Three weeks down, three to go… with most people not having fishing within 5km, and the weather not helping either, angling reports are non-existent at the moment. So once again, we’ve been getting our fishing fix by listening to podcasts, tying flies and traces, and watching fishing videos to get us through lockdown.
Podcast
This week’s podcast comes from across the Irish Sea, but features Irish fishing. Ceri Jones, a Welsh photographer and angler, interviews Lough Inagh fishery manager and all-round craic merchant Colin Folan. It’s an entertaining chat, and well worth a listen on your daily walk (within 5km!)
Look and Learn
Many trout anglers keep busy at this time of year by tying flies to replenish the box for next season. Peter Driver from Piscari Fly Fishing holds a regular Saturday evening demo live on Facebook, catch it here from 8.30pm on Saturday. Peter is also participating in the Irish Fly Fair, which due to Covid is going virtual this year, so keep an eye on that page also where many fly dressers will be sharing demo videos over the coming weeks.
For coarse anglers, check out the video of Steve Ringer, the world no. 1 ranked feeder angler, as he fishes Lough Erne. Hard-fighting Irish hybrids, bream and skimmers are the target species, that keep Steve on his toes constantly changing tactics showing how to keep fish coming throughout the session.
Sea angling continues throughout the winter, and many sea anglers will be avidly looking forward to the lifting of travel restrictions. In the meantime, tying traces is a productive job that will pay off later, and Chris O’Sulivan and his Inshore Angler youtube channel is an invaluable resource, where he shares tips and tricks from the best. Check out his rig-tying videos that we enjoyed this week.
From the Archives
From the RTE archives comes a video from 1984, where the late, great Derek Davis, who loved his fishing, presented a report on on the first professionally taught fly fishing course in Ireland, hosted by Lal Faherty of Oughterard from his Lakeland Angling Centre and guesthouse overlooking Lough Corrib’s Portacarron Bay, and also featuring the late Peter O’Reilly, game fishing expert and author of books on Ireland’s lakes and rivers, as well as flytying.
News
Salmon anglers, like the trout hunters, may be busy tying flies and looking forward to the 2021 season, which starts in just 7 weeks on some rivers. The draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations have been published and are available to view here. A public consultation on the regulations is now open, and stakeholders have until December 11 to make any submissions they feel necessary.
Level 5 and angling
Everyone is aware that the lockdown is in place and what it means. But here is a reminder of the measures in place for angling:
- Guides and ghillies are not on the list of essential services
- Charter boats are not on the list of essential services
- Anglers must stay within 5km of their home
- No angling events permitted
- For more see: IFI Guidance to Anglers – Level 5 restrictions
And now the weather…
It’s a pretty unsettled outlook, with bands of rain and showers over the weekend in blustery winds, and highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees. The rest of the week doesn’t show much improvement, with the first half of Monday perhaps providing the best of the conditions before more wet and windy weather follows from the Atlantic. Hopefully we can get the worst of the weather over before travel restrictions are relaxed, and we surely deserve a bit of good weather then!
Safe fishing to all this weekend and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Kevin Crowley
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie.
All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
- Celtic Connections – Welsh Podcast With An Irish Twist
- Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations
