We’ve had a pretty sodden start to the new year, with above-average rainfall dumping plenty of additional water onto what was already super-saturated ground. The inevitable result is that rivers are running in flood and lakes are encroaching ever further into the fields. And with high winds currently whipping the country, creating tricky conditions on both fresh and saltwater, it’s hardly a great incentive for anglers to get out on the water and blow away the Christmas cobwebs. Unfortunately, this can be seen in the scarcity of angling reports we have in for the week.
We are still awaiting news of the first salmon of 2023, and there are a few hardy anglers on the banks of the Drowse most days braving the elements in the hope of being the first to feel the surge of a new year salmon. At times like this, when angling is tough, and angling reports are sparse, we’re thankful to have the odd podcast or video to keep us in touch with all things fish related. The ‘Ireland on the Fly’ team have been busy over the winter months knocking out regular podcasts, and this week they have been speaking with Cork angler Ronan Collins. Ronan is a well-travelled angler with a particular grá for salmon angling, and in this podcast, they discuss some of the far-flung places he has fished over the years. Andrew McGall is another angler who makes regular contributions to these pages, and this week he posted a video on his YouTube channel giving some insight into how to target salmon travelling through a river system and he also has some handy tips on how to wade a river safely.
It won’t be long now before some of our trout fisheries begin to open, and trout anglers can cast a line once again after their winter break. To help kick-start the new season, well-known competition angler Peter Driver is running a masterclass on early-season river fishing, which is scheduled for the River Blackwater in April. Places are likely to book out quickly, so if you are interested, don’t wait too long to apply.
We normally have a few pike angling reports every week at this time of year, but things have been very slow to get going so far in 2023. We only have one report for this week, as Simon from Guided Predator Angling broke his duck for the year with a decent pike to the boat in foggy conditions. Simon saw plenty of other anglers out on the day, but not many were catching, so he was happy to have something to show for his efforts, and his hard-got pike wins this week’s Catch of the Week.
On the coarse angling scene, Munster Coarse Anglers paid a visit to the Shannon at O’Briensbridge last week, and found the riverbank in a state of disrepair. It turned out that the stretch was being used for a film set, and made to look like the WW2 era Danube. Unfortunately, the fishing wasn’t up to blockbuster standard, and weights were relatively poor on the day.
For sea anglers, we would like to remind you of a big upcoming event in Wexford, where the Irish Winter Shore Angling Festival will take place over three days from the 26th to the 28th of January. Over 130 anglers are expected to converge in Kilmuckridge for what is a key event on the shore angling festival calendar.
In other news, Adaire Springs fishery has set the dates for its 2023 spring fair, which will be run on the weekend of the 29th – 30th of April. They are putting together a roster that will appeal to all types of anglers, with plenty of demos and seminars for the adults and a Kids Zone to keep the younger ones enthused.
Finally, anglers fishing the River Lee this year will need to have a brown tag in addition to their blue tag if they want to keep a fish. This is a conservation measure to ensure that a sufficient number of salmon are able to spawn in the river to maintain recruitment levels. As per last year, the brown tags will be issued via a lottery, and applications are now open for the first round of that lottery, to be held on January 27th.
And now the weather
It will be breezy on Friday morning with some scattered showers, which will die out by mid-afternoon. Showers will again push in from the west in the late afternoon, accompanied by fresh and gusty winds. Rain will become widespread overnight but will begin clearing on Saturday morning. There will be sunny spells and showers on Saturday, with those showers possibly turning wintry on higher ground. Temperatures will be between 4 and 7 degrees, but it will feel colder due to the wind. Sunday will be a cool and bright day with spells of sunshine and showers, some of which will turn to sleet. The weather will remain in this unsettled pattern, at least until the middle of next week.
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 reports@fisheriesireland.ie.
All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
- Ireland on the Fly podcast speaks to Cork angler Ronan Collins
- ‘Brown Tags’ conservation regulations come into force for Salmon Anglers on Lower River Lee in Cork
- ‘Getting the Call’ – summer salmon fishing on the River Mourne
Trout Fishing Reports
- Blackwater Trout & Salmon Fishery Trout Masterclass with Peter Driver
- The countdown is on for the Irish Spring Angling Fair 2023
Coarse Angling Reports
Pike Fishing Reports
Sea Fishing Reports
Other News
