmas crackers

Wandering around the web this week we found a few gift idea’s for anglers who’ve been good boys and girls. Vouchers from guides, fisheries and charter boats – find out more here.

Answer the question!

Like shad?

IFI is a partner in the DiadES project – https://diades.eu/  – looking at the value of migratory fish species in Western Europe to local communities and anglers alike. As part of the project we want to hear about your experiences fishing for shad in Ireland – to learn more about the project and to participate in the DiaDES shad survey, please click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DIADESShadSurvey

All participants in the survey will be in with a chance of winning one of three €50 vouchers for fishing equipment.

Love fishing?

Inland Fisheries Ireland is keen to encourage more people of all ages to discover and enjoy fishing. As a result, the organisation is looking to gather the views of the public around fishing via an online survey. The findings of the survey will help inform a Novice Angler Strategy which will aim to increase angling participation across all types of angling.

The questionnaire is easy to complete and will take approximately 15 minutes. All participants in the survey will be in with a chance of winning one of three €50 vouchers for fishing equipment.

You can participate in the survey by visiting the following link: www.fisheriesireland.ie/nas

And now the Weather…

Friday will start cold and mostly dry with frost clearing. Foggy too and this might be slower to clear. Dry in many areas, some scattered showers also, these primarily affecting coastal districts of the south and west. The weekend will be chilly with some showers and then early next week looks like being blustery. Iit looks, at the moment, like dry, chilly and settled weather for Christmas though Met Eireann are saying it’s hard to predict right now. With a bit of luck you’ll have plenty of new fishing gear to unpack so it won’t matter to you one way or the other!

Safe fishing to all this weekend 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].

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