The summer has arrived at last and, while we did have some nice sunny weather last week, it was cooler than one would expect for this time of year. The cool northerlies and easterlies that held for so long have now been ousted by mild southerlies and south-easterlies bringing warmth from the continent and while the rest of Europe stews we can put away our layers of clothes (for a few days at least) and opt for layers of sun block instead………
The salmon know that the summer is here too and, right on cue, there are runs of summer fish appearing in many of our rivers. In the west of Ireland tradition has it that St John’s day (June 24th) is the start of the summer grilse run and with good numbers of them building above the salmon weir bridge in Galway before their ascent upstream, who are we to disagree. Over on the Moy conditions were difficult, the lower beats and Foxford area produced plenty of fish but good numbers ran straight through the mid-river sections without resting. Further west, on Carrowmore, the sea trout have arrived in numbers. In the south and south west, those rivers that got fresh rainwater fished well. The Munster Blackwater was one of them, with some nice fish caught by anglers of all ages. Liam Davis had caught and released a grilse at the Blackwater Salmon Fishery Young Person’s Day held last Saturday. No mean feat in front of an audience! The adults had to wait for the youngsters to go back to school on Monday and Tuesday to catch a few themselves.
Some grilse were also showing up on Currane, along with the odd sea trout, and this was despite the low water levels there early in the week. Over in Kenmare, the flush of water got things moving on the Sheen and Roughty with some fish to 7lbs caught. In Cork, the Ilen produced a few fish but things were much slower than last week and, while plenty of fish were seen on the Bandon, few were caught. Donegal fisheries seemed to do a bit better this week, good numbers of grilse and the odd double figure salmon came off the Drowse but up on Melvin they were more dour and difficult to tempt.
Earlier this week we issued an alert regarding Pink Salmon. Since then one has already been caught in the River Drowes. Any anglers who catch a pink salmon are asked to report it to Inland Fisheries Ireland. For more information see Inland Fisheries Ireland appeals for vigilance for presence of non-native species in Irish waters
Thankfully, the trout on Melvin were less stubborn than their silvery cousins, with good Sonaghan fishing over deeper drifts and good fishing for Gillaroo to wet flies. Mayfly were still on the water there last week to keep the fish looking up for their food. The improvement in the weather has the lake trout feeding early and late on some loughs. Once more, it’s the caenis that has produced the best of the catches early in the day (very early) but the sedges come into their own later on. Both Corrib and Sheelin fish well at these times but if you are too late onto the lake in the morning or too early leaving in the evening you may well miss the best of the action……
#CPRSavesFish
On the rivers there are some blue winged olives appearing and, when they do, the trout find them hard to resist. The lack of rain has meant that many rivers, like the Nore and Goul, are low, clear and weedy making fishing tricky. The warmer evenings ahead along with summer hatches of BWOs should improve things.
Castleblayney was the venue for the Lough Muckno Feeder Festival held this week over five days where roach and hybrids made up the bulk of the weights. The EPFC European Fishing Championships, which will also be held on Muckno, was launched on Thursday; over 100 anglers in teams of five will compete over two days in August for the title. Meanwhile, over in Longford anglers have had some great success targeting tench and bream; prebaiting, dawn starts and local knowledge being the key to success there.
A reminder that the FIPSed 25th European Coarse Angling Championships will be held this weekend on the Lower River Bann and the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland are appealing to members of all communities for their help in stewarding the event with 100 volunteers are required. If you are available from 9am to 2pm on the Saturday and Sunday, or both, and would like to get involved please visit http://ncffi.ie/euro25/volunteer/ for more details and to register on-line.
Not many reports from pike anglers this week, we do have news of the launch of the Lough Ree International Pike Classic which will be held on Lough Ree in September; anyone interested in entering should go to http://loughree.ie/lough-ree-international-pike-classic-2019/ for more info.
The fine weather means that offshore marks are more accessible and shark species are turning up along with good catches of wreck species around the coast. Off the Clare and Galway coast it wasn’t just the fish that kept the anglers entertained (and there were plenty of those); sightings of dolphins by the hundred along with both humpback and minke whales were enjoyed aboard the Clare Dragoon and the Leaca Rua – a great sight to see. The tope, blue shark and porbeagles that have been caught from the south and west coasts are pretty impressive sights too and some pretty big pollack have been landed as well.
Back on dry land the inaugural All Ireland Smooth Hound Championships were held in Wexford where over 40 anglers from around the country took part and landed 135 fish, including 40 smoothies, congrats to Rory McDowell who was crowned champion there. In Donegal, the Killybegs Mariners took advantage of the mild weather to celebrate the summer solstice with an all night session that produced some good lumps of fish including conger to over 20lbs.
And now the weather……….
Warm and humid today, Friday, with good sunshine for Ulster and much of Leinster. However, it will be cloudier across Munster and Connacht for a time with potential for a few thunderstorms bringing heavy rain and the risk of surface flooding. Top temperatures of 22°C to 27 °C. Variable amounts of cloud around overnight with the risk of a few heavy showers, possibly thundery in nature. Minimum temperatures of 12°C to 16°C in light southerly breezes.
A mix of cloud and sunny spells on Saturday with some heavy or thundery showers in places. Another warm day with maximum temperatures ranging 20°C to 26°C in moderate southerly breezes. Breezy on Saturday night with clear spells and a few showers, these mainly affecting the west and northwest. Minimum temperatures of 12°C to 15°C in fresh southwest winds.
Sunday will be bright and breezy with sunny spells and a few passing showers. Maximum temperatures of 17°C to 20°C in moderate to fresh westerly winds. Most areas dry overnight but a few showers will affect the west and northwest. Minimum temperatures 10°C to 13°C
Sunny spells and showers on Monday but holding mainly dry in the south of the country. Maximum temperatures 15°C to 20°C, warmest in moderate northwest breezes. Largely dry overnight with just the chance of an isolated shower in the north. Minimum temperatures 7°C to 10°C. Tuesday will be mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sunshine, top temperatures 17°C to 20°C in light breezes and another dry day on Wednesday with sunny spells and patchy cloud, maximum temperatures 17°C to 22°C in moderate southwest winds.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Paul O’Reilly
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
- Lots of sea trout and a few salmon for Carrowmore anglers
- Some Kerry rivers get floods and fishing but not the Laune
- Salmon fishing slows down on the Ilen
- Another quiet week for salmon anglers on the Lee
- Flood improves fishing on Bandon, but levels down again
- A mixed luck on Currane as some good fish caught and lost
- Not easy on the Moy but 300 salmon caught last week
- A few fish caught last week but more water needed on the Owenea
- Good numbers of salmon in Melvin, but fishing slow
- Good numbers of grilse and some bigger salmon too at the Drowse
- Rain improves fishing on the Blackwater – some big fish about
- No rain for Owenmore in Kerry
Trout fishing reports
- Fish of a lifetime for Paddy on Lough Mask
- Early Caenis produces wonderful trout on Corrib
- Trout fishing going well on Melvin
- Some Nice Trout Fishing for Jimmy Tyrrell on the River Nore and It’s Tributaries
Coarse angling reports
- A great start sees an easy win for Gordon Mihalyi on Muckno
- Big bags of bream for UK anglers in Longford
- Belgium Anglers have a great weeks fishing in Longford area
- EPFC European Fishing Championships launched, Lough Muckno to host
Sea angling news
- Anglers having a whale of a time off the Clare coast
- A great mix of species for Donegal shore anglers
- Some great fishing and a few specimens for Galway Bay anglers
- Hooked on Angling: Sean Ryan shows granddad how its done
- Rory McDowell crowned All Ireland Smooth Hound Champion
- More shark, decent inshore and wreck fishing too at Courtmacsherry
