Irish Angling Update 🎣 14 January 2022

We’ve had the odd cold morning, but overall it’s felt like a pretty mild week. According to Met Eireann temperatures are average for the time of year, so it’s probably the sunshine levels that are giving people that impression. And it’s been pretty dry in most parts this last week with slack enough winds so that probably helped too. The weather conditions made for some lovely fishing conditions, but reports are scare. Having said that, we do have some good news this week…

The first salmon of 2022 was landed yesterday afternoon at 1.45pm from the Eel Weir pool on the Lareen stretch of the River Drowes. The fish, estimated at 12lbs was taken on a cone head shrimp pattern by Dublin angler Garrett Byrne. The fish, our Catch of the Week, was released to continue its onward journey. In other salmon news Andrew McGall was in touch with us again this year – he put together a nice video featuring many of his salmon angling exploits of 2021. Between Garrett’s fish and Andrew’s video it’s hard not to be enthusiastic about 2022.

The settled weather made for the perfect opportunity to get out and target some specimens off the east coast and Kit Dunne’s Wicklow Boat Charters started the year with a bang. Spurdogs are the order of the day at this time of year, and if there’s a bit of a settled spell, you can bet Kit will be out after them. Charter boat anglers in the south west fishing with David Edwards also got amongst some decent fish in the last week. David had pollack to 9.5lbs and his anglers have had ling to 15lb and cod to 12lb.

Heading back inland,  C/M Lakelands Feeder Club held a pair of matches on Lough Garadice on Sunday, fishing from Haughton’s Shore and Church Shore. Fishing wasn’t bad for the time of year with top weight making over 5kg.

In recent weeks, we have had a few posts of young anglers having successful pike angling sessions in early 2022. This week it’s the turn of Ruben, who was fishing with his dad Cearbhuil in the Clare area. Nice fishing Ruben, let’s hope we see a few more from you during 2022.

To finish the angling round up we have good news from the midlands spawning streams where trout have been very busy this winter. If you are walking beside an Irish river or stream in the next few days keep an eye out for redds and you might even see a trout or two close by, the lack of rain in recent days will help you to spot them.

Other News

One Week To Go

Running an angling event or competition in Ireland in 2022? Funding for eligible events is now available through Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Sponsorship Programme – but hurry, the deadline to apply is fast approaching! Get all the details at fisheriesireland.ie.

Habitat and Conservation Fund

Did your club or group express an interest in the Habitat & Conservation Fund before Christmas? If so, please don’t forget to turn your expression of interest into a full application before the January 28th deadline! Here’s a link to the Online Application Portal: https://ifi.smartsimple.ie/

Irish Spring Fair

Ned Maher of Ardaire Spring Angling Centre, Mooncoin, County Kilkenny has announced that he will host his first IRISH SPRING ANGLING FAIR.

Taking place on the May Bank Holiday Weekend, the Fair will open to angling enthusiasts on Saturday 30^th April and Sunday the 1^st  of May  2022  over the bank holiday weekend.

It is, without doubt, a must-attend event. Throughout the 2 days a host of world-renowned celebrity names such as Scott Mackenzie, Glenda Powell, Peter Driver, Paul Procter, Henry Gilbey, Jim Clohessy, Rupert Harvey, John Maduro, Jimmy Tyrrell, Sean Deeny, Denis O’Toole, Cathal Hughes and Paul Young from the TV series Hooked on Fishing, will provide talks on angling related topics and give free demonstrations to attendees. More information at New Irish Spring Angling Fair in Ardaire Springs announced for May Bank Holiday Weekend

And now the weather…

A cold and dry night ahead, with any fog or mist clearing on Saturday morning. Quite cloudy again overall, with patches of light rain or drizzle, but some sunny periods developing also. Highest temperatures of 5°C to 10°C mildest in the southwest, with a light southerly breeze. A chance of some rain in places on Sunday also, but staying settled overall. A bright and frosty start to next week, but patchy rain moving in on Monday evening and spreading south-eastwards on Tuesday. The outlook is for the weather to remain largely dry and settled into next week. Make the most of it!

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland. If you’re heading to sea, don’t forget to check the tides.

Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to [email protected].