March is being March. Spring is definitely taking hold, but it is still pretty cold, and the recent days show just how changeable the weather can be at this time of year. All the same, trout anglers within easy reach of rivers and lakes are starting to feature in reports, there are a few salmon on the go and fishing at sea will be improving too.
The River Moy saw another salmon landed last week and the Munster Blackwater produced a few fish too. Anglers on the Blackwater did pretty well, with fish caught and released at Killavullen, Careysville and on Glenda Powell’s beat at Blackwater Salmon Fishery. On the Lee, one salmon was reported and IFI announced details of the 2nd draw for brown tags on the river. Reports in from the Bandon are that water levels were much improved last week. Anglers are meeting a fair number of kelts and we advise anyone who hooks into one to release it as quickly and safely as possible, preferably without removing it from the water.
Boats out on Lough Conn had some decent trout fishing as fish came well to a mix of wet flies and lures. Anglers trolling on Lough Corrib had good fishing too. One pair hooked into two trout of about 5lb and 6lb at more or less the same moment. River fishermen are also seeing some good trout come to a variety of tactics as another pair trying their luck in Co. Longford found out last week.
Not much sea angling to report this week. Charter boats remain tied up but the odd time skippers are getting out for their own pleasure. David Edwards was fishing last week and reported good pollack were taking a variety of baits and lures. Hopefully, it won’t be long until all the charter boats, which offer a hugely important service to anglers across the country, get back up and running.
No fresh pike reports this week but we have another exciting video from Marcin Kantor who shares a fly and lure fishing adventure from back in December.
Hopefully we’ll start to hear from the coarse anglers later this month, but for now, we have no update from this normally busy segment of Irish anglers.
And now the weather…
Continuing cool and breezy with blustery showers over the weekend but becoming more settled next week with drier and milder spring-like conditions expected. Temperatures will jump to 14ºC on Monday and climb further to 16ºC on Tuesday and Wednesday. St. Patrick’s Day should be mild and dry with partly cloudy skies and highest temperatures of 11 to 16ºC. Winds out of the northeast look to introduce somewhat cooler air towards the end of the week, but it should remain mostly dry and settled. For those of you who like to start your trout fishing on the 17th (and are lucky enough to have fishing inside your 5km) it’s looking good!
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release
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All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
- Conditions improving on the Bandon as anglers wait for a springer
- Lee sees its first salmon of season caught and details for brown tags round 2 announced
- Five more salmon reported from the Munster Blackwater
- Currane goes from calm to wild but no fish caught
- 2nd Salmon of the Season reported from the River Moy
Trout Fishing Reports
- Quiet on Corrib but local anglers meeting some nice fish
- Local anglers enjoy good fishing on Lough Conn
- Longford trout anglers off to a great start
