After the very mild autumn we have enjoyed here, winter has started with a frozen blast of icy Arctic air. Temperatures plummeted this week, with night-time temperatures as low as -8C in places, and most areas barely getting above freezing during the day. Given the frigid conditions, many waters, particularly smaller lakes have been freezing over at night. Although the cold snap is forecast to end by Sunday, anglers are advised to check before travelling if their chosen water is ice-free. Perhaps most applicable to trout anglers travelling to put-and-take fisheries with a phone number to call!
Sea
Given the cold temperatures, it is no surprise that angling news this week is dominated by the sea. The All Ireland Cod Championship competition was held last Saturday, with a cod of 44cm winning Troy Francis the cod title. JP Molloy won the overall competition with some fine fishing in cold conditions. Well done to both!
Daragh McGuinness made a winning return to angling on Friday night, taking leg 8 of the Killybegs Mariners winter league. David Norman from West Cork Bass took advantage of calmer weather to get out on the kayak and reported frantic sport, with pollack into double figures smashing lures and flies. This fine pollack is our Catch of the Week.
Some charter boats also made use of the calmer weather. Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters hosted Wicklow Anglers for a species competition won by Jack Dunne, with plenty of spurdog pups filling the cards. Killybegs Fishing Trips were also back on the water, with anglers enjoying some fine pollack fishing for December. Mackerel were still plentiful too, which helps when bait fishing!
Pike
Mick Flanagan of Midlands Angling and Shooting was out after sub-zero pike with long-time visitor Dominic Rickards from Brighton. Although days on the water are much shorter at this time of year, they managed some fine pike for their day out.
Newbridge Pike Anglers wrapped up their 2022 season on Sunday in freezing temperatures. Fears that the lake venue would be prozen proved unfounded, and the 28 anglers found the pike in a feeding mood. 29 pike were landed, including nine doubles and three PBs!
Salmon
Salmon angling news is scarce at this time of year, with anglers looking ahead to the start of the new season shortly. A welcome read at this time of year is the Delphi newsletter, beautifully written and edited by fishery manager David McEvoy as always.
Christmas is coming, and if you’re looking for the perfect present for the salmon angler in your life, 2023 salmon licences are now available to buy…
Trout
I have had the pleasure of fishing with Scottish angler and fly dresser, Stan Headley, the inventor of the Octopus fly, a number of times. Jackie Mahon’s post this week pays tribute to the Octopus, and shows a couple of variants that Jackie reckons works very well on Irish waters.
In Other News….
Inland Fisheries Ireland owns the fishing rights to a wide range of these fisheries in Ireland and these State owned fishing rights are made available for licence to interested angling clubs every year. The tender process for IFI State Fisheries for 2023 is now open, so if your club wants to tender for one or more fisheries please visit our dedicated State Fisheries webpage to apply.
Due to unprecedented demand, our measuring mats ran out of stock in September, and we are delighted to say that they are back in stock. 100cm and 230cm mats can be ordered here.
The new salmon season is less than a month away and with a number of prolific fisheries opening on the 1st of January, Salmon Licences are already on sale. Licences can be bought online at https://store.fishinginireland.info/, with prices remaining the same as 2022. Various permits for next season can also be purchased online at https://permits.fishinginireland.info/ .
‘The Friends of the Rye’, a special book that celebrates over three decades of stewardship of the Rye River waters, has been published by Intel Ireland. The Friends of the Rye brings together a number of key stakeholders, all of whom share a common interest – the welfare of the Rye Water catchment. The new book can be downloaded from the Intel Ireland website here.
LAST CALL
Inland Fisheries Ireland has launched a funding call of up to €1 million, to support vital conservation projects around the country through the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund. From now until December 16th, eligible angling clubs, fishery owners and other stakeholders are invited to express their interest in applying for funding to support fisheries conservation through Inland Fisheries Ireland’s ‘Habitats and Conservation’ scheme. For more details check out the Funding Call Guide here. Closing date for expressions of interest is 5.30pm today!
And now the weather
After a week of frost and sub-zero temperatures, a gradual change is on the way. Remaining cold today with temps of 0 to +4C. dry at first but showers moving in from the northwest, some wintry in places. Rain falling on frozen surfaces may create dangerous driving conditions, so take care.
Saturday will be cold again, mostly dry but with showers in southern and western coastal counties. Temperatures of 1-4C inland, but 5-8C in coastal areas in light to moderate SW winds. Rain spreading from the south on Saturday night will bring a rise in temperatures, and by Sunday we could be enjoying a positively balmy 12-13C. Fresh and gusty southerly winds sweep away the cold, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle.
Mild and breezy on Monday with outbreaks of rain in the south and west, extending to all areas in the afternoon. Maximum temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in fresh southwest winds. Windy again on Tuesday with sunny spells and scattered showers, some of the showers heavy with hail in Atlantic coastal counties. Maximum temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in strong and gusty southwest winds, with gales at the coast.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to [email protected].
All the angling news
Pike Angling Reports
Sea Angling Reports
- All Ireland Cod Championship Results
- Team Ireland U-21 Fundraiser
- Festive fishing for South Shore SAC
- Ireland on the Fly: Pollack on the fly – and why more & more fly anglers are focusing on this fish
- Cold spurs for Wicklow Bay SAC
- Mariners Winter League: Great Win for Daragh at his Return to action
- Anglers on board Fiona Tee enjoy a great day’s fishing
- Watch: Surf Fishing for Winter Flounder
- Hungry pollack smashing lures and flies in West Cork
