The last week of September saw a real change in the weather conditions. Things suddenly felt cooler, there was a chill in the air and many places have had nightly frosts. It’s a bit unseasonal, temperatures are about 4C below normal for the time of year, but (apart from some rain(!)) its been really sunny, and we’ve had some exceptionally clear days. The change to cooler weather seems to have had a real impact on angling and there are some great reports in this week’s Irish Angling Update.

The salmon rivers seemed to come alive in the last week of the season. It wasn’t all old fish either, there were plenty of fresh run salmon in the catches. Salmon to 18lb were reported from the Munster Blackwater. There were good numbers of fish met in some of the West Cork rivers. Lough Currane enjoyed a reversal in fortunes and some decent sea trout fishing was enjoyed at times and a lovely salmon of about 14lb was caught and released on the closing day. Further north, the East Mayo anglers released over 20 salmon in the last few days of the season.
As the season is now over for nearly all salmon and sea trout anglers we’d like to remind you of the importance of returning their 2020 angling logbook and unused gill tags on time (by law angling logbook returns must be made by 19th October annually even if there is no catch recorded).

Coarse anglers fishing festivals and competitions in accordance with social distancing and Covid-19 restrictions enjoyed some great days out on Lough Muckno, Lough Erne and the River Bann. The crisp, clear conditions saw fishing start slowly at some venues but as things warmed up so did the fishing.

Newbridge and District Pike Anglers held two competitions at the weekend. the fishing was hectic at times. There was plenty of big bags on both days and overall the competitors caught and released over 220 pike in the two competitions.

The weather was bright, clear and settled and this suited boats looking for good drifts on wrecks. Kit Dunne made the most of the opportunity and his anglers had some exceptional east coast pollack fishing. There were 2 specimen size fish landed and no shortage of fish between 5 and 13lbs.
And now the weather…
Saturday morning will be mainly dry with sunny spells for the most part, it will become cloudy early however in the east. During the afternoon scattered showers will develop in the west, while rain will develop in the northeast through the evening. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in moderate to fresh northerly winds. It will be wet and blustery on Sunday with unsettled conditions set to continue through the week ahead.
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].
All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
- Quiet end to the season on the Laune
- A few salmon reported on the Lee in the last week
- Good final week on the Ilen and Coomhola
- Excellent salmon fishing on the Munster Blackwater as the season closes
- 14lb salmon caught and released on last day of season on Currane
- Foxford Salmon Anglers Report w/e 30th September
Coarse Angling Reports
- Jimmy Speers Lower Bann CAA Summer League
- Blistering display by Paul Leese sees him win Irish Feedermasters on Muckno
- After long wait John Potters wins Erne Anglers 2019/2020 Winter League
Pike Fishing Reports
Sea Angling Reports
Other News
- Ireland on the Fly Podcast: Make way for the Salmon
- KCLR ‘Make Way for the King’ Documentary Series on Salmon
- IFI National Sea Angler Behaviour and Attitudes Survey
- Inland Fisheries Ireland seeks submissions for A Novice Angling Strategy
- Resilience and recovery 2020-2021: Living with Covid-19 – Guidance to Anglers