Summer finally made a very belated appearance over the past week, as for the first time this year, we had periods of genuine warmth and sunshine over most of the country. It’s not normally the sort of weather associated with good fishing, but, I’m sure any of us that made it out on the water appreciated not having to wear multiple layers and waterproofs…
The change in the weather seems to have kicked things into gear up in Mayo as the River Moy recorded plenty of salmon caught throughout the system. Most of the fisheries reported a few fish with East Mayo Anglers fishery top of the pile producing a whopping 32 salmon for the week. The largest salmon also came from East Mayo water, tipping the scales at 14lbs. Reports were scarce from elsewhere in the country other than down in the SW, where anglers on the Cork rivers have been encountering some fish. Lough Currane was quiet for the week but the River Inny threw up a fish or two.
The annual Mayfly hatch is now tailing off on most of our loughs and fishing has been patchy to say the least during this year’s hatch. On Loughs Conn & Cullin there was some decent fishing early last week with one boat landing 15 trout, but the bright sunshine towards the end of the week impacted the fishing, with fewer trout reported for that period. Over on Lough Arrow, the spent gnat fishing has tapered off but not before Wednesday evening saw one last big fall of gnat with the lucky anglers who were out that evening reporting fine catches including this 3.2lbs trout for Paul Colreavy.
Coarse angling reports have yet to get fully going this season but some anglers have been hitting it hard with both Edenderry Coarse Anglers and Go & Catch Feeder Team publishing reports for the second week running. The guys seem to be making up for lost time and taking every opportunity to get on the water.
The hot sunny weather did little to hamper sea anglers this past week and we have reports of great fishing from all around the coast. Both Killibegs Mariners and West Cork Bass had a crack at the bass with a couple of fish to show for their efforts. However, it is the boat fishing that really shone this week, starting off in Cork where Jim Clohessy had a first day out with his fishing buddies for over a year where they sought and found a few nice Common Skate.
Up the coast in Clare, both the Lady Gwen and the Clare Dragoon had some great fishing out of Carrigaholt with good catches of Pollack, Coalfish and Ling all under fabulous blue skies. Further on up the west coast in Galway Bay, skippers Kevin MacGabhainn and John Fleming also had some super Pollack fishing with a few Spurdog thrown in for good measure. Spurdog were also in the mix in Killala Bay as anglers fishing with Donal Kennedy aboard the MV Leah remembered an old angling friend who is no longer with us.
Over in Sligo, skipper Tommy McCallion reported good fishing for the second week in a row while further north, in Donegal, anglers on the Fiona Tee had some excellent Pollack while anglers with Saoire Mara Charters had some great variety including two Bluemouth, plenty of Mackerel, Pollack, Ling, Cod, Coalfish, Cuckoo Wrasse, Grey Gurnard, Pouting and Poor Cod. Finally, over on the east coast, Wicklow Boat Charters reports their first catches of tope for the season with hopefully plenty more of them to come over the coming weeks.
Finally, just before going to press, we have received a late angling report from angling guide Bodo Funke in the Boyle area and it was worth waiting for. In a short session of two hours or so, Bodo’s clients managed a total of 21 pike including fish of 104, 102, 101, 93, 90, 90, 90, 87, 86, 83, 80, & 80cm. We were about to name this super session as Catch of the Week but….
…Just as I was about to press the ‘send’ button, we got another pike report in that just pips Bodo’s haul to this week’s Catch of the Week! Pauric McMahon was fishing for trout using a black fritz fly on 6lbs leader when he managed to hook and land this 35lb pike.
A pike that size is always worthy of Catch of the Week, but to catch it with such light tackle is exceptional. Hats off to Pauric.
And now the weather…
The relatively balmy conditions look set to continue for the next week with most of the country experiencing decent temperatures over that period. The eastern half of the country will remain relatively dry but the west coast will fare worse, with showers developing today, some of which will be heavy. That pattern of dry in the east, damper in the west looks set to continue but temperatures will be heading towards 20 degrees by the end of next week.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Shane O’Reilly
Catch, Photo, Release
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All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
- Moy continues to fish well despite changeable conditions
- Moy Estuary sees good run of sea trout
- Currane quiet but another few salmon from Inny
- Conditions looking good at the Owenmore Fishery
- Salmon improving in SW
Trout Fishing Reports
- Bright sunshine makes angling difficult on Loughs Conn & Cullin
- Warm weather see sedges on the Nore, but fish still on nymphs
- Mayfly fishing tailing off on Arrow
- Mayfly fishing remains challenging on Conn & Cullin
Coarse Angling Reports
Sea Angling Reports
- Great variety fishing for Saoire Mara Charters
- Skuas and skates from Cork Harbour
- Big pollack, bass and good boat fishing for Killybegs Mariners Sac
- West Cork Bass off the mark for 2021
- Excellent fishing and plenty of different species reported from Sligo
- Tope back on the east coast as Wicklow Boats gets a nice haul
- West Clare fishes superbly in the sunshine
- Great boat fishing in Galway Bay
- Group of friends enjoys great fishing in Killala Bay
- Some massive pollack & good mixed fishing reported from Donegal Bay
