September started with a heatwave and it ended with a storm. October is going the early heatwave route too, but not without getting more than a bit of rain and wind out of its system first. So, while we can look forward to some decent fishing over the weekend, in this Update, we’re looking back on what was a tough week for anglers…

delphi
Closing day salmon on Delphi

There were a few fish about on Currane as the salmon season drew to a close, and the Inny produced a few takers too, but overall weather conditions weren’t great. It was a similar tale from fisheries like the Laune, Erriff and elsewhere which makes 23 fish on closing day at Delphi and 125 for the week on the Moy seem pretty special.

corrib
September was dogged by poor weather but ferox anglers had good sport on Corrib through 2023

Trout anglers found the Nore, like a number of other rivers, in flood as the season closed. And so quite a few started their stockie fishing a little earlier than usual. Those on the lakes like Corrib, Conn, Cullin and O’Flynn did little better as the weather made for unsafe conditions for much of the week. Hopefully there’ll be some decent fishing before 12 October on Sheelin, Owel, Ennell, Derravaragh, Lene and the other fisheries that remain open for the next 6 days.

Very little to report on the coarse front, but the report we have makes good reading. Johhny Keith had 18kg on the whip in a competition on the Newry Canal, plenty of encouragement for any coarse angler thinking of hitting their local water for a chuck at the weekend.

Lough Derg pike

It was much the same for pike anglers. Fishing Belturbet at the weekend, Ger Power endured miserable conditions on Saturday and bright sunshine on Sunday, but still managed a PB of 22lb. Down on Lough Derg the going was tough and windows of opportunity short, but the pike were feeding and some lovely fish were landed.

perch

The perch were biting too and anglers Paul Bourke and Senan Stanley had good numbers of fish and some beauties heading for 40cm. On the podcast front, Ireland on the Fly talks Pike on the Fly with specialist guide Stuart Wylie.

bass

To the sea and its shores now. Bass Guide Richie Ryan, in Cobh, gives a run down of his season and, again, September was not a great month, but he holds out hope for October which is a great month for bass, and gives fly anglers something else to target with the close of the game fisheries. Staying in Cobh, the 2023 EFSA Boat & Line Class Championships was fished in Cork Harbour in September. Visiting anglers did well with German, Marcus Wuest, Norwegian, Petter Skudal and French man Francis Couzinet taking the top 3 spots in the line class competition. The team event was won by Ireland with France second and  Norway third. You can read the full report here: EFSA Boat & Line Class Championships 2023 – Cobh, Co. Cork Ireland

Monatrae
A foggy day at Monatrae

Shore angling reports came in from Monatrae just over the border from east Cork and back in Broadstrand in West Cork. Anglers at both venues endured poor conditions but the fishing in Monatrae was decidedly better on the night. Still onshore, but this time in Belmullet, anglers reported some good fishing over 4 days at a variety of venues. Highlights were conger to 20lb and good pollack fishing. Not too far away Newport SAC fished their final competition of the season on Clew Bay. The anglers had a great day out with the local charter boats on one of the rare calm days September had on offer.

ifsa
Sally Gilvarry accepting the Maurice Dalton Cup

In other competition news, the All-Ireland Open Shore competition for the Jimmy Smith and Maurice Dalton Cups was held on Benone beach, Co. Derry. 104 anglers took to the beach on Benone in what was the most keenly contested all-Ireland in many years. The wild weather did the beach no end of good and everyone was catching in the first few casts. Juniors, Seniors, Ladies and Club events were held, and you can read the full report here: Jimmy Smith/Maurice Dalton Cup Results.

Irish Specimen Fish Atlas

irish specimen fish atlasThe Irish Specimen Fish Committee has just published a new book documenting and analysing specimen fish catches in Ireland from 1955 to 2019.

It promises to make an interesting read for any angler interested in learning about specimen fish and how catches of specimen fish have evolved over time.

Find out more about the Irish Specimen Fish Atlas and how to buy your copy at:

Irish Specimen Fish Committee Fish Atlas Published

And now the weather

A warm and generally dry weekend and start to next week with temperatures a few degrees above the norm. Temperatures at night are unlikely to drop below 16C and during the day they’ll rise as high as 24C. Exceptional for October! There may be some foggy mornings but the worst should clear by early afternoon. Not much to expect on the wind front, just light south to south west breezes. Rain again on Tuesday, but temperatures still up around 20C. Sounds like a good weekend to be on the water…

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].

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