After all the recent rain it was good to have a few dry days over the last week. Sunshine levels were almost 75% more than normal in some parts, great news for those trying to iron out the t-shirt tan, but not so welcome for anglers fishing the rivers and lakes. But not all anglers were undone by the settled, sunny weather. Those who tried their luck in saltwater fared well, as baitfish and mackerel seemed to be everywhere…

salmon
Look at this for a fish on Glenda Powell’s water! Estimated in high teens as released. Well done to Pete Davis after 40 minutes of a hard fight to land this beautiful fresh salmon and to Liam his son for netting the fish.

The salmon run continues to make the news and those rivers where water levels have suited angling continue to produce some great catches. Rivers in West Cork are doing very well at the moment with anglers on the Ilen having a great season. The Bandon is also producing some good fish and in common with some of the rivers across the south and south west there have been some good big salmon running with the grilse. Unfortunately for anglers on the Moy the river remains high. It’s been in spate for almost 2 months. There have been some great catches recorded, but it’s a matter of getting out when the conditions are right.

Salmon Fishing Reports

trout
Ted Wherry on Lough Corrib with a stunning 6 pounder on dry sedge

The Munster Blackwater also features in our trout reports. Dan O’Neill enjoyed a beautiful afternoon slinking around under the cover of willows, casting to fat trout. In the cool umbrella of the sallys he enjoyed a great day’s sport. The news from Lough Corrib is that the week gone by proved more fruitful and rewarding to anglers than the week previous with sedges and fry patterns proving the best and some action on daphnia. Anglers out after ferox on the troll were also rewarded with some good fish to 11lbs caught and released. On Sheelin it was all about the Green Peter. Sedge hatches varied from ‘patchy’ to ‘not too bad’ to ‘good enough’ depending on what area of the lake was being fished which was dictated by wind direction.  All the bigger fish from 3 ½ lbs up to the top weight of 6 ½ were caught on dry fly whereas a respectable number of 1 – 2lb fish were caught on teams of wets.

Trout Fishing Reports

Ian Kelsy
Ian Kelsey won at Tulla with 13lb 4 3/4 oz

There was not much else to report from the freshwater scene this week. Tulla Anglers held a pike competition and a coarse competition on the same day and enjoyed lively sport. 13lb 4 3/4oz won the coarse competition while the pike event was won with a combined length of 168cm.

Coarse and Pike Angling Reports

Love birds or fish
Two trigger fish on Loch an Iasc wins the boat Catch of the Week

Starting on the east coast, Kit Dunne of Wicklow Charters was out after sharks in the south east and he didn’t let his anglers down as his first couple of trips produced 8 and 7 blues. Sharks also featured for small boat anglers out of Waterford where tope and blue shark made for a really enjoyable day. Charter boats fishing out of Dungarvan have had good fishing on the wrecks, reefs and for sharks too.

And there were more sharks for anglers fishing out of Cork Harbour – Amy’s Fishing Adventures has some great footage of their day out. Moving on to West Cork it was shark again. Silver Dawn, skippered by David Edwards, had a couple of good specimen sharks and they got into double figures most days. Some other interesting species were reported including big skate, a spurdog caught in open water and a pair of trigger fish on Tom Collins’s Loch and Iasc out of Union Hall. It’s a long time since we’ve had trigger fish reported to us here, so they win Loch an Iasc Catch of the Week.

We hit Galway next, where once again sharks take the headlines. Brazen Hussy is having a great season by all accounts.  Shore anglers in Donegal Bay once more report some great fishing. The Killybegs Mariners enjoyed a beautiful night on Rossnowlagh where decent catches were recorded and their members followed it up with some brilliant fishing from the rocks over the weekend.

Finally, we finish with an update from the authorised Bluefin Tuna boats. Catches are now being recorded off the Cork and Galway coasts. Anglers are reminded to only book fishing with the authorised boats.

    Sea Angling Reports

    Ireland on the Fly

    After taking a break, Daire Whelan of the Ireland on the Fly Podcast is back again. This time interviewing Robert Gillespie. To find out more and for links to listen in see

    Love this place, Leave no trace

    Once again we remind all our anglers of the Leave No Traces message. When you’re out fishing simply don’t leave anything behind. Whatever it is, put it back in your pockets, tackle box or gear bag – National Awareness Campaign launched promoting responsible behaviour outdoors to combat increase in littering

    And now the weather

    Saturday, will see showers or longer spells of rain affecting Munster and southern parts of Connacht at first and later in to Leinster. There’ll be drier weather for Ulster and north Connacht with sunshine there. Temperatures staying on the high side, between 21 and 25C, once again the best in Ulster. Winds remain light variable or easterly in direction. Low pressure is dominating the weather pattern for the rest of the weekend and into next week. Light easterly or variable winds throughout, relative humidity stays on the high side with no change of airmass until the midweek period. A little cooler from Sunday though. Breathable rain gear is the right job, or else just plan to get wet…

    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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