Irish Angling Update 🎣 28 April 2023

It was a decidedly cool week and felt a lot colder with that persistent easterly wind. The nights got as low as -3.4°C, so it’s no surprise that there were a few frosty mornings had. At times it was very wet in the north and north midlands, while Munster was a little drier than normal, but it was still cloudy and dull across most of Ireland. It will be interesting to see what effect all this weather has on the catches at sea, fly hatches and spawning runs…

Last weekend saw a major achievement in coarse angling sport as VDE Lurgan CAC were crowned World Feeder Club Champions at the 6th World Feeder Fishing Championships for Clubs. It was a fantastic win for the club, which celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2022. Just one point behind were Germany’s Hansetipper Club who took Silver with a great performance on day two. But it was to be a double celebration and a first for Ireland with two podium spots as the CM Lakelands VDE Club team became Bronze Medallists.

In other coarse angling news, anglers fishing the festival season events at Inniscarra have been getting great fishing, with catches averaging 10kg an angler a day. There’s not many wild venues that can match this level of fishing.

Salmon fishing on the Moy is slowly improving, as water levels are dropping and becoming more suitable to angling. A few fish were reported by anglers on East Mayo Anglers’ waters and by the Ballina Anglers. There were also a few fish landed on Lough Currane. Effort has been light so far, but the anglers were getting the odd salmon through the week. The Munster Blackwater is also quiet enough, though that may change now that a few more fish have been reported and water conditions are just about perfect.

We have a couple of reports in from the Nore this week where visiting anglers have enjoyed getting a few trout while getting to grips with a variety of methods and conditions changing from day to day. So far, there are not many fly hatching, but as water temperatures rise, this should change. There was also some good fishing reported on the Maigue. Once again there were not too many fly hatching so it was traditional early season wet fly tactics that produced the goods. The Ireland on the Fly podcast talks to Darius Simkus this week. Darius only started fly fishing after he moved to Ireland from Lithuania, and within a few years he was fishing for Ireland, winning national titles and is the 2023 captain of the ITFFA Irish rivers team.

Anglers on Corrib may be done with the Duckfly but the Olives were coming off in good numbers last week and more than a few anglers enjoyed good sport. Success was dictated by the weather, with wind (or the lack of it) and rain getting in the way of a good day at times. Anglers on both Loughs Conn and Cullin reported seeing more fly life during the week than previously seen this season, with olives hatching in good numbers on some days, buzzers hatching, and even the odd mayfly starting to appear. Most of the fish caught were on dabblers. Lough Arrow saw decent hatches of Olives but very little angling, so there’s no catch report. Finally, on Sheelin there were some smashing trout to 7lb reported from a week where the easterlies lashed the lake at times. Buzzers did best and their hatches were more or less right on cue.

German anglers fishing in the Longford area had some fine pike fishing. The biggest fish measured came in at 107cm, and they caught on all methods. Over in Boyle it was fly only and some great fish to just under 100cm were landed.  River venues also produced but unfortunately the Leinster Pike Anglers found the bright conditions on their venue produced red faces rather than a red letter day. On Lough Ree the first Nations Cup was contested by 50 anglers from Ireland, Romania, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. Pike to 116cm were landed, but there was only one winner, and it was Poland who took the honours on the day.

Anglers from Menapia Sea Angling Club fished a venue known as The Rope last weekend. On a day when everyone was catching, it was those that managed consistent trebles that topped the rankings as both dabs and flounder were there in good numbers. Tralee Bay SAC enjoyed a good day at Cappagh where flounders again put on a good show for the anglers. There was a decent mix of species caught including turbot, bass and wrasse. Charter boats fishing off the Clare coast report that abundant mackerel has meant that fishing has been pretty good for a range of species, including pollack, coalies, wrasse, spurs, whiting and cod. The Killybegs Mariners travelled north and caught 11 different species from the top of Donegal, including a lovely specimen size 3 bearded rockling of 44cm.

IRISH SPRING ANGLING FAIR

After the success of the first Irish Spring Angling Fair in 2022, Ned Maher of Ardaire Springs Angling Centre, Mooncoin, County Kilkenny is once again hosting the IRISH SPRING ANGLING FAIR.

Taking place this May Bank Holiday Weekend, the Fair will open to angling enthusiasts on Saturday 29th April and Sunday the 30^th of April 2023 over the bank holiday weekend.

Other News…

There were two significant convictions in Donegal for illegal salmon fishing last week. One saw fines and costs totalling €6,000 for the possession of 16 illegal salmon nets near the River Drowes and the other fines and costs of €2,050 for the possession of 13 salmon.

Last year IFI constructed a rock ramp at Ballinacarrig Weir on the River Burren to ease fish passge for all species on the river. Salmon, trout, lamprey and eel can now freely access 30km of spawning and nursery habitat in the River Burren and a further 80km of spawning and nursery habitat in the tributaries connected to this river. Click the link to watch a video all about it.

And now the weather…

The weather forecast for the next few days predicts sunny spells and scattered showers, with heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Temperatures will range from 15 to 19°C, and the lowest temperatures will be between 8 to 11°C. On Sunday, there will be showery rain in the morning, which will clear eastwards, leaving a day of sunny spells and widespread showers, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 18°C. Monday will have scattered showers, and most areas will become dry by evening, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 18°C. Tuesday will be rather cloudy at times, with some sunny spells in the south, and it will continue to be mostly dry and sunny through to midweek. Temperatures will remain in the mid to high teens with light winds. That’s a pretty good bank holiday forecast for anyone thinking of getting out there and wetting a line…

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